1st Air Maintenance Factory Directorate (HBFM), which is the largest maintenance facility where the Depot-Level Maintenance needs of combat and jet training aircraft within the Turkish Air Force are met. It carries out Depot-Level Maintenance and Modifications of F-16C/D, F-4E 2020, F/NF-5 2000, and T-38M aircraft in the Turkish Air Force inventory. It also undertakes the maintenance, repair, and revision works for F110-GE-100C&129/129D Turbofan Engines, J79-GE-17C, J85-CAN-15N, and J85-GE-5H Turbojet Engines used in these aircraft, and TF-33 Turbofan Engines used in E-3A AWACS Aircraft, T56-A-15 LFE, TYNE-Mk-22 and CT7-9C Turboprop Engines Used in C-130B/E, C-160D, and CN235-100M Transport Aircraft, various types of models engine starters such as T700 used in S-70 Black Hawk Helicopters, Makila 1A1 powering Cougar Helicopters and JFS (F-16C/D 210shp powered Gas Turbine Engine for F-16C/D) & GTC (210shp Gas Turbine Engine for C-130 and C-160 Aircraft) types (they give the engine the first movement). The 1st HBFM provides analytical control, painting, and avionics system maintenance and repair support for KT-1T Training Aircraft in the inventory of the Turkish Air Force. It has already started making preparations to create the infrastructure for the Depot-Level Maintenance (D-Level or DLM) needs that are expected to come to the agenda in the next 5 years, and it also continues its efforts to gain Depot-Level Maintenance and DLM capabilities for PT6 Turboprop and LM2500 Gas Turbine Engines within the scope of new technology, capability and infrastructure acquisition efforts. 1st HBFM is the highest decision-making and enforcement authority within the borders of the Republic of Türkiye in the field of Engineering for the aircraft and engines under its responsibility.

Under the management of the Ministry of National Defence (MSB) General Directorate of Military Factories (AFGM), the production level and the capabilities of the 1st HBFM in both aircraft and engine overhaul activities freed the Turkish Air Force (TurAF) from external dependency in this field, and made it self-sufficient with additional infrastructure investments recently made under the financial support and coordination of ASFAT INC. (such as the new Composite Manufacturing Technology Center, which could not be realized despite being planned for various reasons but was implemented with the support of ASFAT in one year), provision of the necessary tools and other needs (such as providing the necessary tools and other needs for PT6 Engine Depot-Level Maintenance Capability), and training programs implemented in courses provided both at home and abroad.

The 1st HBFM, which serves under the AFGM, provides services to the Turkish Armed Force, especially the Turkish Air Force, on manufacturing, avionic system unit Depot-Level Maintenance and overhaul of various ground support equipment in addition to aircraft Depot-Level Maintenance and Modification (DLM) service and engine overhauls, repair unit repair. Some of the advanced aviation technologies used in performing these services are as follows: 

Unit repair, testing, and overhaul,

Aircraft structural system repair and modification, 

Aircraft structural parts manufacturing and repair, 

Engine repair,

Engine structural parts repair,

Calibration of measuring instruments,

Computer Aided Measurement (MMM)

Computer-aided design, manufacturing, and engineering (CAD, CAM, CAE),

Automatic test equipment software preparation (AIETPS),

CNC pipe bending,

CNC 5-axis milling machine,

Heat treatment,

Borazon Coating,

TIG/MIG Welding,

Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI),

Precision metal processing,

Aircraft cable hardware testing, manufacturing, and repair, 

Laser cutting and marking, and

Paint removal with plastic beads.

Established over a large area housing 16 hangars of various sizes, the 1st Air Maintenance Factory Directorate (HBFM) has achieved impressive annual maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capacities as of the end of 2023, utilizing advanced aviation technologies outlined above. These capacities include approximately 100 aircraft DLM operations, refurbishment of 150 engines of various types (with the ability to scale up to 200), manufacturing of over 14,000 parts, repair of 14,500 types of units, maintenance of around 6,000 engine parts/components, refurbishment of 200 ground support equipment units, and calibration of 12,000 measuring instruments.

Within the scope of the Machine Modernization Projects carried out by the Ministry of National Defence (MSB), new-generation machine installations continue for years in the 1st HBFM facilities, as in other military factories. During our visit, we had the opportunity to see the CNC Shot Peen Machine, which was supplied through NSPA under this Project. The first product trial was completed on October 15, 2021, after the acceptance process was completed. As of December 2023, the operations of more than 300 fan/compressor disks have been completed on the CNC Shot Peen Machine, where a total of US$1,060 Million was spent, including the supply, uninterruptible power supply, and ventilation line withdrawal costs and all installation costs, and work worth approximately US$2,025 Million has been done. Thus, the added value achieved in two years has reached twice the cost of the machine. Thanks to the CNC Shot Peen Machine, 1st HBFM has become able to respond to requests from outside (companies such as TEI) through the Revolving Fund for a fee. During our visit, we also had the opportunity to watch the installation of the new generation Fork Type 5-Axis Machine, which was ordered within the scope of the Project for the Manufacturing Directorate and will be used in the production of structural parts of aircraft made of aluminum material, while the necessary preliminary preparations were made for the installation. Currently, 2 Cradle type and 1 Fork type CNC machines are used in the facility. Thus, the number of fork-type machines will increase to 2. The Manufacturing Directorate, which receives orders in a total of 4 periods of 3 months each, has the capacity to manufacture more than 14,000 parts per year, including structural and engine parts. At the 1st HBFM facilities, structural parts production for F-4E 2020, F-16C/D, T-38M, F/NF-5 2000, and KT-1T Aircraft can be made at high quality, at international standards, and at much lower prices than foreign costs. 

1st HBFM carries out all its activities through a world-class quality management system in accordance with the requirements of the current era, and the internationally valid quality, environment, occupational health, and safety management system standard requirements have been integrated into the integrated management system. The Factory Management ensures the continuity of these superior standards through periodic accreditation of internationally recognized acceptance documents. Also, the 1st HBFM became the first military industrial institution in the European region to receive the AS 9110 certificate, which is an international quality management system standard for aviation maintenance organizations, and the first military industrial institution in Türkiye to receive the AS 9100 certificate, a quality management system standard for design and production activities in the aviation industry.

Notes from the Facility Tour

As part of the preparations for the ASFAT INC. Special Issue, we had the opportunity to receive information and take photographs as we visited the 1st Air Maintenance Factory Directorate (Eskişehir) on 18-19 December 2023, with the special permission we received from the Ministry of National Defence (MSB), to observe their capabilities on-site and get the first glimpse of their ongoing projects. I last visited the 1st HBFM facilities within the scope of the Press Information Tour organized by the General Staff in March 2015. As I mentioned above, the 1st HBFM, which is the largest and most advanced maintenance facility where the Depot-Level Maintenance (DLM) needs of combat and jet training aircraft within the Turkish Air Force are met, is too large to be visited in a few hours. Even during our two-day visit, we were only able to visit around 25 Hangars, Workshops, and Directorates in total, in the morning and afternoon and so to speak, our jaws dropped when we saw with our own eyes the maintenance, repair, and production infrastructure and technological capabilities of the Directorate. Of course, we are not the only ones who are left speechless after visiting these strategically valuable facilities. According to what I learned, the BAE Systems delegation, which visited the 1st HBFM under the Eurofighter Tranche 3 Fighter Supply Project in the week of 11-15 December and could only visit it in 2 days with an accelerated tour, was also left speechless

Within the scope of the Depot-Level Maintenance and Overhaul service provided by the Aircraft FASBAT Directorate in the 1st HBFM, the jet aircraft in the Air Force Command's inventory are subjected to complete overhaul by engineers and technicians in 4-8 year periods, depending on their types, and within the scope of DLM, more than 10,000 operations are carried out on aircraft under the headings of fuselage, engine and unit repair. Experience flights are carried out with aircraft that have passed DLM and whose engines have been overhauled, where their engines and systems are tested at the highest limits before being delivered to the troops. 

