TUSAŞ General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu Explains Company's 10-Year Plans
TUSAŞ General Manager met with press members at the Kahramankazan Facilities to explain the company's current position and future 10-year projections.
Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TUSAŞ) General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu announced that they plan to produce approximately 500 KAAN, HÜRJET and HÜRKUŞ aircraft, and more than 350 GÖKBEY, ATAK, ATAK-2 and similar platforms by 2034, stating that the first delivery of HÜRJET to the Air Force Command will be at the beginning of 2027.
Demiroğlu met with press members at TUSAŞ's Kahramankazan Facilities to explain the company's current position and future 10-year projections.
In the program where detailed information about projects in TUSAŞ production lines was provided, production workshops for KAAN, AKSUNGUR, ANKA, HÜRJET, HÜRKUŞ, GÖKBEY Helicopter, ATAK Helicopter, Wind Tunnel, and USET (Space Research-Satellite Systems) were toured, and engineers provided information about the projects.
In his presentation, TUSAŞ General Manager Demiroğlu stated that 83 ANKA unmanned aerial vehicles and 92 ATAK helicopters are currently serving users.
Expressing that they are expanding into new markets, Demiroğlu said, "We are growing in the African market. We have started work to open our offices in Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and Brazil."
Demiroğlu stated that their turnover approached $3 billion in 2024, and they are targeting $4.3 billion in turnover this year.
Providing information that they have 55 orders for the HÜRKUŞ training aircraft, Demiroğlu said, "We will deliver 10 of these orders this year. We have made 15 HÜRKUŞ aircraft. 5 of them are currently in use, and we plan to deliver 7 more to requesting countries within this year."
We Hope Spain Will Open NATO's Door for Us (for HÜRJET)
Stating that they received orders for 16 HÜRJET aircraft from the Air Force Command, Demiroğlu drew attention to the importance of the agreement they made with Spanish companies led by Airbus last week.
Noting that HÜRJET was selected by Spain to meet their own training aircraft needs, Demiroğlu made the following assessment:
"We implement projects under the coordination of our Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) determines the needs, and we advance projects under SSB's leadership. Regarding HÜRJET, we continue working on what will be done domestically, which companies will do what, and which systems. God willing, we aim to sign contracts totaling over 100 aircraft both with Spain and our own air force within this year. We hope that Spain's door will open NATO's door for us. We are trying our best to make this 'NATO's training aircraft.'"
Emphasizing that countries' seriousness will increase as HÜRJET orders multiply, Demiroğlu stated, "Our first delivery to the Turkish Air Force will be at the beginning of 2027. For Spain, 2028 is currently targeted."
KAAN Process Continues According to Plan
Stating that production of two aircraft continues in the national fighter jet KAAN project, Demiroğlu provided the following information:
"At the end of 2025, beginning of 2026, our second prototype, and a few months later, our third prototype will hopefully have taken to the skies. Therefore, we plan to fly at least two KAANs together in 2025, and three KAANs in our plan. After these tests are completed, we will make three more, and as promised, we plan to deliver our KAAN in blocks to the Turkish Air Force by the end of 2028, beginning of 2029."
We Reached 40,000 Feet with Our Domestic Engine PD170
Explaining that the unmanned aerial vehicle AKSUNGUR has almost the same platform as ANKA but with greater payload capacity and can stay airborne for 52 hours, Demiroğlu said:
"It can travel approximately 3,000 kilometers round trip. This is a very serious strategic product and is in high demand. Our number here is currently 17 but will increase. Good news is that we reached 40,000 feet with our domestic engine PD170 produced by our TEI. A diesel engine reaching 40,000 feet is a very important success. Such a platform reaching 40,000 feet with a diesel engine is another achievement."
ANKA-3 Will Enter Serial Production Phase in 2026
Emphasizing that they achieved many firsts with ANKA-3 UAV prototypes, Demiroğlu said, "We fired from closed and internal weapon and ammunition bays. This is something done for the first time in Turkey. Our work continuing with two prototypes will hopefully enter the serial production phase next year. Both our Air Force and other forces are waiting for this aircraft. Hopefully, we will be expecting good news from the next Executive Committee."
