The New Anatolian, Ankara: Aiming to improve the defense industry, Turkey has decided to design and produce an aircraft The Defense Industry Undersecretariat has ordered the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) to design and manufacture an aircraft which will look like a jet, by 2008. It will be a basic training aircraft which will be produced completely in Turkey.
Craving a larger share in the giant defense-industry pie, Turkey is planning to make a new venture into the sector. Turkey will design and manufacture an aircraft, which will be a 100 percent domestic production. The Defense Industry Undersecretariat (SSM) has ordered the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) to design an aircraft
which will look like a jet. The aircraft is expected to be ready by 2008. It's estimated that the world's armies will need some 800 units of a basic training aircraft in the following 12 to 15 years. The TAI intends to get a share of the international market with this aircraft.
Turkish Air Forces Command has been working on a “basic training aircraft” for a while to meet its own needs for training jet pilots. Included in the project will be the tendering of a contract for the procurement of basic training aircraft to replace the current T-37 aircraft. The first aircraft will be bought in 2007. At the same time, the SSM has decided to benefit from its domestic resources as well. It has ordered the TAI to design and manufacture an aircraft by 2008. Turkish aviation will for the first time manufacture an aircraft, including its certification, completely under the supervision of TAI engineers.
The first Turkish aircraft will be a propeller plane that will look like a jet. This project will also pave the way for Turkey to develop training aircraft through domestic sources. It's estimated that the world will need 800 units of basic training aircraft in the following 12 to 15 years, the TAI is aiming to get a share in the international market with this aircraft. Turkish defense authorities say that they give great importance to the project, which they say will grant prestige to Turkey.
Tanks payments rescheduled
The modernization of the Turkish Land Forces' M-60 tanks was earlier awarded to the Israeli firm IAI. Some 180 tanks are to be modernized in the first stage of the $600 million project. However, the Israeli concern did not meet the timetable for testing the first prototype in summer and winter tests. As the project faced a six-month delay, Turkey decided to suspend payments to the firm.
With a new agreement signed with Israel, the timetable for these tests was rescheduled. The tanks will be tested in Israel this summer and will be brought to Turkey in October for their winter test.
Moreover, the first agreement stipulated automatic payments without Turkey being privy to the progress of the project. The new agreement replaces this condition and sets down that Turkey will make payments only in the case that each stage is completed successfully. Ankara will resume the suspended payments of $85 million following the performance of the prototype in its summer test.