The first day of our two-day 1st HBFM trip focused on Aircraft DLM capabilities. Our second-day tour program focused on the engine modification, structural repair, and overhaul of the 1st HBFM, and the maintenance, repair, manufacturing, and testing capabilities of avionics/electronic systems covered the following respectively: F110 Module Assembly Workshop, F110 Final Assembly Workshop, PT6A Engine Workshop (newly established), Balancing Workshop (horizontal and dynamic balancing benches), Metal Spray Workshop (coating is performed on the engine parts with a special technique that allows them to withstand high temperatures, wear and tear), Welding Repair Workshop, Eddy Current Workshop (a magnetic field is created on the part and both surface and subsurface cracks are detected), Special Repairs Workshop (CNC Shot Peen Bench), Study Section (Reverse Engineering section). , Accessory Revision Directorate, Fuel Accessory Test Directorate, and Electronic Systems Directorate.

1st HBFM, which has deep experience in the maintenance and repair of F-16 Aircraft, successfully carries out maintenance and repair works that exceed the Operational-Level Maintenance (O-Level), such as structural parts repair and replacement operations with its experienced workforce. In this context, critical parts such as Spar, Bulkhead, and Longeron needed by 1st HBFM are manufactured with domestic facilities using billet materials supplied from abroad and are installed on the aircraft. 

Thanks to its experience and technical infrastructure on F-16, the 1st HBFM will be able to do many jobs and even ASFAT INC. Although it has the ability to provide services abroad through its services, this ability and capacity cannot be utilized to its full potential because there are difficulties in obtaining the necessary certification for the sale of maintenance services to international customers. Therefore, if cooperation can be established with both the US Government and OEM Companies through ASFAT INC. for the promotion and sale of this capability to international markets, and if the required certificates can be obtained, a significant amount of added value can be added to our country through both maintenance service and spare parts/unit sales. Testing, manufacturing, and laying of the wiring equipment on all aircraft types arriving at the 1st HBMF for DLM are carried out in the Cable Equipment Testing/Manufacturing Hangar, which was completed in 1994. While the cables are manufactured and tested in the Cable Hardware Workshop, the laying process is carried out in the other workshop. According to the information I have obtained, there is a 14km long cable on an F-4E Aircraft (the complete cable equipment has been overhauled on the F-4E 2020 Aircraft, thus providing significant weight saving), while on the F-16s, the cable length varies between 8km and 10km. 1st HBFM has been capable of cable marking and laying since 1997. The old generation machine supplied for this work within the scope of the F-4E 2020 Avionics Modernization Project is still in use. Thanks to this capability, 1st HBFM has met the cable hardware needs of all the projects it has completed so far and is still ongoing, using the cables it produces. By the way, it is worth underlining this point: F-4E 2020 and F-5 2000 Avionics Modernization Projects have an important share in the overhaul and development of the technical infrastructure at the 1st HBFM. Many capabilities that are still used were acquired during those projects. During our visit to Cable Hardware Workshop, the newly purchased Laser Marking Device also caught our attention. Thanks to these machines, names are written on the cables purchased abroad without any writing on them, in accordance with military standards, and then the cable is cut to the desired size. This way, which cable goes to which pin can be understood. After the marking and cutting process is completed, the personnel lay each cable one by one, as if knitting a needle, to the relevant place on the aircraft. Considering the fact that the cable length installed in warplanes such as F-4E and F-16 is 10 to 14km, the importance of cable marking capability is better understood. Since only the cable number is given in the Technical Orders (TO) used for repairs when a malfunction occurs in the aircraft, maintenance personnel must understand which cable it is from the pin number or cable number. In Cable Hardware Workshop, 5 Knitting Machines, both domestically produced and purchased from abroad, are used. Local production Knitting Machines (2 units) in green color have been newly purchased and started to be used. 

Production activities of the cable bundles to be used under the F-16 TKT Project were continuing in the Cable Hardware Test/Manufacturing Hangar (Cable Hardware Workshop). To increase flight safety, the project covers the replacement of the old Kapton type wiring on F-16 Aircraft in all Blocks in the Turkish Air Force inventory with the new Teflon Kapton Teflon (TKT) type wiring. In this context, the wiring equipment in the rear part of the aircraft, starting from the cockpit section and on the wings, is changed for safety purposes. Because the cable equipment that is most exposed to natural conditions on the aircraft is located in the wings, rear fuselage, and behind the cockpit. The goal of this change is to eliminate the problems in external insulation. It was stated that old Kapton-type cables had a high risk of static fire, and when burning occurred at one point, the fire spread on its own throughout the entire cabling. It was noted that in TKT-type wiring when combustion occurs after wear, only the section where the fire occurred burns and turns black, and the fire does not spread throughout the entire cabling. Under the ongoing aircraft overhaul and modernization works, such as the F-16 ÖZGÜR Modernization and Structural Overhaul Project, the aircraft are also equipped with TKT-type cabling. An 8-month calendar was envisaged for the F-16 TKT Project, but when it is carried out together with the ÖZGÜR Avionics Modernization Project, the calendar increases to 15 months. Among the cables and materials needed within the scope of the F-16 TKT Project, those that can be produced domestically are supplied domestically, and those that cannot be produced are supplied from abroad. The unintentional external fuel tank dropping incident on the F-4E 2020 Aircraft a while ago also occurred due to a static fire in the cable equipment as a result of cable wear (chafing, cables wearing out, and turning into crumbs). It was understood that the cable equipment of the aircraft, which had been waiting in the open for about 5 days during the Teknofest event before the incident, was affected by the rain, and as a result of the chafing, the system unintentionally ejected the external fuel tank without the pilot noticing.

Depot-Level Maintenance of NF-5 2000 and T-38M Evolution Jet Training Aircraft operating within the Turkish Stars 134th Acroteam Fleet Command is also carried out in 1st HBFM facilities. During our visit, there were 7 T-38M and 1 Turkish Stars NF-5A 2000 Aircraft Depot-Level Maintenance in the Hangar. While NF-5A 2000 and T-38M Airplanes come to the 1st HBFM facilities for DLM every 4 years, and F-4E 2020 Airplanes every 6 years, there is no DLM plan for F-16s that come for the project or paint renewal. In another hangar, there were 2 F-4E 2020 Aircraft and 1 KT-1T Aircraft that came for DLM. To create a future-oriented DLM infrastructure for the KT-1T Training Aircraft in the TurAF inventory, one of the KT-1T Training Aircraft in the Fleet with high flight hours was selected, then dismantled, and its condition was examined through 'Tear Down Test.' At the time of our visit, the plane was in the process of being reassembled. The 1st HBFM has Paint Refurbishment and Analytical Control capabilities for KT-1T Aircraft, but the DLM capability is not yet available. However, since the need for maintenance will increase as the aircraft get older due to the increase in flight hours, the need for DLM may come to the fore after 5 years for KT-1T Aircraft to increase flight safety.

2 Autoclaves of 3mx8m and 2mx2m dimensions were supplied by a company operating in Eskisehir for Composite Hangar (Composite Production Technology Center), whose installation activities were ongoing during our visit. A Sanding Cabinet and a Clean Room, which are also domestic products, were also installed in the center. The Composite Production Technology Center Establishment Project aims to increase the existing composite capabilities of the 1st Air Maintenance Factory Directorate and to minimize aircraft parts waiting time by gaining new capabilities for the repair and manufacturing of composite materials for new-generation aircraft and helicopters. This hangar, which was used as a Supply Warehouse in 2022, was transformed into a Composite Production Technology Center within a year with the contributions of ASFAT INC. In this way, 1st HBFM's old technology composite production capability, which was based on old technology and could no longer meet the requirements in terms of safety, was overhauled with a modern facility containing high technology. In the facility, which has a fully automated area and is planned to meet the future needs of aircraft such as KAAN MMU, Eurofighter, and F-16, composite production will be made with materials such as Honeycomb (Composite Honeycomb Material), Graphite Epoxy (Graphene Reinforced Epoxy) and Carbon Fiber.

