TR Attack & Utility Helicopter Programs

[godel44]

TUSAS general manager said in the interview yesterday that the first Gokbey helicopters will be delivered to Gendarmerie in August.

 

[TheInsider]

Certificates are good things, but Turkey doesn't need an EASA certificate to deliver a Turkish helicopter to a Turkish government agency.

Unless those choppers will also be used in civilian tasks(FYI they will be)
If a helicopter without a civilian certification crashes when used for civilian tasks, you can sue responsible parties.

 

[zio]

Does this one have TS-1400 or nah?

No ,TS-1400 tests are not finished yet,on the gökbey heli.

 

[Oublious]

First delivery Gokbey will be Gendarmery 30 August, total 26 will be deliverd to instutions and after that second contract talks with SSB.

They are talking 2027+ years later first TS1400 will be certified

 

[zio]

First delivery Gokbey will be Gendarmery 30 August, total 26 will be deliverd to instutions and after that second contract talks with SSB.

They are talking 2027+ years later first TS1400 will be certified

Military certification would not be so long.

 

[zio]

T925 design changed,project management of Tusaş is not good,everyone accept for hürkuş design change is a common for a institution that did not made any aircraft before,but years after gökbey they should not make a mistake second to hürkuş,I can guess most of the problems comes from our military but tusaş is also making mistakes.

 

[Fairon]

First delivery Gokbey will be Gendarmery 30 August, total 26 will be deliverd to instutions and after that second contract talks with SSB.

They are talking 2027+ years later first TS1400 will be certified

So T925 is changing to be more like T70. I am guessing that part of the reason for that is to make it fit in the ship hangars. Navy might not satisfied with navalized Gökbey idea and requested a Turkish Seahawk.(Navalized Gökbey's still can be used as a stop gap( with Lynx like configuration) and later fully replace the AB-212's after T925).

 

[Strong AI]

The first tweet stated "domestic and national T70", glad they fixed it.

Our T70 helicopter is ready to serve at any time to be the breath of our forests.

With the power of our T70, which can be used in cargo, air ambulance, search and rescue and coastal security roles as well as firefighting; we will continue to stand by our beloved nation in all disasters that occur in our country.

We will always work with all our might for the survival of our unique homeland and the peace and security of our beloved nation.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1826187398406959317

 

[Sanchez]

So the total T70 deliveries as of august 24 is currently standing at 14, good info to have. First delivery was to JnGK back in december 22, so that's 14 helicopters in 19 months. Hope the license is extended by the Americans or this will be one let down and joke of a program.
-
And to add, if the license is not extended, get ready for an enlarged T625 or miniaturized T925, because a T70 sized helicopter is a literal necessity. And that's another 2-3 billion in the drain.

 

[Strong AI]

So the total T70 deliveries as of august 24 is currently standing at 14, good info to have. First delivery was to JnGK back in december 22, so that's 14 helicopters in 19 months. Hope the license is extended by the Americans or this will be one let down and joke of a program.
-
And to add, if the license is not extended, get ready for an enlarged T625 or miniaturized T925, because a T70 sized helicopter is a literal necessity. And that's another 2-3 billion in the drain.

Zero deliveries since January 2024.
Looks like TAI has a license for 109 pieces.

"As of January 2024, 14 helicopters have been delivered under the project, while production is underway for nine helicopters, and assembly activities continue for 19 helicopters."

https://www.tusas.com/en/products/helicopter/co-development-production/t70

EDIT:

But didn't TurAF get one two weeks ago? So 15 are delivered?

 

[boredaf]

If we are not going to renew the license we really should try to get a license agreement for AW101 from AgustaWestland. It is heavier than S-70, but all of our military branches, including navy can use it (if it fits our hangars) and it is from a company we have already gotten one license from. Plus, its motors are Rolls Royce so that shouldn't be too much of a problem as well. We could really use some heavy lifters until T-925 is ready.

