AgustaWestland has finalised a deal with Turkish manufacturer Tusas Aerospace Industries (TAI) to produce fuselage sections for AB139 medium twin-engined helicopters.
The agreement, signed last week in the Turkish capital Ankara, is described as "co-operation" by the helicopter manufacturer's Italian arm Agusta. Milan-based Agusta says TAI is to produce AB139 central fuselage assemblies under licence, but Agusta is not committed to taking any fixed quantity. However, Turkish local media reports the deal covers 250 shipsets.
AgustaWestland already subcontracts fuselage work to Polish manufacturer PZL-Swidnik.
TAI produces the fuselage for the MD Helicopters MD900 Explorer and has a final assembly line for the Turkish armed forces variant of the Eurocopter AS532 Cougar Mk1.
Source: Flight International
