Turkey to showcase local arms system at Farnborough

ANKARA

Turkey is seeking to woo international buyers with its locally co-manufactured assault helicopter ATAK and unmanned aerial vehicle ANKA, both of which were developed by the Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI), during the Farnborough International Airshow. The show comes amid the Turkish defense industry’s intensified marketing efforts.

The T-129 attack helicopter ATAK, which is co-produced by Italy’s AgustaWestland and the TAI, is scheduled to showcase three flights as part of the program. The first flight at Farnborough took place yesterday and the helicopter is expected to hit the skies again today and tomorrow as well.
ANKA, a drone that Turkey has been trying to indigenously develop and manufacture, will be also exhibited at the airshow, which started on July 14 and will continue until July 20.

Late last year, the Turkish government signed up with TAI for an order of 10 ANKAs and ground stations. As part of the deal, the first serial production deliveries will take place between 2016 and 2018.

Local engineers at TAI have completed production of nine helicopters since signing a contract with AugustaWestland in 2007 and five more helicopters are still being worked on. The contract comprised of the design and production of 59 helicopters worth around a total of $3.3 billion.

Satisfied with the army’s demand for the systems, the TAI has been looking to attract buyers from overseas to sell its indigenous arms.

According to a statement released by the TAI, the company will also sign an ejection seat sub-contract with British seat manufacturer Martin Baker for its indigenously manufactured local training plane Hürkuş on the sidelines of the show.

The TAI had inked a deal with the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) for the serial production of the domestic basic trainer aircraft on Dec. 26, which involves the production of 15 Hürkuş-Bs, an advanced version with advanced avionics for the Turkish army.