Since F-16 Airplanes, unlike other jet aircraft, have Composite Honeycomb Material (Honeycomb) fuselage structural elements, chemical removal of paint is prohibited. For this purpose, the Plastic Particle Paint Removal (Plastic Media Blasting) method is used, which does not damage composite surfaces, also saves one-tenth of the labor compared to the chemical method and removes corrosion products along with the paint from the surface. In this technological process, which is owned by a few countries in the world, around 20 types of "Formed Plastic Cover," including the canopy masking part, were manufactured at the 1st HBFM as a result of long research including canopy masking piece to protect TACAN, IFF, C/D Band Antennas and Static Discharges and other critical fiber structural parts on the aircraft, and these are used for the masking of F-16 Aircraft. In the Large Sandblasting Facility, which was put into service on a turnkey basis in 1993 with the opportunities of the REM0-II Project, the aircraft paint on the composite material is removed mechanically by spraying "Plastic Particles" at very high speed instead of using the chemical method. This technology not only saves labor but also prevents environmental pollution by eliminating chemical effects. One F-16 can fit inside the hangar. Before the paint removal process, the masking process is carried out on the F-16 Aircraft. During our visit, the paint removal process of the external fuel tanks used in the F-4E 2020 Aircraft was being carried out in the Hangar. The Aircraft Painting Workshop, which has been revised for the painting operations of F-16 Aircraft and started to carry out complete repainting operations of F-16 Aircraft since the beginning of 1995, provides aircraft painting in different patterns, as well as humidity, temperature and positive pressure control. Before the repainting process is carried out in the Aircraft Paint Workshop, the old paint is removed using the "Bead-Blasting" method. During our visit, the fuselage of an F-16C Block 30 Aircraft, which was the first aircraft to undergo both ÖZGÜR (Project Liberty) and Structural Improvement modernizations at Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) facilities, was being prepared for paint renewal with sanding at the Aircraft Paint Workshop.

One of the hangars that produced the highest added value in the 1st HBFM facilities is the Structural Part Repair Hangar. Since structural parts and materials that are 'dead,' so to speak, are 'revived' here by being overhauled, repaired, and returned to their own aircraft. Structural parts needed by aircraft or the supply system are supplied from the Structural Part Repair Hangar. Airplanes arriving for structural parts repair are first dismantled, and an X-ray of the wings is taken with Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) and the condition of parts such as Spar and Rib inside the wings is checked. If there are cracks, the wing coating is opened, and these parts are removed and replaced with new ones. Parts such as Rib and Spar can already be manufactured locally with the facilities of 1st HBFM. The replaced parts are replaced, and the wing cover is closed. The wing holder apparatus used during these processes is also the 1st HBFM product. During our visit, Non-Destructive Testing was carried out on the wing of a T-38M Training Aircraft in the Structural Parts Repair Hangar. The out-of-service NF-5B Aircraft was used as a Structural Training Aircraft. The hangar also contained the wings of F-16 and F-4E 2020 Aircraft, which came for structural repair. Wing overhauls of F-16 Aircraft, which were modernized within the scope of the F-16 ÖZGÜR Modernization and Structural Overhaul Project, are also carried out in the Structural Parts Repair Hangar.

The New Paint Workshop (Corrosion Control and Aircraft Painting Complex), which officially opened on March 4, 2021, consists of two separate paint halls. In one of the halls, an F-16C Block 30 Aircraft, which was the second aircraft to undergo both ÖZGÜR and Structural Improvement modernizations at TUSAŞ facilities, was being painted, and in the other, a KT-1T Training Aircraft was being painted. The 1st HBFM was qualified and certified for the Have Glass Coating System by Lockheed Martin Company on December 9, 2015.

1st HBFM and Engine Overhaul Activities

1St HBFM, which performs the Technical Management Responsibility (TYS) of F-16, F-4E 2020, NF-5A/B 2000, T-38M, and KT-1T Aircraft and the engines of these aircraft in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Force, and additionally 27 different types of engines including turbofan, turboprop, turbojet, and turboshaft, had also fulfilled Depot-Level Maintenance/Overhaul process of over 10.000 engines from 1968, when it carried out the revision process of the first jet engine, up until now as the Technological Repair Center (TOM) for aircraft engines of 1st HBFM. Currently, the facility carries out repair, modification, and overhaul of approximately 300 engines and over 35,000 spare parts annually, as well as overhaul of a total of 10 types of engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turbojet, and turboshaft.

In addition to all turbojet and turboprop engines in the Air Force inventory, Depot-Level Maintenance (DLM) of the F110-GE-100, the first turbofan to enter the inventory, and its improved version, the F110-GE-129129 Engines, are carried out at the 1st HBFM facilities. During the past period, facilities, equipment, and staff for this purpose have been carefully prepared, and talent acquisition efforts carried out in parallel with the contracts made with General Electric (GE), an OEM company, have been successfully completed. Work to gain ENSIP, part repair, module assembly, control, and accessory Depot-Level Maintenance capability for F110-GE-100/129 Turbofan and CT7-9C Turboprop Engines was carried out within the scope of the Prior Project-II Engine Offset Agreement. Today, the potential created by the capabilities it has gained on the F11 0-GE-100/129 TF Engines of the 1st HBFM and the controls and accessories of this engine, based on the relevant Technical Orders (Technical Bulletin), has reached remarkable levels in international platforms. 

Engine Maintenance Activities carried out in the Engine Revision Department cover the disassembly and cleaning of engine units, crack checks of the engine and its structural parts, and repair or replacement of units and parts found to be damaged. These processes are successfully carried out using more than 30 high-technology processes, such as Fluoride Ion Cleaning, Activated Diffusion Repair, and CODEP Coating, which have been proven by international quality certificates and are stated to be available only in the 1st HBFM in Türkiye.

In the Engine Revision Department, F110-GE-100/129 Series Turbofan Engines are assembled in the F110 Module Assembly Workshop and the F110 Final Assembly Workshop. In these two workshops, engine parts coming from the Repair Workshops are assembled and turned into modules by the assembly personnel. As of 2023, the Engine Revision Directorate can provide heavy maintenance (overhaul) services to 150 (but can go up to 200) engines of different types per year. During heavy maintenance, each engine is disassembled from top to bottom, down to the smallest part, and reassembled after the necessary checks and maintenance are carried out. In this process, engine parts that are found to be faulty are repaired and made reusable. Thanks to the ability to repair engine parts, the need to buy new engine parts from abroad is eliminated.

The Depot-Level Maintenance requirement of the F110-GE-100/129 TF Engine is determined depending on the TAC (Total Accumulated Cycle) number, which simulates the operating cycle, thermal cycles, and fatigue of dynamic parts depending on the operating time and is constantly monitored. Although this maintenance varies in scope depending on the number of TACs the engine has, it mostly focuses on the control of structural engine parts exposed to aero-thermodynamic loads using high technology and is called ENSIP (Engine Structural Integrity Program). The ENSIP control applied on each of the 3000, 6000, and 9000 TAC and floors of the engine has a different scope. With the F110 Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), which has been implemented in the Engine Revision Directorate since 2012 and brings the most up-to-date engine technologies to F110 Engines, The TAC period of the F110-GE-100 Series Engines used in F-16C/D Aircraft has been increased from 4,000 to 4,300, and the TAC period of the F110-GE-129 Series Engines has been increased from 4,300 to 6,000. F110GE-100B TF Engines, whose flight hours were reset after the revision process was completed, are classified as F110-GE-100C after SLEP, and F110-GE-129 TF Engines are classified as F110-GE-129D after SLEP. 

The J79-GE-17C Turbojet Engine used in the F-4E 2020 Aircraft is taken to overhaul after 1,200 flight hours (TAC). The J85-GE-5H and J85-CAN-15N Turbojet Engines used in T-38M, and NF-5A/B 2000 Aircraft are taken to overhaul after 1,000 flight hours (TAC). The flight hours of the engines are reset after the revision. The engines, which have been overhauled and reassembled, are tested by placing them on benches where functional and performance tests are carried out to understand whether they fulfill their functions. Test rig tests have started to be carried out with ATILIM Jet Engine Test Rigs, which have been developed with national resources since 2008. 

LM2500 Depot-Level Maintenance Capability Acquirement Works 

The 1st HBFM continues its work to acquire Depot Level Maintenance (DLM) capability for the LM2500 Gas Turbine (GT), which is the most popular marine gas turbine in the world and derived from General Electric (GE) Company's TF39 and CF6-6 aircraft engines, within the framework of the request of the Naval Force Command and AFGM. According to GE data, the number of LM2500 Series Gas Turbines in our country has exceeded 80, including those currently used for onshore electrical energy production in the civil and public (BOTAŞ) sectors. LM2500 Gas Cylinders consist of two basic parts: Gas Generator (GG) and Power Turbine (PT), and the 1st HBFM has so far (as of December 2023) completed the repair of the LM2500 Power Turbine with Serial Number PTA014 and the disassembly and repair of two Power Turbines with Serial Numbers PTA049 and PTA048 with the 'coupling' assembly stuck inside, and delivered them to Gölcük Shipyard Command (the first one was on December 23 2020). 

