Mehmet Demiroğlu, CEO of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), shared important insights in a comprehensive interview with Azerbaijani media, addressing the company’s history, future vision, flagship programs, and international partnerships. Demiroğlu stated that TUSAŞ was originally established in 1973 to meet the Turkish Air Force’s fighter aircraft requirements. However, he emphasized that the company’s true turning point came in 2004, when Türkiye adopted a stronger national defense industry vision and TUSAŞ transitioned from being a subcontractor to becoming a prime contractor. According to Demiroğlu, that transformation laid the foundation for the indigenous platforms the company is developing today.

Demiroğlu underlined that TUSAŞ is no longer just an aircraft manufacturer, but a highly capable aerospace company operating across multiple fields. The company develops and produces fixed-wing aircraft, rotary-wing platforms, unmanned aerial systems, and space technologies under one roof. He noted that GÖKBEY is a fully indigenous and national platform, while for other systems the company focuses not only on localization ratios but also on gaining ownership of critical technologies, design authority, and sustainable industrial capabilities. This strategy, he said, is essential for building a deeper and export-oriented aerospace ecosystem for the future.

One of the most striking parts of the interview was Demiroğlu’s remarks on the KAAN and ANKA-3 programs. He described KAAN as not only TUSAŞ’s crown project, but also one of Türkiye’s most significant defense initiatives. He stated that serial production efforts are progressing at full speed and revealed that three KAAN aircraft have recently been rolled out of the hangar. One of these will be used for static testing, while the second is expected to begin flight tests within this year. Demiroğlu said the goal is to deliver KAAN to the Turkish Air Force in 2028. He also added that with the introduction of the indigenous engine, deliveries to both the Turkish Air Force and Indonesia are planned to begin from 2032 onward.

Demiroğlu also made ambitious remarks regarding ANKA-3, saying the unmanned combat aircraft will play a major role in future air warfare concepts. Designed with a low observable profile to penetrate enemy air defense systems, ANKA-3 is also expected to operate in coordination with KAAN and contribute to manned-unmanned teaming concepts. He noted that serial production work for ANKA-3 is also continuing and that the company aims to deliver the platform to the Turkish Air Force in 2026. After domestic deliveries, TUSAŞ plans to address demand from allied and friendly nations.

The TUSAŞ CEO also touched on the company’s international cooperation and export performance. He said the company currently has 23 export agreements with 16 different countries. Of the Turkish defense sector’s more than $10 billion in exports in 2025, over $1 billion came from TUSAŞ. Demiroğlu highlighted the agreement for the export of 48 KAAN fighter jets to Indonesia and the HÜRJET deal with Spain as some of the most notable recent developments. He also pointed to expanding cooperation with Azerbaijan in areas such as HÜRKUŞ export talks, Su-25 modernization, and component manufacturing.

Looking ahead, Demiroğlu stated that TUSAŞ aims to deliver 1,500 platforms over the next 10 years, reach a backlog worth $50 billion, and rank among the world’s top 20 defense companies. He emphasized that these goals will require not only higher production capacity, but also a stronger industrial ecosystem, qualified human resources, and advanced engineering capability. According to Demiroğlu, TUSAŞ has now entered a new era of growth and is preparing to scale up its global role in aerospace and defense.