Turkey's largest aviation company aims to become one of the world's top 10 firms in the industry by 2028, its CEO said on Wednesday.
Speaking in Istanbul at the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF), one of the world's largest global defense events, Temel Kotil of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) told reporters about the company's targets and projects for the coming years.
With several ongoing helicopter projects, TAI aims to be among the world's top six firms in this sector as well, said Kotil, adding that it would also work to become a global brand in the field of composites, boosting its current capabilities to process various materials such as titanium and aluminum.
Companies like TAI are technological and engineering heavens in Turkey, he underlined, adding that the firm's products and projects were exportable and that every product is manufactured to be sold to Turkey and friendly countries.
Touching on the firm's Hurjet project for an advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft, Kotil said the maiden flight is currently scheduled for the end of 2022,
The hull of the TF-X fighter jet that TAI is developing as another of its projects, he added, has been specially designed for stealth.
Kotil also said that the jet's parts will be produced by several companies, including defense giant Aselsan and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), under TAI's coordination.
The jet will be a fifth-generation combat aircraft, in the same category as the US F-35 and F-22, or the Russian SU-35, he highlighted.
"We want to produce the world's best aircraft, and we will," he added.
Kotil also said that the first real-size model of this aircraft will be showcased in the Paris Air Show this year.
In 2023, Hurjet and helicopter gunship Atak-2 will fly and the TF-X will be rolled out, he added.
He also said that the Gokbey helicopter has a high-quality transmission system thanks to the prowess of Turkish engineers working on the project.