During our visit, one of the Gas Generators that was undergoing revision was waiting after being dismantled, while the other was in the vertical dismantling phase. One complete LM2500 Gas turbine for LM2500 Depot-Level Maintenance/overhaul capability was delivered to the 1st HBFM, and the required material list was prepared and was in preparation for maintenance. In fact, the acquisition of Depot-Level Maintenance capability for LM2500 gas turbines, which is of strategic importance for the survival of the Turkish Naval Force, also has the potential to bring significant amounts of added value to our country. Meanwhile, the test rig test of the ATILIM LM 2500 GT Test Rig, which was installed in 2021 under the ATILIM LM2500 GT Test Rig Project, was launched at the beginning of 2020 with the facilities and capabilities of the 1st HBFM in order to gain the post-revision test capability of the LM250 GTs, and 6 LM2500 Test Rig tests were completed successfully in December 2023.

Project to Acquire Depot-Level Maintenance Capability of PT6 Series Engines 

Within the scope of the Project initiated by the Ministry of National Defence, actions are ongoing to provide Depot-Level Maintenance capability for PT6 Series engines used in KT-1T (PT6A-62), B-200 (PT6A-42) and B-350 Aircraft (PT6A-60A) as well as AKINCI SİHA and AB-212 and AB-412EP Helicopters in the inventory for the 5th Main Maintenance Factory Directorate and 1st Air Maintenance Factory Directorate. In this context, during our 1st HBFM trip, we also had the opportunity to see the PT6A Engine Workshop, whose installation work is ongoing. Within the scope of the PT6 Engine Depot-Level Maintenance Depot-Level Maintenance Capability acquisition studies, technical documents were first obtained from the manufacturer company P&W, and subsequently, the tools and other needs required for this job, which were determined as a result of the examination of the Technical Documents, started to be procured through ASFAT INC. Therefore, with the acquisition of Depot-Level Maintenance capability for PT6 Series Engines, a significant amount of added value can be provided to our country by just meeting the needs of domestic users.

1st HBFM and Indigenous Air Weapon and System Development Activities 

At the 1st HBFM, modernization, and air weapon and system development activities, which will shape the future of the Turkish Air Force, are also carried out with national resources. In this context, the Directorate has completed more than 80 projects, including some studies carried out with local companies and institutions such as ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, METEKSAN DEFENCE, ROKETSAN, and TÜBİTAK SAGE, and is currently working on more than 30 projects, while more than 70 projects are waiting for their turn. Indigenous Weapon, Sensor, Avionics, and Electronic Warfare Systems developed by Turkish Defence Industry companies were integrated into F-4E 2020 and F-16C/D Block 30/40 Aircraft equipped with National Operational Flight Software (HUY/OFP) at the 1st HBFM, and tests are carried out. Operational Flight Software (HUY/OFP), which regulates the operation of electronic (avionics) and weapon systems on F-4E 2020 and F-16C/D Block 30/40 Aircraft, was developed with national resources and tested in the System Integration Laboratories located at the facility. 

Under the F-4E 2020 Project, access was provided to the aircraft's Operational Flight Software, aircraft electrical/mechanical/structural information, and technology transfer was carried out in maintenance and integration areas. Thus, the Turkish Air Force was given independent operational capability for F-4E 2020 Aircraft. Under the ÖZGÜR-I Project, a unique Operational Flight Software was developed thanks to the General Avionics Computer (GAC) and source codes purchased from the USA, and the F-16 System Integration Laboratory (SEL/SIL) established at the 1st HBFM paved the way for the integration of national weapon and sensor systems and avionics into Block 30 and Block 40 series F-16C/D Aircraft. Block 30 Aircraft were delivered to the EFCC, and Block 40 and Block 50 Aircraft were delivered to the Turkish Air Force equipped with the GAC mission computer. Under the CCIP/PO-III Project, F-16C/D Block 40 and Block 50 Aircraft are equipped with Modular Mission Computer (MMC-7000), and the few Block 40 Aircraft with GAC Mission Computer and unique Motion Flight Software were excluded from modernization to be used as test aircraft in national weapons, sensors and system integrations. As a result of the knowledge gained from the F-4E 2020 Avionics Modernization and ÖZGÜR-I Projects and the technical capabilities gained, the integration activities of the munitions developed nationally by Turkish Defence Industry organizations were carried out for the first time by the 1st HBFM on the F-4E 2020 Aircraft, and this capability has also formed the basis for national aircraft modernization projects such as IŞIK and ŞİMŞEK. Thanks to the knowledge gained and technological infrastructure gained within the scope of both Projects, today, within the scope of the System Integration Project at 1st HBFM, ammunition such as SOM ALCM (Air Launched Cruise Missile) Family, HGK, LGK, KGK, NEB and TOLUN Miniature Bomb, developed with national resources, as well as integration activities of ASELPOD Targeting Pod, EHPOD, EDPOD and DB-110 EO/IR Digital Tactical Reconnaissance Pod purchased from abroad under the TARP Project, could be carried out on F-4E 2020 and F-16C/D Blok 30/40 Aircraft.

The Turkish Air Force 401st Test and Development Squadron Command, which is directly subordinate to the 1st HBFM, assumes critical responsibilities for developing and conducting test flights of indigenous weapon systems in the 1st HBFM. Therefore, I believe that the possibility of relocating the 401st Development Test Squadron Command to Akıncı (Mürted) Air Base, which has been discussed recently, will not be a correct and productive step in terms of modernization and weapon system development activities that will shape the future of Turkish Air Force. During the flight tests carried out by the 401st Development Test Fleet Command, Flight Test Instrumentation technology, which is stated to be available in very few countries in the world, is used, and Environmental Tests, Flutter Tests, Quality Assurance Tests, Jettison Tests, Endurance Tests, and Firing Tests are performed. For the certification of a new aircraft prototype or a modification to the aircraft, it is necessary to show and prove that the criteria specified in the standards are met. In other words, it is a must to have this capability in order to make modifications to aircraft for development purposes that are valid on international platforms without compromising flight safety. The Aircraft Independent Firing System (UBAS), developed in cooperation with 1st HBFM and TÜBİTAK SAGE, plays an important role in the process of integrating Indigenous weapon systems into F-16C/D Aircraft where there is no access to Operational Flight Software.

1st HBFM and Important Aircraft Projects

The Aircraft Hangar within the 1st HBFM, which continues its work with the vision of becoming a logistics center that contributes to the Turkish Air Force'’ goal of 'Becoming the Most Powerful Air and Space Force in the Region,' was converted into a Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) Center for F135 Engines within the scope of the F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (MTU/JSF) Project. This Center, which is planned to have an infrastructure that can meet the Depot-Level Maintenance needs of 220 F135-PW-100 Turbofan Engines annually, will not only meet the final assembly and Depot-Level Maintenance needs of the Turkish Armed Force (TAF) but also be able to meet the FACO (Final Assembly and Control) and Depot-Level Maintenance needs of European countries for F135 Engines in F-35A Lightning II MTU/JSF Aircraft. However, after Türkiye was removed from the F-35 MTU / JSF Program in July 2019, this facility / Hangar remained idle for a long time. Because the internal layout and concept of the Hangar changed in 2018 for the installation of new machines and benches for F135 Engines, aircraft could not be taken inside. With the agreement reached in 2023, Aircraft Hangar will be operated by TUSAŞ under the ÖZGÜR Project for 1 year.

