Rolls-Royce Aims to Build Comprehensive Range of Activities in Turkey
Defence Turkey: RR has a history as supplier to Turkish Armed Forces, could you please inform us about your activities in Turkey performed over the years?
Rolls-Royce engines have been powering aircraft of the Turkish Armed Forces for many decades, dating back to Spitfires that were operating in the 1940s. Our current fleet of engines in Turkey powers transport aircraft - such as the C-130 and the Transall - and numerous helicopters and is poised to expand as two major programmes enter service. The Turkish Air Force has just accepted its first A400M transport aircraft powered by the TP400 engine, in which Rolls-Royce is a major partner. Meanwhile, deliveries of the T129 ATAK helicopter, which we also power through a joint venture with the CTS800 engine, have also commenced recently. We are now working hard to ensure we have an effective and sustainable support system in place for each of these programmes and to continue to support the Turkish Air Force as it continues its equipment modernisation programme.
Defence Turkey: As it is well known that Turkey has new indigenous programs focused on air platforms such as FX, TX and National Helicopter programs. Could you please inform us about your approach to these programs?
Turkey’s aspirations for indigenous defence capability make this an exciting market for Rolls-Royce which brings with it a rich history of partnership on development programmes. We are able to offer propulsion solutions that deliver capability and technology transfer opportunities for Training, Combat aircraft and Helicopter programmes. Rolls-Royce would be honoured to play a supporting role in the further development of Turkey’s aerospace capabilities. We have engaged with the relevant government and industrial bodies and to offer our full support during the study, development, production and support phases for each project. As a company with a strong global reach, we’re also able to offer assistance at the appropriate time to the export sales of any Turkish national program in which we participate.
Defence Turkey: Could you please inform us about your approach to National Helicopter Programme?
We recognise that Turkish government and industry’s aim is to build on the success of the ATAK program by developing the National Helicopter. Rolls-Royce and its partners have worked with SSM and TAI to develop a propulsion offer which matches this philosophy whilst also meeting industrial participation and development objectives at an affordable cost. We have been very impressed with the collaborative approach taken by all Turkish participants and are sure this has produced an improved result. The National Helicopter Programme is a priority for Rolls-Royce and we await the decision on a propulsion partner for this program which now lies with our Turkish customers.
Defence Turkey: Could you please provide us some information about the other projects that Rolls-Royce is interested in?
Turkey is a key partner for Rolls-Royce as a customer, the home of a number of our critical suppliers and the site of potential future innovation centres. In addition to the FX, TX and National Helicopter programs, we have built a good dialogue with SSM and Turkish industry about future operational and industrial needs. Our aim will be to consistently provide our customers with the very best propulsion options for their future programs. With ATAK and A400M now beginning to enter service Rolls-Royce’s objective will be to deliver the very best level of in service support for these platforms to the Turkish armed forces. It may be that this experience will provide the opportunity to discuss the modernisation of support for the in-service fleet of Rolls-Royce engines as well. We are working with the Turkish aero engine supply chain to build on its already substantial contribution to Rolls-Royce’s global output and would expect this to grow significantly and consistently in future. Finally we are in dialogue with Turkish universities, research centres and appropriate government departments to find the right location for a Turkish/Rolls-Royce innovation centre, one option being explored is for an Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) to be co-located with a leading university. This centre would develop unique production technologies that can be exploited by Turkish industry.
Defence Turkey: Logistics Services became one of the priority targets of Turkey; RR offers a comprehensive suite of services to ensure its customers all enjoy the benefit of renewed engine life and enhanced performance for years to come. Therefore could be any cooperation considered in this field?
Services account for approximately half of our business at Rolls-Royce and we apply the same levels of innovation and technology to supporting our customers as we do to developing new engines. We are in active discussions with the Turkish military, government official and industry bodies on how tailored support packages can lead to cost effect increases in capability for the Turkish Armed Forces. Around the world our MissionCare support has enabled customers to increase the availability of their engine fleets while also reducing the cost of operation and we believe that this can produce similar benefits in Turkey through partnership with military operators and Turkish industry.
Defence Turkey: What are your strategies and plans regarding cooperation, joint production, R&D activities in Turkey to strengthen collaboration with the Turkish Authorities, Defence Industry and Universities?
We have a good relationship with SSM in the Defence field with the intention of assuring that our industrial co-operation planning is aligned with Turkish national policy. Today Turkish industry is already an important partner for the CTS800 engine that powers the A129 ATAK helicopter and the new TP400 European advanced turbo shaft engine. This existing cooperation already covers design and development as well as production. Our aim is to grow our partnership focussed on Turkish national technology development in the fields of research, development, production and support.
We recently signed an MoU with Aselsan in the presence of Dr Ismail Demir to develop cooperation in the field of engine control and monitoring systems.
Rolls-Royce has a proven track record of partnership with industry around the world and with academia, through the development of our global network of University Technology Centres.
Defence Turkey: Would you like to add something and give a message to our readers?
As I mentioned earlier, these are exciting times for the Turkish aerospace industry which is a growing force in the world market. Aspirations are based on firm national fundamentals including a commitment to forming strong long-term partnerships with leading global companies. This approach matches perfectly with the Rolls-Royce strategy. We would like to build on our comprehensive range of activities in Turkey; participating in the modernisation of support to existing fleets, preparing for the entry into service of new equipment, working with our partners to ensure the efficient delivery of advanced production programs and participating in the development of future projects.
