Page 8 - DIMDEX 2022 Day 1 - Online Magazine

Design Review (PDR) later this year.

“AFTER THE ROLL-OUT NEXT
YEAR, WE PLAN TO CONDUCT
THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE FIRST
PROTOTYPE (P-1) IN 2025. WE
PLAN TO STARTING DELIVERIES
IN 2029 TO OUR PRIMARY

CUSTOMER, THE TUAF,” he said.
“BASED ON OUR ASSESSMENT
OF THE TUAF REQUIREMENT,
WE ARE EXPECTING A
MINIMUM INITIAL ORDER
OF ABOUT 120 -140 UNITS,
” HE SAID, “THOUGH OUR
COUNTRY’S PRESIDENCY
OF DEFENSE INDUSTRY
DECIDES THE PROCUREMENT
PROCESSES.”

For the first time in Asia, Turkish
Aerospace showcased a full-scale
mock-up of the Turkish Fighter at the just
concluded Singapore Airshow. “We sense
a lot of opportunities for this fighter and
its related technologies in the Middle East
and Asia Pacific region, where we already
have established customers, including for
our T129 attack helicopters (Philippines).”
These regions are very important for
expanding the company’s business. “We
are open to making strategic decisions,
and collaborations in production-oriented
activities, and are working on new busi-
ness models,” he informed. The official
said that once the engineering activi-
ties on all the critical technologies are
accomplished (e.g. increased situational
awareness, sensor fusion, low observabil-
ity, weapon bay, …etc), which are needed
TURKISH FIGHTER TO by a 5th generation (or beyond) jet
fighter aircraft, within the scope of TF-X
ROLL OUT NEXT YEAR Program, Turkey will become one of the
few countries to possess the necessary
technologies, engineering infrastructure
and production capabilities.
Turkish Aerospace plans to roll out the “WE HAVE CHOSEN MARCH Within the scope of TF-X Programme,
Turkish Fighter (TF)/MMU, an indige- 18, 2023, A DAY CELEBRATED Turkey will become one of the few
nously designed and developed multi-role AS ÇANAKKALE VICTORY AND countries to possess the necessary
aircraft, in March 2023. The aircraft, technologies, engineering infrastructure
designed mainly for air-to-air role with MARTYRS’ DAY FOR THE ROLL and production capabilities. “The TF is

a consideration to air-to-surface roles OUT,” a senior company official said. planned to be kept operational in the
as well, will meet the Turkish Air Force TurAF inventory until 2070s and will be
(TuAF) requirements beyond 2030s, and The twin-engined TF-X programme interoperable with other critical assets of
will replace the ageing F-16 fleet of TuAF. is scheduled to reach the Preliminary TurAF such as F-35As,” he added.

8 DIMDEX 2022