Turkish Indigenous Helicopter Programme Gaining Momentum
In accordance with the contract for the Indigenous Helicopter Development Programme signed in 2013 between the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) and TAI, the groundbreaking ceremony for the facilities in which the test laboratories will be featured and development, production and sub-system integration activities of the prototype helicopters will be conducted was held at TAI’s facilities in Kazan, Ankara.
The Undersecretary for Defence Industries Prof. İsmail Demir, General Manager of the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation (TAFF) Mr. Orhan Akbaş, Aselsan’s Chairman of the Board Mr. Mustafa Şeker, SSM’s Deputy Undersecretary Mr. Celal Sami Tüfekçi, Head of Unmanned and Smart System Department of SSM; Mr Yakup Taşdelen, SSM Helicopters Department Head of Helicopter Department of SSM; Mr. Köksal Liman, Head of Industrialization Department of SSM; Mr. Bilal Aktaş, Aselsan’s General Manager Dr. Faik Eken and many executives attended the ceremony hosted by TAI Chairman of the Board Mr. Nejat Bilgin and TAI’s General Manager Mr. Muharrem Dörtkaşlı.
In TAI’s written statement, it was mentioned that within the Indigenous Helicopter Programme conducted by the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries and TAI, 5 ton class helicopters that are suitable for civil and military use and certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the General Directorate of Civil Aviation were being developed. Moreover, in the statement, notifying that the project’s pre-design stage was about to be completed, it was reported that the helicopters were expected to conduct flights within 2018 and then would be put into service in 2020.
Design of Avionic Systems is undertaken by Aselsan
On the same day with the groundbreaking ceremony, a sub-contractor agreement on the development and integration of the avionic systems to take part within these Indigenous Helicopters was signed by TAI and Aselsan. Within the scope of this agreement, Aselsan will be conducting the design of the avionic system (avionics) composed of approximately 40 equipages in the civil and military configuration. These avionic systems to be developed are determined to be in a modern structure with high-end technology that would support a competitive and innovative stance for the Indigenous Helicopters in the world markets.
