Lockheed Martin and General Electric have sold their stakes in joint venture Tusas Aerospace Industries (TAI) to the state-owned parent company under Turkey's plan to consolidate its defence industry into a single entity. TAI was established in 1984 under the offset programme for Turkey's purchase of GE-powered Lockheed F-16s, later assembling Aermacchi SF260 trainers, EADS Casa CN-235 transports and Eurocopter AS532 helicopters. Lockheed has sold its 42% stake and GE its 7% share to Turkish Aircraft Industries. TAI produced 240 F-16C/Ds for the Turkish air force and assembled 46 more for the Egyptian air force, delivering its last example in 1999. Lockheed plans to continue working with TAI on F-16 modernisation and participation in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Turkey plans to upgrade 218 Block 30, 40 and 50 F-16s to the latest US Air Force common configuration.
Source: Flight International