Regarding ANKA-3's entry into inventory, Demiroğlu said:
"There is no clear schedule right now, but we are targeting the first delivery at the end of 2026 or beginning of 2027. When we say first delivery, it becomes the first delivery, but whether we will deliver 5 or 10 after that depends entirely on the agreement we will make with the user, but I can say that we will be able to see these aircraft in inventory as of 2027."
Demiroğlu stated, "When you look at the sky, there is a TUSAŞ signature on every aircraft you see. As TUSAŞ, we work with the world's largest aircraft manufacturers like Boeing, Airbus, Spirit Aerosystems, and we produce parts in more than 400 high-tech production workshops."
We Target $12 Billion Turnover in 2034
Sharing details about the company's projects until 2034, Demiroğlu recorded the following:
"When we look at what we have ahead until 2034, there is production of approximately 500 KAAN, HÜRJET and HÜRKUŞ aircraft. We see production of more than 350 GÖKBEY, ATAK, ATAK-2 and similar platforms. We see nearly 600 ANKA-3, ATAK, ANKA-1, Aksungur and similar platforms. We calculate nearly 20 satellites of various sizes. This means serial production far beyond what we have done so far. Additionally, we target $12 billion turnover in 2034."
International Interest in KAAN
Demiroğlu answered journalists' questions after his statements.
Stating that there is demand from countries like Kazakhstan and Malaysia for satellites made by Turkey, Demiroğlu reported that there are 3-4 countries approaching the contract stage and they are working on different models.
When asked about developments regarding domestic engines, Demiroğlu replied, "The GÖKBEY helicopter engine has progressed considerably. We will start using it in a year or two. KAAN's engine continues. Then will come the 3,000 horsepower engines for these. We will buy from Ukraine for a certain period. Then we will produce our own because we are talking about a total of 600 engines. If we buy 100 from Ukraine, 500 still need us."
When asked about interest in KAAN, Demiroğlu said, "Interest in KAAN is great worldwide, and some countries' interest has increased significantly."
We Have a Goal to Expand Service, Logistics and Spare Parts
Regarding the defense industry's current position, Demiroğlu answered, "The point we have reached today is truly inspiring and exemplary to many countries worldwide, but this road has no end because this is a relay race."
Emphasizing that domestic capability acquisition is always preferred since most systems were previously purchased from abroad, Demiroğlu said they want to and will stand behind their products until the end. Expressing that they want to provide products ready for use whenever needed and don't want the other party to deal with anything else, Demiroğlu said, "Let us deal with everything. Let's create a model that will do this cost-effectively and quickly. We have a goal to expand TUSAŞ's service, logistics and spare parts section. That's where we will grow fastest. Maybe that will be where we generate the most turnover in 5 years."
Demiroğlu explained that a 10-year Procurement Program (OYTEP) is prepared by the General Staff and forces, equipment procurements and needs are met in this program or within their own structures, and then shared with them through SSB.
We Expect Good News About HÜRJET's Engine Any Day Now
Regarding the effects of lifting sanctions on the defense industry and engine procurement, Demiroğlu answered, "We have our absolute necessities. We must make KAAN. We must also make KAAN's engine. The same applies to HÜRJET. When you cannot get the system in the project, you have to do this."
Referring to developments regarding HÜRJET's engine, Demiroğlu said, "We expect good news about HÜRJET's engine any day now."
TUSAŞ is a National and Global Company
Drawing attention to the fact that TUSAŞ provides employment opportunities to nearly 16,000 people, Demiroğlu said that more than 10,000 personnel joined the company in the last 10 years.
Demiroğlu recorded the following:
"TUSAŞ is a national and global company. It has offices in America, Asia, Europe and Africa. TUSAŞ offices are located in two branches in America, in Germany, France, Spain in Europe, in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Malaysia and most recently Indonesia in Asia. In line with our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's vision of domestic and national defense industry, 125 of the localization activities adopted as a mission have been implemented, and more than 330 localization projects continue. With these nationalization projects, $1 billion per year will remain in our country."
TUSAŞ'ın Kahramankazan Tesisleri'nde basın mensuplarıyla bir araya gelerek şirketin geldiği noktayı ve gelecek 10 yıllık projeksiyonunu anlattı.
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