Instead of the idle Aircraft Hangar, a new Aircraft hangar will be built within the campus, right across from the Paint Workshop. This new hangar will be used within the scope of the F-16 Block 40M and Block 50M Structural Improvement Project. The Turkish Air Force, which wants to subject the Block 40M and Block 50M Aircraft in its inventory to structural modernization, as in the Block 30s, has initiated work to supply the necessary structural overhaul kits for 46 aircraft in the first stage, and the request has been forwarded to the US authorities through official channels. For the procurement process to be carried out automatically and quickly without the need for notification to Congress for approval in terms of financial value, the number of aircraft/modernization kits has been determined as 46 for the first phase, and a sufficient number of structural improvement kits are planned to be procured for the remaining Block 40M and Block 50M aircraft in the second phase. The F-16C/D Block 40M and Block 50M Structural Modernization Project in question will be carried out in the facilities of the 1st Air Maintenance Factory Directorate (HBFM), and for this purpose, as I stated above, a new hangar will be built within the 1st HBFM campus. The project is expected to be approved by the US authorities (Draft Offer and Acceptance Letters reached the Ministry of National Defence in February 2024), and the new hangar construction activity is expected to start around 2026-2027 following completion.

Meanwhile, in February 2019, Türkiye presented a Letter of Request (LoR) for Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems (MIDS) Block Upgrade II (MIDS BU II) and Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance Systems (AGCAS) for 199 F-16 Aircraft in the Air Force Command's inventory. Since the procurement of Link 16 MIDS BU II will be a key factor in increasing Türkiye's interoperability with NATO, in April 2023, the Administration formally notified Congress of a possible avionics sale that would include these systems, and in April 2023, the US State Department announced that it had approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of US$259 Million to the Government of Türkiye to support the upgrade of existing F-16 aircraft and related equipment. The contract includes software improvements to the operational flight program (OFP) avionics with AGCAS capability and hardware modifications to enable the integration of MIDS BU II. Due to the fact that the current MIDS terminals (F-16C/D Block 40M and Block 50M) and MIDS-LVT terminals (F-16C/D Block 50+) on F-16C/Ds are outdated and their inability to work with updated crypto as it is not approved by the US Government, Turkish Air Force has been experiencing problems in relation to Link-16 Tactical Data Connection for almost two years. Until now (April 2023), the US Government has not approved the sale of MIDS BU II terminals to Türkiye or the integration of MIDS BU II terminals into Turkish Armed Force F-16s. MIDS terminals on USAF fighter aircraft have undergone Block Upgrade II (BU II) to meet crypto-modernization, improved throughput, and frequency remapping requirements. It is expected that the integration work of the new avionics equipment on the Block 40M and Block 50M Aircraft will be carried out in this new hangar, which will be built at the 1st HBFM facilities, together with the F-16 Block 40M/50M Structural Improvement Project.

F-16 Block 70 Procurement and F-16V Modernization

In order to meet the interim fighter aircraft needs of the Turkish Air Force (TurAF) until the first KAAN National Combat Aircraft Fleet becomes operational in the early 2030s, both the F-16 Block 70 Procurement and F-16V Modernization Project, and especially the air interceptor and Eurofighter T3 Procurement Project were initiated for air superiority capability. There is a need for both aircraft types, and the projects in question are progressing through separate channels.

On September 30, 2021, Türkiye submitted a Letter of Request to the US Government to supply 40 new production F-16 Block 70 Combat Aircraft and 79 Modernization Kits for the modernization of 29 Block 50+ and 50 Block 40M aircraft in the TurAF inventory to the F-16V level, and negotiations with the US delegation regarding the modernization of existing F-16C/D aircraft at the F-16V level and the supply of new production F-16 Block 70 Aircraft started in Türkiye in December 2021. In a statement published in the press on January 4, 2024, Minister of National Defence Mr. Yaşar GÜLER announced that the technical meetings with the USA within the scope of the Project were completed, since it is a foreign military sale, the official notification regarding the sale was submitted to Congress on January 26, 2024 for the approval process by the US State Department and since there was no objection to the sale within the 15-day legal objection period, the sale of 40 new production F-16 Block 70 Combat Aircraft and 79 F-16V Modernization Kits and the ammunition, materials and equipment to be used in these aircraft to Türkiye was approved by the US Congress and it became official in February 2024 Within the scope of the project, the draft of the official Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA), which includes all information regarding the detailed breakdown and cost of sale of the F-16 Block 70 Aircraft and F-16V Modernization Kits that the USA will sell to Türkiye, has reached to MSB in February 2024, and following the examination conducted, it is expected that the Project will be finalized with the negotiations that will start in May with the US authorities and the Project Schedule will come into force in June/July 2024, following the signing of the final LOA by the authorities of both countries in June.

Contrary to expectations, the F-16 Block 70 aircraft will be equipped with Northrop Grumman's AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS), an internal and integrated system developed for the U.S. Air Force. IVEWS features ultra-wideband coverage, including countermeasures against millimeter-wave threats, and incorporates a next-generation digital Radar Warning Receiver. This selection diverges from the previously proposed L3Harris AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield, an all-digital active and passive internal integrated electronic warfare suite offered to Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. In this context, a total procurement of 168 AN/ALQ-257 IVEWS units is planned. In this context, a total of 168 AN/ALQ-257 IVEWS units is planned to be procured from the US, with 119 of them to be installed on 40 new F-16 Block 70 aircraft and 79 F-16s to be upgraded to the F-16V configuration. Previously, the 29 F-16C/D Block 50+ aircraft in the Turkish Air Force (TurAF) inventory were equipped with the AN/ALQ-211(V)4 AIDEWS internal electronic warfare self-protection system and the 50 Block 40M aircraft were fitted with the AN/ALQ-178(V)3 internal electronic warfare self-protection system. However, it was revealed during domestic and international exercises that the AN/ALQ-178(V)3 system was inadequate in jamming and suppressing AESA-type radars. I consider the remaining 49 AN/ALQ-257 IVEWS Suites can be installed on F-16C Block 50M Aircraft equipped with AN/ALQ-178(V)5+ internal EW Self-Defence System under the SPEWS-II Project.

Negotiations continue with the US authorities regarding the final assembly and modernization of the aircraft at TUSAŞ and 1st HBFM facilities in Türkiye. In a statement he made on March 11, 2024, Minister of National Defence Yaşar GÜLER said about the Project: "It is a US$23 Billion project, but there is no such thing as we will receive the entire package. We will do whatever is in Türkiye's interest. Our negotiations continue regarding the production and modernization of F-16s in Türkiye,"

ÖZGÜR-I and ÖZGÜR-II Projects 

In the F-16 Block 30 National Mission Computer and Avionics Suite Development (ÖZGÜR) Project, the protocol for the Mass Production Phase (F-16C/D Block 30 ÖZGÜR-II) was signed by SSB and ASELSAN, TUSAŞ, TÜBİTAK SAGE, ROKETSAN and AFGM (1st HBFM) on July 26, 2023, during the IDEF'23. At the ceremony, signatures were also signed for the F-16C/D Block 40M/50M ÖZGÜR-II Prototype Modernization Project, which aims to apply ÖZGÜR Avionics Modernization and Structural Improvement to Block 40M and Block 50M Aircraft in the Turkish Air Force inventory. According to the information shared with the public by ASELSAN, ASELSAN's share of the work in the Aircraft Modernization Project to be carried out by the main contractor, TUSAŞ, is worth US$1.98 Billion.

The ÖZGÜR Program, which was launched with the decision of the Defence Industry Executive Committee (SSİK) dated December 15, 2010, to meet the needs of TurAF, aimed to equip an F-16C Block 30 Aircraft, which had not undergone avionic modernization under the previous Project III (PO-III), with a national avionics suite solution, including an indigenous Mission Computer with National Operations Flight Software (HUY/OFP) and AESA Radar, and certify it. The contract signed between SSB and Main Contractor TUSAŞ on March 6, 2012, entered into force on May 24, 2012. Within the scope of the ÖZGÜR Project, in which ASELSAN served as the Main Subcontractor, the first prototype F-16C Block 30 Aircraft was modernized and equipped with three color Multi-Purpose Screens designed and produced by ASELSAN (CMFD, 2 x CMFD-55 Multifunctional Cockpit Central Screen with dimensions of 5" x 5" and 1x CCD-68 Central Cockpit Screen with dimensions of 6" x 8") and are also the unique Mission Computer running the national HUY/OFP which is an ASELSAN product. After being equipped with the domestic avionics suite, the first power was given to the aircraft on February 9, 2016, the first engine start-up was carried out on April 5, 2016, and the first running test on the runway was carried out on May 2, 2016. Subsequently, it made its first flight in the summer of 2016. The first F-16C Block 30 aircraft modernized within the scope of the ÖZGÜR made its first flight on May 9, 2016, and was subsequently subjected to extensive flight tests. Later, modernization work on the second prototype aircraft, the double-seater F-16D Block 30 Aircraft, started, and according to the SSB, the official acceptance of the two aircraft was completed in May 2023 (according to the Ministry of National Defence 2023 Corporate Financial Situation and Expectations Report, the acceptance of the prototype aircraft was done in June). 

