ANKARA — Tusas Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has signed an agreement with a partnership of Rolls-Royce and Honeywell for the acquisition of engines that will power a light utility helicopter the Turkish company develops, Weber Shandwick, a public relations company for the venture, said Thursday.
Rolls-Royce and Honeywell each has a 50 percent stake in the Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company (LHTEC). The joint venture will supply CTS turboshaft engines for the Turkish light utility helicopter program.
The agreement confirms a memorandum of understanding signed at this year's Paris Air Show. It consists of a five-year development program to integrate and certify the CTS800-4AT engine model on the Turkish light utility helicopter platform. The agreement is expected to result in a production program that will provide helicopters to the Turkish military and civil market, as well as globally.
The news release said the LHTEC plans to industrialize production and maintenance of the engine in Turkey.
"This deal will deliver a wealth of employment and industrial benefits to the Turkish aerospace industry," said Daryl Mastin, president of LHTEC. "LHTEC is committed to working with local Turkish companies to manufacture the CTS800 engine as well as establish a local depot with maintenance and repair capabilities to support these future fleets."
For delivery in 2020, TAI is designing a five-ton, twin-engine utility helicopter equipped with the CTS800.
The same engine also powers the T129 attack helicopters TAI co-produces with the Italian-British AgustaWestland.
Burak Ege Bekdil was the Turkey correspondent for Defense News.
