The Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) displayed its new T625 light utility helicopter at the 13th edition of Turkey’s major defence and security exhibition IDEF 2017.
The T625 helicopter, slated to enter the five-ton light utility class is being designed primarily in a military capacity, with the design also capable of acting in multi mission deployment for other functions in the civilian market, with goals of competing in the light utility export market once the aircraft is certified. The company aims to compete with the likes of the popular Leonardo Helicopters AW139, already widely used in the market.
Initially, the T-625 will be supplied engines by the Turkish Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company, which is a partnership backed by the experience of manufacturers Honeywell and Rolls Royce who have slated the company’s T800 engine as the powerplant for the helicopter. TAI has eventual plans to develop their own engine for the helicopter with local supplier TUSAS Engine Industries.
On January 5, 2017, National defence Minister Fikri Işık announced first flight of helicopter is planned at September 6, 2018.