Page 14 - SAHA EXPO 2024 - DAY 3

INTERVIEW already received helicopters exported by
us are looking at additional helicopters to
“We are ahead on quality, increase their squadron strength. There are
also other potential customers that we are
price and logistics support” in contact with and are in negotiation for
new orders. So, we are happy with the suc-
cess of the ATAK helicopter programme.
What are the developments in the Hurjet
and Hurkus programme?
Hurjet is another success story, we already
have signed a contract with the Turkish
Air Force. Many other nations are very
keenly interested and closely watching this
programme and we are working with two
of them, to a level that we are discussing
as to when we can sign the contract. We
are about to start advanced negotiations
with these customers for these platforms.
Hurkus also receiving a lot of interest, after
our signing of the contract with Turkish Air
Force for 55 aircraft. We will also make
the maiden flight of the second Hurjet
prototype before the end of this month.
We will also look to have an armed variant
of the Hurjet later.
There is a huge need for this kind of aircraft
in the training area and we are seeing a
very high potential for that platform. We
are going to deliver the first Hurkus to the
Turkish Air Force next year and the fol-
lowing year we will commence deliveries
Dr Mehmet Demiroğlu, General Manager, Turkish Aerospace of Hurjet. The numbers may differ but we

will begin deliveries with an initial batch
Turkish Aerospace which has a Aerospace? of 3-4 aircraft next year and increasing the
wide range of airborne manned As you are aware, two days ago our Hurjet following years.
and unmanned platforms in de- Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) went super- How are some of your other important
velopment, is showcasing its sonic for the first time. This is the first programmes progressing?
might at the ongoing SAHA Expo. time in our history, that an indigenously We are going to deliver the first Gokbey
designed and developed Turkish aircraft
Speaking to Daily News at the has crossed the speed of sound. This is an helicopter to our Gendarmerie. The Gokbey
show, Dr Mehmet Demiroğlu, incredible thing for us and is a step forward has been certified by Turkish military au-
General Manager, Turkish for the programme. In addition to this, the thorities and is the first helicopter de-
Aerospace outlined the progress ANKA-III our advanced Unmanned Combat signed, developed and manufactured by
Turkish Aerospace. We are continuing with
Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) recently completed
with current programmes and a successful test with a Tolun precision the development of our 10-tonne class
interest from export customers. munition which has been developed by helicopter and will have the maiden test
“From an end user point of view, customers Aselsan. This is another major milestone flight for this helicopter in 2026. We are
want to feel cared for. When they buy a for the programme. We are happy with the focussing more the development of the
platform, it needs to be available when they progress in the design and development of utility helicopter now as compared to the
need it. As a result, logisitics support is very this UCAV and are in discussion with the ATAK 2. These are both being developed
important and this is something we place Turkish Air Force on how they can utilise as platforms that will have a lot of com-
a lot of emphasis on. Our customers are it during testing starting from next year. monalities. They will share whatever can
very happy with the quality of our products, Our other UAV programmes continue to do be shared such as the rotor system, drive-
price and logistics support.” Demiroğlu said, well not only in terms of production and train, avionics and pretty much everything
the airframer is now making best efforts development but also in terms of interest that can be shared on a helicopter will be
to reduce its manufacturing costs, further from the end users from different countries shared. The ATAK 2 helicopter develop-
improve quality and expedite deliveries to is increasing. ment is one step behind and we did this
meet growing customer demand. starting of this year because of the need
Our T-129 ATAK helicopter is a combat for the utility helicopter, for which we plan
What are the latest developments at Turkish proven platform and countries that have to begin deliveries by 2028.

14 OCTOBER-24-2024 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS