Turkish company Roketsan has linked up with Airbus Defence & Space to investigate collaboration on several military aerospace projects, including the projected TFX fighter programme.
Under the terms of a memorandum of understanding signed at the show, the organisations will initially exchange technical and business information to define possible areas of co-operation.
Roketsan president and chief executive Selcuk Yasar says he looks forward to exploring a range of opportunities, including integrating weapons systems such as Turkey’s Stand-Off Missile on existing Airbus military aircraft, as well as on future combat systems.
Airbus Defence & Space’s head of military aircraft Domingo Ureña says his company hopes to expand its “excellent relationship with Turkish industry”.
The big prize for Airbus would be a role in Turkey’s fifth-generation TFX project. If the aircraft goes ahead, it will replace the nation’s Lockheed Martin F-16 force, which currently numbers around 150 aircraft. Turkey wants to partner one or more foreign companies on the programme.
Ankara has already decided to replace its elderly McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms with Lockheed's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and has recently confirmed plans to order the first two of what is due eventually to be a 100-strong fleet.
Source: Flight Daily News
