Turkish Aerospace Corporation (TAI) has big plans for Malaysia, whether or not it wins the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) Light Fighter/Fighter Guided Trainer (LCA/FLIT) competition.
Speaking at DSA, the company’s president and CEO, Professor Temel Kotil, described a firm strategy to expand its recently opened technology centre in Cyberjaya near Kuala Lumpur to 100 people and build its new T625 Gokbey in Malaysia (Skymaster) Multipurpose medium helicopter. Looking for a local partner for the latter job.
Professor Temel outlined Turkish Aerospace’s ambitious plans to become one of the top ten aerospace companies in the world with a turnover of $10 billion by 2028. It is already building or designing four military aircraft, five helicopters, three unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and four satellites. It also provides upgrade programs for four military aircraft and aircraft structures for five original equipment manufacturers.
Temel said the company’s offer for Malaysia’s LCA/FLIT was Hurjet, which was “almost ready to fly”. It is powered by a General Electric (GE) F404, but otherwise an all-Turkish product, including the Havelsan radar. The Turkish Air Force has ordered 16 for delivery in 2025. If Malaysia chooses Hurjet, the integration of the mission system will be done at the Cyberjaya factory. Only the first three Hurjets will be built in Turkey before production shifts to Malaysia.
Turkish Aerospace is also bidding for the RMAF’s request for three Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones, which have accumulated more than 90,000 flight hours. At the show, it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with DEFTECH, the defence subsidiary of Malaysian conglomerate DRB-Hicom, to support the bid.
Professor Temel noted that the company’s Hurkus turboprop trainer is already in service, with avionics similar to those in the Hurjet program, allowing for smooth pilot training. An armed version of the Hurkus is planned.
Chris Pocock
