Turkish aerospace precision component manufacturer Alp Aviation has signed an agreement with Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, to produce landing gear assemblies for Black Hawk helicopters. 

Approved for an initial five years, the agreement will contribute export earnings to the Turkish national economy while providing Sikorsky an additional source of Black Hawk main and tail landing gears.

“This agreement is a direct outcome of Alp Aviation’s leading role as the manufacturer of dynamic components and assemblies for the Turkish Utility Helicopter Program’s T70 helicopter, and subsequent Black Hawk aircraft to be produced in Turkey for the international market,” said Mr. Bill Gostic, Vice President of Sikorsky Global Military Systems & Services. “Alp has become a valued international source of precision machined parts, and can produce these assemblies at a competitive price.” 

Sikorsky will continue to source Black Hawk landing gear assemblies from vendors in the United States.

Based in Eskisehir, Alp is a 50/50 joint-venture partnership with Sikorsky, and currently one of the largest aerospace companies in Turkey. Alp produces dynamic and other precision machined components for Black Hawk and Seahawk helicopters, as well as components for leading aerospace companies, including Lockheed Martin.

“We are proud of this accomplishment and to further strengthen our relationship with Sikorsky,” said Mr. Senay Idil, General Manager, Alp Aviation. “We will continue to work hard in bringing the most up-to-date technology to Turkey and increasing our work share in Sikorsky platforms. We have demonstrated our ability and are committed to meeting Sikorsky’s high quality, cost and delivery standards. We have achieved this by investing in not only manufacturing technologies, but our people. As a company, we are eager to help Sikorsky capitalize on significant growth opportunities.”

Alp will be the sole supplier of Turkish-built landing gear assemblies for the Turkish Utility Helicopter Program, a major industrialization initiative led by TAI, which will produce the Republic of Turkey’s new T70 utility helicopter based on the Black Hawk platform. 

Turkey has been operating Black Hawk helicopters since 1988, and currently has purchased more than 100 aircraft to date.