Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC
The Turkish air force has embarked on a search for a new basic trainer to replace its Cessna T-37B/C jets, which could provide a welcome source of new work for Tusas Aerospace Industries (TAI) as it tries to fill the void left by the end of Lockheed Martin F-16 license production.
Turkey has solicited information from potential bidders and expects to release a request for proposals next year for up to 50 trainers. "Our T-37 training aircraft are more than 40 years old and we plan to phase them out by 2005 and will need a new aircraft in the next five years," says Maj Gen Aktug Atay, Turkish air force chief plans and principles.
Initial air force attention has focused on four contenders, all turboprops - the Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano, Korean Aerospace KT-1, Pilatus PC-9 and Raytheon T-6A Texan II. "We've already received briefings and are investigating life cycle costs," adds Atay.
Turkey plans to retain its fleet of 69 Northrop Grumman T-38 Talon advanced trainers and is looking at a structural life extension and avionics upgrade similar to the Boeing/Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) upgrade of theUS Air Force's T-38s. IAI is teamed with Elbit and Singapore Aerospace to modernise 48 Turkish Northrop F-5A/Bs.
In line with past practice, any new trainer aircraft would likely be produced by TAI. The company delivered the last of 278 locally built F-16s 15 months ago and is seeking additional military and civil work.
The Turkish air force requires an attrition batch of 32 F-16s, but has not been able to secure funding, says Erol Olcay, TAI chairman. TAI attention is turning to the army's planned acquisition of 145 Bell Helicopter Textron AH-1Z King Cobra attack helicopters and local participation in the Joint Strike Fighter should Turkey elect to join the development phase.
Ankara, in the meantime, has given the navy approval to order an additional eight Sikorsky S-70B shipboard helicopters, along with six general purpose machines. Turkey will begin taking delivery this year of its initial batch of eight Seahawks ordered in 1997.
Longer term plans call for the acquisition of six TAI-built EADS CN235 maritime patrol aircraft by 2004 and eight anti-submarine/ anti-surface warfare helicopters between 2006 and 2009, says Rear Adm Kadir Sagdic, Turkish navy chief plans and principles.
Source: Flight International
