The Minister of National Defense Fikri Işık announced that Turkey's bold and ambitious initiatives in defense have proved the country's will to become self-sufficient and less dependent on imports over the last 15 years. Addressing Turkish industrialists doing business in France, the minister called them to partake in projects that could strengthen the infrastructure of domestic defense industry.
Minister Işık attended the Paris Air Show, which opened its gates at the Le Bourget Airport on Monday, featuring the latest developments in the aviation industry together with General Manager of Turkish Aerospace Industry, Temel Kotil.
Referring to the debut of the Hürkuş training aircraft at the show, the minister pointed out that Roketsan also exhibited its latest armament. Işık noted that Turkey's display of its domestically developed defense products at such an important global event is a source of pride and happiness.
The minister shared his observation that the world's prominent defense companies now want to partner up with Turkey, which indicates Turkey's advances in the area. The companies that wanted to sell Turkish products now wants to co-produce with us, Işık remarked, emphasizing that even companies from the same country are in competition.
He also drew attention to the necessity of multinational cooperation in the defense industry and said, "In accordance with the best interests of our country, we will have to make the most correct choices, which a powerful infrastructure will facilitate." Addressing Turkish industrialists abroad and calling on them to contribute to the development of the Turkish defense industry, the minister said, "You will build this infrastructure while doing business here in Paris, or our fellow citizens in London."
On Monday, the Hürkuş training aircraft, which was designed by the Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI) made its debut at Paris Air Show.
Test Pilot Murat Keleş flew Hürkuş for six minutes to demonstrate the plane's performance to participants of the world's largest aviation fair.
"Our aircraft is safe. It is EASA-European certified. This is a training aircraft, but we also make an armed model. Mass production will begin at the end of the year. We will provide the Air Forces with a training model and the Army with an armed model," TAI General Manager Temel Kotil said.
Hürkuş will continue its flyover performance at the fair, which will continue until 25 June.
The Hürkuş is a tandem two-seat, low-wing, single-engine aircraft developed by TAI as a new basic trainer and ground attack aircraft for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).
The aircraft is named after Vecihi Hürkuş a veteran pilot from World War I and the Turkish War of Independence, a Turkish aviation pioneer and the first Turkish airplane manufacturer.
