Turkish Aerospace and Havelsan sign cooperation agreement for Turkish Fighter Aircraft program.

President of Defence Industry Professor. İsmail Demir announced that cooperation agreement was signed between Turkish Aviation and Space Industry (TUSAŞ) and HAVELSAN, to carry out development and production processes for the Turkish Fighter Aircraft (TF-X).

A full-scale mock-up of the Turkish Fighter was unveiled during Paris Air Show 2019 (Picture source: Air Recognition)

“With this cooperation, TUSAŞ and HAVELSAN will carry out many works such as software development, simulation, training and maintenance simulators. When the National Combat Aircraft Development project is completed, our country will be among the countries with the infrastructure and technology that can produce a 5th generation combat aircraft after the USA, Russia and China”, Demir said.

The TF-X (Turkish Fighter – Experimental) is a proposed twin-engine all-weather air superiority fighter being developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI)/Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayii A.Ş. (TUSAŞ, “Turkish Aviation and Space Industry”) with technological assistance from BAE Systems. he aircraft is planned to replace F-16 Fighting Falcons of the Turkish Air Force and to be exported to foreign air forces.

The aircraft is scheduled to make its first flight by 2025 and enter service by 2028.

The aircraft is scheduled to make its first flight by 2025 and enter service by 2028. (Picture source: Air Recognition)