TUSAŞ CEO Temel Kotil shared that the National Combat Aircraft (MMU), which continues to be developed with national resources, may make its first flight sooner than expected.
With new announcements being made every day, Türkiye's largest and most comprehensive aviation project, the National Combat Aircraft (MMU), which is attracting the attention of the world, has once again become the focus of attention with new statements. TUSAŞ General Manager Temel Kotil announced that there has been an acceleration in the development processes of the National Combat Aircraft (MMU), the most important and largest project of the Turkish aviation industry, a fifth-generation fighter jet that continues to be developed with national resources.
Temel Kotil stated that TUSAŞ employs nearly six thousand engineers and that many challenging and comprehensive aviation projects are progressing in parallel within the company. He added that the accumulated knowledge is accelerating the progress of these projects. Kotil also shared the information that this momentum is positively impacting the National Combat Aircraft (MMU) project, potentially leading to the first flight, expected in 2025, taking place in 2023, and bringing forward all other processes.
National Combat Aircraft (MMU)
In the National Combat Aircraft (MMU) Development Project, which was initiated with the aim of producing a domestically designed and developed fighter aircraft that can replace the F-16 aircraft that are planned to be gradually phased out from the inventory of the Turkish Air Force Command starting from the 2030s, and to create the human resources and infrastructure to design and develop this aircraft, TUSAŞ is the main contractor.
With the capabilities to be gained in technology areas such as low visibility, internal weapon bays, high maneuverability, increased situational awareness, and sensor fusion, which are required in a next-generation aircraft, Turkey will take its place among the limited number of countries in the world, such as the USA, Russia, and China, that possess the infrastructure and technology to produce a 5th generation fighter aircraft.
The MMU is expected to operate in conjunction with other fighter aircraft, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) platforms currently in the inventory of the Turkish Air Force Command, as well as other elements planned for procurement. The aircraft produced are projected to remain in the inventory of the Turkish Air Force Command until the 2070s.