Thanks to the nationalization of the Mission Computer on F-16 Block 30 Aircraft, foreign dependency on avionics was eliminated. With the ÖZGÜR Project, national munition and pods were integrated without external dependence, a pilot-friendly and operationally effective new digital cockpit was designed, 22 LRU and 12 weapons were replaced and integrated, and approximately 75 harness replacements and 50 panel modifications were made. Under the F-16 Block 30 National Mission Computer and Avionics Suite Development (ÖZGÜR) Project, which is the most comprehensive study ever done on the F-16 in our country, F-16C/ D Block 30 Aircraft are equipped with National Mission Computer, System Interface Unit, Cockpit Upper Front Control Panel, Fuel Hydraulic Indicator, Engine Display Screen, Emergency Indicator, National Sound Safety Device, National Friend - Foe Identification (IFF Mode 5/S) System, Multi-Mode Receiver, Inertial Navigation System, Interface Blinding Unit, AVCI-II (TULGAR) Helmet Integrated Imaging/Targeting System, Central Cockpit Display (CCD) and Color Multi-Function Displays (CMFD). Qualification tests were successfully completed with the two ÖZGÜR Project prototypes, which were painted with digital camouflage after modernization, and the official acceptance of the aircraft was made in May 2023. When the new national ammunition development works are completed and made ready with new systems and equipment such as AVCI-II/TULGAR Helmet with X-Band MURAD AESA Nose/Fire Control Radar, which is currently being developed by ASELSAN with flight tests ongoing on prototype aircraft, it is planned to be integrated into the aircraft within the scope of the ÖZGÜR Project within the scope of the Serial Production Phase. 

The first flight of the ASELSAN product MURAD AESA Radar, which brings F-16C/D Block 30 ÖZGÜR Aircraft to the level of 4.5 generation aircraft, was performed on February 15, 2024, with the ÖZGÜR Modernized F-16C Block 30 prototype aircraft. MURAD X-Band AESA Aircraft Pitch has the capabilities of automatic recognition, multiple target tracking, location mapping, distance measurement, automatic altitude determination, under-cloud surveillance with SAR, automatic target limiting with artificial intelligence-supported algorithms, broadband radar spectrum monitoring (ESM), directional electronic jamming (ECM) and providing more effective guidance.

Within the scope of Serial Production Stage (F-16C/D Blok 30 ÖZGÜR-II), AESA Pitch Radar integration with ammunitions, miniature bombs and ASELPOD's external payload certifications will be completed for ÖZGÜR Aircraft; for F-16 Block 30 ÖZGÜR Aircraft to be modernized within the scope of Fighter Electronic Warfare System (FEWS; will consist of Radar Warning Receiver [RWR], RF Jammer [RFJ] and Missile Warning Receiver [MWS]) and GÖKDOĞAN (RF guided BVR missile) Integration Project Contract; integration of T-Link (National Data Link/Türk-Link), IFF Unified Interrogator/Responder (BSC), RNE (Radio Navigation Equipment) and 9681 V/UHF airborne radio equipment, BOZDOĞAN (IIR guided WVR missile) and HGK-82 ammunition will be carried out. 

Within the scope of F-16C/D Block 40M/50M ÖZGÜR-II Prototype Modernization Project, national equipment and ammunition will be integrated on these prototype aircraft (I think there will be one C and D version from each Block), in particular the ÖZGÜR suite and MURAD AESA Radar, FEWS, T-Link, IFF BSC, RNE ASELPOD, 9681 V/UHF weather radio, SOM, HGK, KGK, LGK, GÖKDOĞAN and BOZDOĞAN, and structural improvement engineering activities will be carried out on these Block-40M and Block-50M prototype aircraft. 

Under the Serial Production Phase (F-16C/D Block 30 ÖZGÜR-II), deliveries are targeted to be completed between 2025-2027, and within the scope of the F-16C/D Block 40M/50M ÖZGÜR-II Prototype Modernization Project, deliveries are targeted to be completed in 2028-2030. With these projects, F-16 Block 30, 40M, and 50M ÖZGÜR Aircraft will gain similar capabilities and features as the F-16 Block 70/F-16V Aircraft and will also be able to carry national ammunition and pod systems thanks to the National Operations Flight Software.

According to the SSB 2023 Activity Report, 3 F-16 Block 30 Combat Aircraft, modernized in 2023 within the scope of the ÖZGÜR Modernization Project, were delivered to the Air Force Command. Meanwhile, according to the information reflected in the press in the bilateral meetings held with the delegation of the Armed Forces Committee of the US House of Representatives, who came to Türkiye in March 2024 to hold various contacts and was accepted by the Minister of National Defence Yaşar GULER within the scope of their visit, among the important topics on the table were F- 16 Block 70 Procurement and F-16V Modernization Project and ÖZGÜR Project. Accordingly, during the bilateral negotiations, the request for official approval from the United States for the ÖZGÜR Avionics Modernization Projects was repeated, while the information that there would be a reduction in the quantities of the modernization kits purchase package was conveyed to the other party.

F-16 Block 30 Structural Improvement Project 

Under Predecessor Project I, a total of 160 F-16C/D Aircraft were supplied for the Turkish Air Force, including 43 Block 30 (34 C and 9 D versions) and 117 Block 40 (102 C and 15 D versions). Under the Predecessor Project II, a total of 80 F-16C/D Block 50 Aircraft, 68 of which were C and 12 D versions, were put into service. I consider that there are 234 F-16C/D Block 30/TM, Block 40M, Block 50M, and Block 50M+ Aircraft in the Turkish Air Force inventory, 35 of which are Block 30, 29 are Block 50+, and 170 are Block 40M and Block-50M Aircraft. Under the Predecessor Project III, a total of 171 Block 40 and Block 50 Aircraft (+ 2 Block 30) underwent comprehensive avionics modernization between July 2007 and April 2015 (including TVI, LTF, and MSM Phases), and after modernization, the aircraft were classified as Block 40M and Block 50M. The F-16C/D Aircraft procured under the previous Project I were subjected to Falcon UP Structural Improvement modernization at TAI facilities between 1993 and 1999, and their airframe/structural service life was increased to 8,000 hours. In July 2014, a call was issued by the US Air Force to sign a contract with Lockheed Martin Company as the sole source for the Falcon STAR Plus Structural Improvement work through FMS for the 14 F-16D Block 40 Aircraft remaining in the inventory of the Turkish Air Force. In this call text, the implementation period of the structural improvement work in question was given as November 1, 2016, and October 31, 2018. F-16 Block 70 Aircraft has a new production fuselage with a service life of 12,000+ hours. The airframe life of the F-16C/D Aircraft, which will be modernized at the F-16V level, is also increased to 12,000+ hours with the structural improvement work applied.

In order for the 35 F-16C/D Block 30 Aircraft in the Turkish Air Force inventory to serve until 2040, the F-16 Block 30 Structural Improvement Project was initiated to increase the airframe life of 8,000 hours to 12,000 flight hours, and a contract was signed between the SSB and the Main Contractor TUSAŞ on August 10, 2015. While Lockheed Martin Company, which supplied the structural improvement kits needed in the project, took part as a subcontractor, the 1st HBFM was assigned to modernize 10 out of 35 aircraft. 

The first Block 30 Aircraft, whose structural improvement was completed in the project, was delivered in July 2020, the 5th in March 2021, the 6th aircraft in May 2021, the 8th aircraft in July 2021, and the 12th aircraft in August 2022. In his speech at the F-16 Block 30 ÖZGÜR-II Serial Modernization Project and Block 40M/50M ÖZGÜR-II Prototype Aircraft Modernization Project Signing Ceremony at IDEF '23 Fair, SSB Haluk GÖRGÜN stated the end of 2025 as the completion date for the Structural Improvement Project of 35 F-16C/D Block 30 Aircraft.

