Turkey’s TAI says signs cooperation deal with Sikorsky for helicopter components

ANKARA

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has signed a cooperation agreement with Sikorsky, which is part of Lockheed Martin, to make various helicopter components, it said in a statement on Feb. 28, Anadolu Agency has reported. 

TAI said $270 million worth of products will be produced in the first 10 years of the agreement, which it plans to continue until 2044 with a targeted project volume of at least $500 million. 

The deal was signed in a ceremony attended by TAI CEO Temel Kotil and Sikorsky Aircraft President Dan Schultz, according to the statement. 

Meanwhile, TAI signed agreements worth $3.5 billion with Sikorsky Aircraft and three domestic contractors to make helicopters for Turkey’s Armed Forces, the Defense Industry Undersecretariat (SSM) said in a statement in June 2016. 

Under this deal, 109 utility helicopters will be built for the Turkish land, air, gendarmerie and police forces by TAI as the prime contractor, Sikorsky as the major subcontractor, and Turkey’s Aselsan, TEI and ALP as other subcontractors, it stated.