Türkiye is preparing to take a historic step in helicopter engine technology with the integration of its first fully indigenous turboshaft engine, TEI-TS1400. Mahmut Faruk Akşit, Chairman and General Manager of TUSAŞ Engine Industries (TEI), announced that the first TEI-TS1400 engine will be delivered to TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries) within days. He emphasized that the engine was designed, developed and manufactured solely by Turkish engineers at TEI, without any partnership or technical support from foreign engine manufacturers—making it a milestone for Türkiye’s independent aerospace capabilities.

Akşit confirmed that once the engine is delivered, TAI will immediately begin the integration phase for Türkiye’s national general-purpose helicopter, Gökbey. Highlighting the complexity of integrating a high-power helicopter engine, he noted that $80 million has been allocated exclusively for integration activities. The engine’s high torque and vibration loads are strong enough to flex the helicopter’s outer structure, requiring months—sometimes years—of detailed analysis, structural adjustments and flight testing. Citing the example of the ANKA UAV, Akşit recalled that the aircraft flew approximately one year after receiving its PD170 engine.

Production of additional TEI-TS1400 engines is already underway. The second engine, referred to as the “twin brother,” will be ready for testing within two weeks. The third unit is expected to follow within 1.5 to 2 months, with a fourth shortly after. By mid-summer of next year, TEI aims to have produced five engines in total. However, Akşit underlined that these early units do not yet qualify as “serial production engines,” as the certification phase is still ongoing.

The true serial-production engine will be the first unit delivered after certification is completed, which TEI aims to finalize around 2024. While TAI continues integration work on the initial engines, TEI will subject the remaining units to extensive “maturity tests” designed to identify and eliminate any potential issues under extreme conditions. Akşit noted that although the first engine has been delivered, it still has many tests ahead before final certification.

The TEI-TS1400 program represents a strategic leap for Türkiye’s helicopter industry. Once integrated into Gökbey, the national engine will significantly reduce foreign dependency, allow greater flexibility in future helicopter designs and open the door for export opportunities. The successful completion of this program is expected to strengthen Türkiye’s position among countries capable of producing indigenous helicopter propulsion systems.