F-16 Structural Improvement and ÖZGÜR Modernization Series Phase 

The 1st HBFM, which previously carried out the modernization of 16 aircraft in cooperation with TUSAŞ under the Precedent Project III (Peace Onyx llI), is also cooperating with TUSAŞ under the F-16 Structural Improvement and ÖZGÜR Modernization Series Phase. In this context, the 1st HBFM will apply Structural Improvement and ÖZGÜR Modernization to F-16 Block 30 Aircraft in the Turkish Air Force inventory. Within the scope of the F-16 Block 30 Structural Improvement Project, Bulkhead, fitting, and longeron changes are made in the aircraft, critical points are strengthened, flexibility is provided to the determined points with the new connector pattern, and many structural elements connected to these changes and additions are checked and overhauled. With this comprehensive study, the service life of the aircraft is increased from 8,000 flight hours to 12,000 flight hours.

While the first 11 aircraft were subjected to only Structural Improvement modernization at TAI facilities, Block 30s started to undergo both Structural Improvement and ÖZGÜR Avionic Modernization processes starting from the 12th aircraft. The first 11 F-16C/D Block 30 Aircraft, whose Structural Improvement was completed and delivered, will go back to TUSAŞ and undergo ÖZGÜR Modernization there. During our visit to 1st HBFM, there were a total of 7 F-16C/D Aircraft (Block 50, Block 40 and Block 30) inside the Aircraft Maintenance Hangar. Of these 3 were project aircraft (F-16C Block 30s prepared for the F-16 Structural Improvement and OZGUR Modernization Serial Phase), 4 were for paint renewal and replacement of large structural parts (such as Spar, Bulkhead and Longeron).

The first F-16C Block 30 Aircraft to be modernized (both Structural Improvement and ÖZGÜR Modernization) at the 1st HBFM facilities, was also among the project aircraft in question. The modernization (Structural Improvement + ÖZGÜR upgrade) of the first aircraft, which was received by the 1st HBFM on May 31, 2023, is planned to be completed in August 2024. It is planned to spend 25,000 Man/Hour of labor for each aircraft under the F-16 Structural Improvement and ÖZGÜR Modernization Serial Phase, which has approximately 2,000 work cards.

We also had the opportunity to see and photograph the first F-16C Block 30 Aircraft, which undergo both ÖZGÜR and Structural Improvement modernizations at TUSAŞ facilities, while its fuselage was being prepared for sanding and painting in Aircraft Paint Workshop. We photographed the second F-16C Block 30 Aircraft, which will undergo both ÖZGÜR and Structural Improvement modernizations at TUSAŞ facilities, while it was being painted in the Corrosion Control and Aircraft Painting Complex (New Paint Workshop). While the first ÖZGÜR Prototype has digital camouflage on it, the ÖZGÜR Aircraft that will be delivered to the Fleet leaves the Factory painted in a gray pattern. After the paint renewal and gray pattern painting processes were completed within 30-32 working days, the F-16C Block 30 Aircraft, which was delivered in early February 2024, became the first ÖZGÜR Project aircraft to be delivered to the unit and started its flights. It is expected that the 1st HBFM will also take part in the F-16C/D Block 30 ÖZGÜR-II Serial Phase, which will include the MURAD AESA Radar integration, and in this context, the integration work on some aircraft will be carried out at the 1st HBFM facilities. The 1st HBFM will also take part in the Serial Phase of the ÖZGÜR-II Modernization Project, which will include F-16C/D Block 40M/50M Aircraft. 

As stated above, the structural improvement/strengthening work that will allow the structural service life of the F-16C/D Block 40M and Block 50M Aircraft in the Turkish Air Force inventory to be extended until 2050 will be carried out with the facilities and capabilities of the 1st Air Maintenance Factory Directorate (HBFM). With this work, it is expected that the structural life of the aircraft will be extended by 4,000 hours, as in the Falcon STAR Structural Improvement work. In this context, the design limit of the structural service life for Block 40M and Block 50M Aircraft will be increased from 8,000 hours to 12,000+ hours.

Eurofighter Tranche 3 Procurement Project

The Eurofighter Typhoon Procurement Project was initiated by the Ministry of National Defence (MSB) to meet the Turkish Air Force's need for modern aircraft with air interception and air superiority capabilities. The project aims to procure two squadrons (20+20 units) of new production Eurofighter Tranche 3 Aircraft (with Leonardo product ECRS Mk-0 AESA Radar), from the UK through BAE Systems Company. The 1st HBFM will play a critical role in the rapid inclusion of the new production Eurofighter Tranche 3 Aircraft into the Turkish Air Force inventory in terms of depot-level maintenance, attitude, and sustainment capability of the aircraft and the EJ200 Turbofan (TF) Engines on them. While England, Spain, and Italy, members of the Eurofighter GmbH Consortium, gave the green light for the sale of Eurofighters to Türkiye, diplomatic contacts and negotiations have been held for about a year to persuade Germany, which objects to the sale.

Eurofighter users, including the UK, sign a Performance Based Logistics (PDL/PBL) Agreement for the maintenance, handling, and maintenance of the aircraft. After quickly bringing the aircraft into the inventory in the first stage in Türkiye, the manufacturer company targets to perform the following under the PDL / PBL Contract for the first 4-5 years in service: to receive service from BAE Systems, to gain the necessary capabilities during this period called the transition period, and to provide the 1st HBFM facilities with all the critical capabilities required for the maintenance and maintenance of both aircraft and engines for the following years, and to carry out the maintenance and overhaul of the Eurofighter Tranche 3 Aircraft on its own. In this context, while Türkiye brings this demand to the agenda in every official meeting, negotiations are also held with BAE Systems for aircraft and Rolls-Royce for EJ200 TF Engines in line with this demand, and there is information that both companies have a positive approach to the issue. The 1st HBFM currently has the Depot-Level Maintenance capability of Rolls-Royce T56 Turboprop Engines. The T56-A-7 TP Engines used in C-130B/E Aircraft were converted into the T56-A-15 model with the T56-A-7/15 Conversion Project launched in the second half of the 90s. As I mentioned above, a BAE Systems delegation visited the 1st HBFM facilities in the first half of December 2023, saw the capabilities on-site, and received information.

The British Royal Air Force (RAF) does not take part in the maintenance and handling activities of the Eurofighter Aircraft in its inventory; only a limited number of personnel working during deployments have been trained in this regard. RAF Coningsby facility is our first HBFM-like facility. Maintenance and overhaul activities of Eurofighter Aircraft and EJ200 TF Engines are carried out in this facility operated by BAE Systems Company. In addition to the training service of the pilots and ground crew working on the aircraft under the 'Typhoon Availability Service (TAS) Contract' signed with the British Ministry of Defence (the first with a 5-year calendar was signed on March 4, 2009), BAE Systems Company; it provides the necessary maintenance, overhaul and technical support services for aircraft, as well as the management of spare parts, repair, and logistics support activities. Private sector workers, not state workers, work at the facility, and personnel from different companies work on the fuselage, avionics, and engines of the aircraft.

Within the scope of the project, negotiations continue with both the partner countries of the Eurofighter Consortium, Germany, England, Italy, and Spain, and the BAE Systems Company. According to the information I have obtained, a BAE Systems delegation visited the 1st HBFM facilities in the first half of December 2023 and examined the capabilities on-site and received information.

