Turkey has signed agreements to begin license production of the Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters under its Turkish Utility Helicopter ...
Turkey has signed agreements to begin license production of the Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters under its Turkish Utility Helicopter Program (TUHP).
The agreements were signed between the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM), Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TAI) as prime contractor, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. as major subcontractor and three key Turkish aerospace contractors (Aselsan, TEI and Alp Aviation).
The Turkish built S-70i dubbed T70, will be operated by Turkish Land Forces, Turkish Air Force, General Command of Gendarme, Special Forces, Turkish National Police, and the General Directorate of Forestry.
Under the program, TUHP prime contractor Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and TUHP subcontractors Sikorsky, Aselsan, TEI and Alp Aviation will manufacture and deliver 109 T70 helicopters over the next 10 years.
TAI will be responsible for manufacturing, final assembly operations, tests and integrated logistics support of all airframe structures and composite rotor blades.
The T700 turboshaft engine will be build by Turkish Engine Industries (TEI) under a license from General Electric (GE). Aselsan will develop and integrate basic avionics and will co-develop with Sikorsky an enhanced digital cockpit known as the Integrated Modular Avionics System (IMAS). Alp Aviation will carry out production and assembly of landing gears, gearbox and dynamic components.
Turkey's Defence Industry Executive Committee has reported a total program value of $3.5 billion, inclusive of the work to be performed by TAI, Sikorsky and other TUHP partners.
The twin engined S-70 first flew in 1974 and is currently being built by Sikorsky's Polish subsidiary PZL Mielec. Developed in mulitiple variants including Naval, the S-70 forms the backbone of U.S. military's utility helicopter fleet and numerous other export customers.
The agreements were signed between the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM), Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TAI) as prime contractor, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. as major subcontractor and three key Turkish aerospace contractors (Aselsan, TEI and Alp Aviation).
The Turkish built S-70i dubbed T70, will be operated by Turkish Land Forces, Turkish Air Force, General Command of Gendarme, Special Forces, Turkish National Police, and the General Directorate of Forestry.
Under the program, TUHP prime contractor Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and TUHP subcontractors Sikorsky, Aselsan, TEI and Alp Aviation will manufacture and deliver 109 T70 helicopters over the next 10 years.
TAI will be responsible for manufacturing, final assembly operations, tests and integrated logistics support of all airframe structures and composite rotor blades.
The T700 turboshaft engine will be build by Turkish Engine Industries (TEI) under a license from General Electric (GE). Aselsan will develop and integrate basic avionics and will co-develop with Sikorsky an enhanced digital cockpit known as the Integrated Modular Avionics System (IMAS). Alp Aviation will carry out production and assembly of landing gears, gearbox and dynamic components.
Turkey's Defence Industry Executive Committee has reported a total program value of $3.5 billion, inclusive of the work to be performed by TAI, Sikorsky and other TUHP partners.
The twin engined S-70 first flew in 1974 and is currently being built by Sikorsky's Polish subsidiary PZL Mielec. Developed in mulitiple variants including Naval, the S-70 forms the backbone of U.S. military's utility helicopter fleet and numerous other export customers.
Image: An Australian Army S-70A helicopter
