Hürkuş-B Serial Production Agreement Signed by TAI and SSM
According to the Resolution of Defence Industry Executive Committee (SSIK) dated 26 September 2013, launching the negotiations with TAI on the serial production of “Hürkuş” aircrafts has been decided in order to cover Air Forces Command’s New Generation Basic Training Aircraft requirements. Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM), TAI and Air Forces Command reached an understanding during the contract negotiations and the mass production agreement regarding Hürkuş-B New Generation Training Aircraft between SSM and TAI was signed within such a short period of three months.
Undersecretary for Defence Industries Mr. Murad Bayar, TAI Chairman of the Board Mr. Yalçın Kaya, TAI President and CEO Mr. Muharrem Dörtkaşlı, Commanders of Air Forces Command, representatives from SSM and many defence industry representatives attended the ceremony held at TAI’s Akıncılar facilities.
In his speech at the ceremony, TAI Chairman of the Board Mr. Yalçın Kaya pointed out that they now reached to a milestone at the Hürkuş program which has been conducted since 2006 and said “I believe that our local contribution will continue increasingly through Hürkuş-B aircrafts that shall enter into the Air Forces Command’s inventory within the scope of New Generation Basic Training Aircraft contract. I wish this Mass Production Contract, which we will sign, brings good fortune to all of us”.
TAI President and CEO mentioned that, as TAI, they assumed a task on developing the Hürkuş Basic Training Aircraft in January 2005 with a resolution of SSIK and added “I believe that this decision taken at that period is highly important. I would like to thank once more to all people who took part in the process at that time for their contribution to the industry. We have been through many novelties with the mass production resolution of SSIK. The conversion of a resolution declared on 26 September into a contract within three-months-period is a great success. I congratulate SSM, Air Forces Personnel and all my friends in charge that have contributed”.
Dörtkaşlı stated that they have accomplished the maiden flight on 29 August within the scope of Hürkuş-A program and added “15 sortie flights have been done so far. This campaign shall continue until the EASA and SHGM certifications are completed in 2015. With SSIK’s resolution regarding Hürkuş-B, military glass cockpit configuration has come up of which we shall assume the avionic integration with Aselsan”.
Stating that the Air Forces Command adopted the Hürkuş Progam committedly and motivated TAI in this respect, TAI President and CEO Mr. Muharrem Dörtkaşlı continued, “Air Forces Command has always motivated and supported our company in this regard and shared its opinions that could take us further, the Command had alternatives yet it selected our company with the SSIK resolution. The government took the responsibility until now and this time it’s our turn to assume the responsibility. We shall deliver the aircraft in a timely manner as a high quality first-class product. We believe Hürkuş-B and Hürkuş-C will bear the same export potential as Anka and Atak”.
TAI President and CEO Mr. Muharrem Dörtkaşlı mentioned that they would be working collectively with Aselsan, Selex, Savronik, Fotoniks and approximately 30 sub-industry companies in this Project and told that all stakeholders’ aim was to deliver the Project in time.
In his remark, Undersecretary for Defence Industries Mr. Murad Bayar stated that they were more than happy with the present developments and added, “When Hürkuş accomplished its maiden flight I read a statement telling that this could be considered as a small step for the World whereas it is a great step for Turkey. Indeed there are nearly 20 countries that could manufacture such aircrafts and operate them in the World. Turkey has to catch up with the World after the unproductive 70-years-period and I strongly believe that Hürkuş is a great start in this respect”. Undersecretary for Defence Industries Mr. Murad Bayar expressed that they have gained considerable experience in design development and completion of prototype stages in aviation in the last ten years and continued, “We have not delivered a product ready for operation yet but within the next ten years all our products will become ready for operation. Our main goal will be to bring our products such as the Anka, Atak of which we are getting prepared for the first delivery, FX-TX Project and last but not least Hürkuş into the service of our Armed Forces”. Bayar pointed that Hürkuş-B will have a full digital glass cockpit and added “This model will be equipped with military avionics and go through military certifications. Later on, within the scope of this contract, and according to the instruction laid by the SSIK, the conceptual design of Hürkuş-C version will be conducted simultaneously with the delivery of the B configuration. This version is not only for training purposes, it will be equipped with the Reconnaissance and Surveillance, close air support and certain armed functions”. Bayar mentioned that there were only 4 aircrafts in this category in the World and said “We hope that as these models enter into Turkish Armed Forces’ it would attract the air forces of the World. There are some studies conducted in World on the effective utilization of such aircrafts. Benefitting from such aircrafts in close air support concept is supported more nowadays. Utilizing combat aircrafts especially in Asymmetrical operations is neither cost-efficient nor effective. Such platforms could execute combat aircraft functions as they are capable of low-altitude flying and with their capacity of speed and maneuvering. I believe these platforms would be used by Turkish Air Forces in such tasks”.