Minister of National Defence Yaşar GÜLER, while answering the questions of the MPs during the discussions of the Ministry's 2024 budget at the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye's Planning and Budget Commission on November 16, 2023, announced that the works for the purchase of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets were continuing and said the following: "We want to buy Eurofighter. It is a very effective aircraft. These aircraft concern England, Germany, and Spain. Both England and Spain said 'yes,' and now they are trying to convince Germany. England and Spain say, 'We will solve that problem.' "If possible, we plan to purchase 40 Eurofighter aircraft." During the official visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia MELONI to Türkiye on January 19, 2024, she was accompanied by a large delegation from Italian Defence Industry companies, and the Eurofighter sale was among the agenda items during the bilateral meetings held during the visit. On February 1, 2024, Ministry of National Defence sources pointed out that Türkiye's request for Eurofighter procurement continues and said, "Our request continues. A positive approach to this issue is expected from Germany, one of the consortium countries. Meetings and actions are ongoing." Minister of Defence Yaşar GÜLER went to England for official contact on February 27, 2024, and exchanged views on defence and security issues with British Minister of Defence Grant SHAPPS and Chief of General Staff Admiral Anthony RADAKIN. It is considered that the sale of Eurofighter to Türkiye was also on the agenda during bilateral negotiations. Regarding the Eurofighter Procurement Project, in a statement he made on March 11, 2024, Minister of National Defence GÜLER said, "Our attempts to purchase Eurofighter Aircraft continue. In this context, it would be the right approach for our allies to make decisions in line with the spirit of the Alliance (NATO) and the common security perspective. Our British interlocutors state that they are working to persuade Germany,". During the three-day official visit of German President Frank-Walter STEINMEIER to our country on 22-24 April 2024, the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon Warplanes to Türkiye was among the agenda items, and after the bilateral meeting with STEINMEIER at the Presidential Complex on April 24, at the joint press conference held, President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN said, "I want us to completely remove the restriction we face in the defence industry from our agenda. "We hope that Türkiye and Germany will talk about joint production projects from now on, not obstacles, especially in the field of defence, ". 

In case the Eurofighter sale to Türkiye is finalized, an option such as shifting the Tranche 3 Aircraft produced for the Qatar Emirate Air Force (QEAF) to the Turkish Air Force was also brought up in order to shorten the delivery schedule to meet Türkiye's urgent needs. However, this option is no longer valid as the contract signing has been delayed. As you may remember, a contract worth US$7.5 Billion was signed in 2017 for the supply of a total of 24 Eurofighter T3 Warplanes, 20 of which are single-seat and 8 of which are double-seat configuration, for the Qatar Emirates Air Force. 8 of these aircraft were delivered in 2022 (the first 4 aircraft were delivered on August 15, 2022), and 10 were delivered in 2023. The remaining 4 aircraft are expected to be delivered by mid-2024. If the contract had been signed in 2023, the first Eurofighter T3 delivery to Türkiye could have been made in 2024 with the implementation of this option.

ATILIM Test Rig System

The ATILIM Test Rig System (a testing device that enables ground tests of engines at the highest limits before being installed on the aircraft), which is sold to the world, was developed and produced with national resources at the 1st HBFM facilities. As I stated in the lines above, the 1st HBFM, with its 17 years of experience in the field of laboratory, has also developed a laboratory/test environment for the LM2500 Gas Turbine, for which studies are currently being carried out to gain Depot-Level Maintenance and revision capability.

Aircraft engines are tested in the harshest conditions in the laboratory, taking into account the test criteria determined by the manufacturer, and are put into flight after ensuring their effectiveness. The first prototype of the ATILIM Jet Engine Unit, which is the first and only national turbojet/turbofan engine test system of our country and produced with national resources under the responsibility of the 1st Air Maintenance Factory Directorate, was produced in 2007 and in 2008, as a result of tests that lasted for 1 year, the ATILIM Project was started with the aim of designing and producing a universal shaft tank where the J69, J79, J85, and F110 Engines in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Force Command can be tested. It was targeted that Test Rig is easy to use and user-oriented, and it was targeted to use materials that can be easily obtained from the market in its design and production and to have completely national and domestic design and software. 

As a result of the knowledge, experience, and technological equipment gained through the ATILIM Project, many critical test systems were developed and put into service by the 1st HBFM. The ATILIM Test Rig Systems currently meets the needs of the Air, Land, and Naval Force Commands within the Ministry of National Defence, the Gendarmerie General Command within the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and various defence industry organizations within the scope of Defence Industry Projects.

The project was carried out entirely with local and national means and capabilities, with the contributions of 1st HBFM workers and engineers. Since priority was given to the overhauling the parts of J79 Turbojet Engines (TJ) used in F-4E Airplanes with the decision of the Turkish Air Force, in the first phase, the mechanical units in the 7th AJÜ Command (November 20, 2008), 1st AJÜ Command (November 5, 2009) and 3rd AJÜ Command (February 26, 2010) were replaced with ATILIM Jet Engine Unit. ATILIM Jet Engine Unit became Türkiye's first national general-purpose aircraft engine test system. Therefore, cell tests of J79 TJ Engines are carried out with 3 J79 Turbojet Engine Cells that have been delivered for approximately 16 years. Later, the F110-100/129 Turbofan Engine Bracket was developed for the F-16 Aircraft and started to be used in 2013. Production activities of the F110-100/129 Turbofan Engine Unit were successfully completed on September 30, 2020. All F100 Series TF Engines of the Turkish Air Force have been tested with 6 F110-100/129 Turbofan Engine Test Rigs delivered by 1st HBFM for approximately 14 years. Design and production work for the J85 Turbojet Engine Bay for T-38M/NF-5 2000 Aircraft has started, and its installation is planned to be completed in 2024. Work on the test cell designed for the T56 Turboprop Engine has reached the completion stage. Since the 'zero tolerance' principle is applied in flight safety in the Turkish Air Force, if even one of the hundreds of parameters is in doubt, the operation of that unit is stopped, and all aircraft engines in that unit are transported to another unit by transport planes and are installed on the planes after being tested there. 

Within the scope of the project, a total of 13 ATILIM Piston Engine Units were delivered for the tests of 300 different piston engines used in tanks, armored personnel carriers, and ground support vehicles (RAHVAN) used by the Air and Land Force Commands within the Ministry of National Defence and the Gendarmerie General Command within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In this context, while a total of 7 engine bays were manufactured for the M60 AMT, T-155 FIRTINA K/M Howitzer, KİRPİ MRAP and COBRA APC for the Turkish Land Force Command (completed in 2011), and 4 APC engine bays were manufactured for the Turkish Land Force (completed in 2018), and the design and production works, which started in 2014, of two ATILIM Piston Engine Test Chambers for the RAHVAN Aircraft Towing Vehicle and other ground support equipment, produced by the 2nd Air Maintenance Factory Directorate (Kayseri) and used in aircraft towing operations, were completed in 2015. For the Turkish Land Force, a T700 Turboshaft Engine Test Rig Modernization was completed in 2016 for the T700 Turboshaft Engines used in Cobra, Super Cobra, and Sikorsky Helicopters.

To meet the needs of the Naval Force Command, the design and production of the 4,000kW MTU16V652 Piston Engine Unit for frigate engines was completed in 2019 and delivered to the Istanbul Shipyard Command. The ATILIM LM2500 GT Test Chamber, produced under the project launched in 2020, was established and put into service in 2021. Design work for the 3,500HP Piston Engine Unit for ship engines started in 2023, and its installation is aimed to be completed in 2024.

Within the scope of Defence Industry Projects, the ATILIM National Core Turboshaft Engine Unit was designed and manufactured within the scope of the National Turboshaft Engine Development Project for T625 GÖKBEY and T129 ATAK Helicopters carried out by TEI. This plant, which has the title of being Türkiye's first national R&D Jet Engine Center, made significant contributions to the development of the TS1400 core engine, by designing the vital parts of the core engine in question, such as the fuel system, lubrication system, fuel manifold used on the engine, ejector holders, and cooling system. It was manufactured with the experience and facilities of 1st HBFM. The installation and training work of the ATILIM ALTAY Tank Engine Universal Pump Test System, developed and produced within the scope of the ALTAY AMT Project at BMC Power facilities, were completed on January 27, 2022. Under the Nakhichevan Military Maintenance Factory Test Systems Development Project, in line with the testing needs of gasoline-diesel engines and other sub-accessories in the inventory of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic Army, installed 7 test systems, including ATILIM 300BG Piston Engine Cell, ATILIM 500BG Piston Engine Cell, ATILIM 1.000BG Piston Engine Cell, ATILIM Oil Pump Test System, ATILIM Starter Motor and Alternator Test System, ATILIM Vehicle Compressor Test System and ATILIM Steering Pump Test System has been established. The official opening of these test systems, whose design, manufacturing, installation, and assembly activities were completed, was held on September 25, 2023, with a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN