The Gendarmerie General Command has for the first time deployed the indigenous general-purpose helicopter GÖKBEY in commando training activities. According to the official statement, “Boarding and Disembarking from a Helicopter Training” was carried out in practice with the participation of trainees attending the 39th Term Gendarmerie Specialist Sergeant Commando Basic Course at the Kastamonu Gendarmerie Commando Training Center Command. During the training, the GÖKBEY helicopter was used for the first time.

Another notable aspect of the activity was the number of participants. According to the information shared by the Gendarmerie General Command, the training was conducted with 2,555 trainees, making it the highest-attendance activity of its kind to date. This shows that GÖKBEY was not used merely in a symbolic demonstration, but in a large-scale and intensive training event involving a substantial number of personnel.

The training in Kastamonu also represents an important milestone in integrating GÖKBEY into the operational needs of Türkiye’s security forces. Boarding and disembarking drills are among the core elements of commando preparation, particularly in terms of air mobility, rapid deployment, and operational readiness. In that respect, the first-time use of GÖKBEY in this training indicates that the indigenous helicopter is beginning to move beyond inventory status and become part of the operational training cycle.

The timing of the announcement is also significant. The emphasis on “for the first time” in official statements suggests that the platform’s growing visibility within the security establishment is being highlighted as a symbol of Türkiye’s expanding indigenous aviation capability. This points not only to a practical training development, but also to the broader institutional importance attached to GÖKBEY.

Overall, the use of GÖKBEY in commando training demonstrates that Türkiye is placing its domestically developed air platforms not only into production and service, but also into the training and operational preparation chain. This development may signal a broader future role for the indigenous helicopter within the Gendarmerie and other security units.