Turkey’s aerospace powerhouse Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) is on the verge of a major milestone in its indigenous aircraft development journey. During a press briefing at TUSAŞ’s Kahramankazan facilities, CEO Mehmet Demiroğlu stated that a breakthrough announcement on HÜRJET’s engine is expected imminently, saying, “We’re expecting good news about the HÜRJET engine any day now.”

Demiroğlu emphasized that TUSAŞ’s 2024 revenue neared $3 billion, with a target of $4.3 billion for 2025. The company continues its global expansion, with new offices planned in Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and Brazil, alongside ongoing growth in Africa’s defense market.

The event featured detailed briefings and production line tours for flagship programs including KAAN, ANKA, AKSUNGUR, HÜRJET, HÜRKUŞ, GÖKBEY, ATAK helicopters, and the ANKA-3 UCAV. On HÜRJET, Demiroğlu confirmed that the Turkish Air Force has placed 16 orders and highlighted recent agreements with Spanish defense firms, led by Airbus, as strategically important: “We hope Spain will open NATO’s doors for HÜRJET. Our goal is to make it NATO’s next-generation trainer jet.” According to Demiroğlu, first deliveries to the Turkish Air Force are scheduled for early 2027, while Spain’s deliveries are planned for 2028.

Discussing the KAAN national combat aircraft, Demiroğlu said the program was proceeding on schedule, with the second and third prototypes expected to fly between 2025 and 2026, and serial deliveries to the Turkish Air Force projected for 2028–2029. He also noted that the ANKA-3 UCAV will enter serial production in 2026, and that the AKSUNGUR UAV, powered by the locally developed PD170 diesel engine, successfully reached 40,000 feet — a remarkable milestone for such an engine.

Looking ahead, TUSAŞ aims to produce over 500 aircraft and helicopters by 2034, reaching an estimated $12 billion in annual revenue. The company currently employs around 16,000 personnel worldwide and has completed 125 localization projects, with over 330 more underway — projected to keep $1 billion per year within Turkey’s economy.

Demiroğlu concluded by underlining TUSAŞ’s global footprint and mission: “Wherever you look in the sky, there’s a piece of TUSAŞ in it. We are both a national and global company.”