 

[Sanchez]

J-6001, first production T625 Gökbey for Gendarme is in Güvercinlik joint base, presumably for more trials and/or certification tests. J-6001 was rolled off in 2022 and is still not officially delivered to JnGK.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1826543311777149378

 

[Ahlatshah]

From EASA Aircraft Certification:

Aircraft certification | EASA

Before a newly developed aircraft type or change to this aircraft type may enter into operation, it must obtain a type certificate or change approval from the responsible aviation regulatory authority. Since 2003, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is responsible for the...

www.easa.europa.eu

"The 4 steps of the type certification process:

1. Technical familiarisation and certification basis
   The aircraft design organisation presents the project to EASA when it is considered to have reached a sufficient degree of maturity. The latest safety and environmental protection requirements (certification basis) that are in place at the date of the application are the set starting point for the certification process.
   
2. Establishment of the certification programme
   The applicant needs to propose a certification programme that also covers the certification basis for novel or unusual design features and the means to demonstrate compliance with each requirement of the certification basis, which needs to be accepted by EASA. This goes hand in hand with the identification of EASA’s “level of involvement” during the certification process.
   
3. Compliance demonstration
   The applicant must demonstrate compliance of its product with regulatory requirements: among others, the structure, engines, control systems, electrical systems and flight performance are analysed against the certification basis. This compliance demonstration is done by analysis, simulations, flight tests, ground tests (such as tests on the structure to withstand bird strikes, fatigue tests) and other means. Depending on the risk, EASA experts perform a detailed examination of this compliance demonstration, by document reviews in their offices in Cologne, test witnessing and other means.
   This is the longest phase of the certification process. In the case of large aircraft, the period to complete the certification project with the agreed certification basis is set at five years and may be extended, if necessary.
   
4. Technical closure and issue of approval
   If technically satisfied with the compliance demonstration by the applicant, EASA closes the investigation and issues the certificate."
   
   

   J-6001, first production T625 Gökbey for Gendarme is in Güvercinlik joint base, presumably for more trials and/or certification tests. J-6001 was rolled off in 2022 and is still not officially delivered to JnGK.

   Certification programs EASA or not, take time. Also there may be some technical difficulties, these processes are perfectly normal. What is not normal is the created expectations about T625 entering services as soon as it flies.

 

[Saithan]

so what's keeping us from building 8 of these and having 1-2 go through certification process etc. while we test flight the begesus of the remaining 6, stress test, and try to reach at least 1000+ flight hours on them, if we're confident enough that they'll pass the process.

 

[Sanchez]

Certification programs EASA or not, take time. Also there may be some technical difficulties, these processes are perfectly normal. What is not normal is the created expectations about T625 entering services as soon as it flies.

T625 first flew in 2018. We didn't create the expectations, they were claimed by the company GM at the time.

This aircraft was to be delivered to gendarme in Q1 2023, which was already a delayed date, because first 3 T625s were to be delivered to gendarme in 2022. Going even further, originally first delivery was to be made in Q4 2021, which was later updated to 1 T625 by H2 2022, which was later revised to first delivery in Q1 2023, then revised to Q4 2023, and we currently do not have any dates.

"The first batch of 3 helicopters is expected to be delivered in 2022. The delivery date for the T625 GÖKBEY was previously planned as October 29, 2021, which was later updated as 'mid-2022'."

Defence Turkey Magazine

www.defenceturkey.com

"Kotil announced that they will deliver the first GÖKBEY helicopter to the Gendarmerie General Command towards the end of 2022."

TUSAŞ 2022 yılında Jandarma'ya ilk Gökbey helikopterini teslim edecek

TUSAŞ, 2022 yılında Jandarma Genel Komutanlığı'na 3 adet GÖKBEY genel maksat helikopteri teslim edecek

www.defenceturk.net

 

[Sanchez]

J-6001, first production T625 Gökbey for Gendarme is in Güvercinlik joint base, presumably for more trials and/or certification tests. J-6001 was rolled off in 2022 and is still not officially delivered to JnGK.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1826543311777149378

Seems this was from last year when it visited there and not recent. Sad, we are passing another claimed delivery date, which was August 2024 for 2 T625s.

 

[boredaf]

Seems this was from last year when it visited there and not recent. Sad, we are passing another claimed delivery date, which was August 2024 for 2 T625s.

I'm beginning to wish we had a different company focused solely on helicopters and related systems.

 

[Agha Sher]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1829510193451041026

T-625 delivery?

 

[Sanchez]

Looks great! Still not delivered though. Another wasted promised delivery date, but at least we get an eye candy this time. Delivery should be soon.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1829510044687179974

 

[Fuzuli NL]

They look magnificent!