Hürkuş-A Civil Type Certification in 2016
SSM Project Manager Mr. Osman Soylu gave a detailed presentation on Hürkuş program. In his presentation, Soylu mentioned that Hürkuş-A Development project started in 2006 with a SSIK Resolution. He informed the participants that within the scope of the Project design, prototype production of 2 prototype aircrafts and 2 structural test aircrafts and their civil type certification confirming the availability for flight from EASA and SHGM are aimed. Soylu stated that according to the project schedule contract regarding the Hürkuş-A aircraft has been signed in 2006 and its preliminary design has been accomplished in 2007-2008. He mentioned that the critical design has been completed in the first quarter of 2009 and the aircraft’s installation has been done in the first quarter of 2010. Soylu underlined that the aircraft has been rolled-out of the hangar in the summer of 2012 and following the ground tests maiden flight has been accomplished on 29 August 2013. Soylu made significant remarks regarding the future of the Project. Soylu said “Flight tests of Hürkuş-A are continuing. We are projecting the completion of the Civil Type Certification process with the production of the second prototype in 2014. We envisage both aircrafts getting tested together towards the end of 2015 after finishing the remaining tests”.
Hürkuş-A to Accomplish 500 Sorties within Two Years
The Development Program Agreement for the prototype production of Hürkuş-A Aircraft has been signed in March 2006 between the SSM and TAI based on a resolution of the SSIK declared in January 2005. Within the framework of this program, design, development, test and verification, production and certification of the prototype of an indigenous training aircraft and formation of a technical data package for the system have been aimed. For the Hürkuş-A Aircraft obtaining type certification from the General Directorate of Civil Aviation/ European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The aircraft with an analog cockpit made its maiden flight on 29 August 2013. Following the flight and ground tests of 500 sortie flights within nearly two years, the required certification process of the New Generation Basic Training Aircraft of Hürkuş-A configuration is expected to be completed in 2016.
Hürkuş-B to use Glass Cockpit
SSM Project Manager Mr. Osman Soylu, presented detailed information on the new systems and avionics related with the Hürkuş-B model. Soylu stated that 270 equipment existed in Hürkuş-A version and added “We will be using all the systems in Hürkuş-B configuration. Of course there will be some minor alterations. The Impulse System, Pilot Rescue System will be modified. During the transition from Hürkuş-A model to Hürkuş-B model one of the most significant changes will be the transition from the Analog Cockpit to Glass Cockpit. Several changes in main systems are also expected. A central control task computer shall be designed and manufactured under the responsibility of Aselsan. Graphical MFD image display monitor will be produced, the Radio MXF-484 used in KT-1s will be used, and Digital Communication System will be accomplished digitally for the first time. Moreover, for the identification friend or foe system the system of KT-1’s will be used the logistical partnership considered and INS/GPS system will be developed nationally by Aselsan”. Soylu made remarks regarding the changes in the Head-up Display and said “Fotoniks company will be our producer in the transition from Tubular Head-Up Display to Digital Head-Up Display. Fotoniks will also be in charge during the purchase of the control panel. Rudder System, Stall System, Radar Altimeter and Digital Video Data Recording System shall be the other additional system in the transition from Hürkuş-A model to Hürkuş-B model”. Soylu expressed that the certification standard featured in this model and said “The systems produced by Aselsan will be based on the military certifications”.
First Delivery of Hürkuş-B model in 2018
Following the signature of the mass production agreement on 26 December 2013, the project schedule shall proceed as follows: System requirements will be reviewed in the first quarter of 2014. Preliminary design and Critic design stages are expected to be accomplished in 15 months after the contract is signed. Hürkuş-B model shall be making its maiden flight in the 42. month and the first delivery of the aircraft is foreseen to be made in the first quarter of 2018. Following the delivery of the first aircraft remaining 14 aircrafts are planned to be delivered in 2019-2020. The Armed Hürkuş-C model’s Mock-up Demo and Conceptual design formation process that will be conducted simultaneously with this project is estimated to take 1,5 years. According to this the process will be completed in the third quarter of 2015.
70% Local Content Rate in Hürkuş-B Model
Aselsan, Fotoniks, Savronik, Selex companies shall conduct the system development activities and 25 new sub-industry firms assume parts/gear production within the scope of the Hürkuş B project. Alp Havacılık is expected to accomplish the manufacturing of the landing gear within the context of the efforts of nationalizing the sub-systems of Hürkuş-B model. The local content rate is aimed at 70% in the project.
