TUSAŞ Engine Industries Inc. (TEI) is determined to boost Turkey’s export capacity in the defense and aviation sector. Speaking at the “Global Strategies in Defense and Aviation Industry Conference” held in Antalya, TEI General Manager Prof. Dr. Mahmut Faruk Akşit revealed that the company aims to increase its exports from $345 million in 2023 to $445 million in 2024. The primary driver behind this ambitious target will be the locally developed TEI-PD170 aviation engine.

The TEI-PD170 engine plays a strategic role in Turkey’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) projects. Actively used in Baykar’s UAVs and TUSAŞ’s Aksungur program, the engine has reached world-class standards thanks to advanced technology. With mass production planned, it is also set to be integrated into the Turkish Armed Forces’ inventory, positioning Turkey among the leading nations in UAV engine technologies.

Prof. Dr. Akşit emphasized that TEI’s vision goes beyond engine manufacturing, as the company is also investing heavily in high-tech subsystems and components. A significant achievement was the production of Turkey’s first single-crystal turbine blade, which outperformed foreign counterparts in tests. Additionally, TEI has made substantial progress in developing the TEI-TF6000 and TEI-TF10000 engine families, with important announcements from the Presidency of Defense Industries expected soon.

This export target not only underlines TEI’s role in strengthening Turkey’s defense industry independence but also showcases its technological innovation and competitiveness in the global aviation market. Through localization, research and development, and advanced production, TEI contributes both to Turkey’s economy and its global defense industry presence.