Turkish Air Force continues to expand national T-70 helicopter fleet despite US policy barriers
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On September 3, 2025, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence announced that the fourth T-70 utility helicopter was formally inducted into the Turkish Air Force during a ceremony at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya. The announcement indicated that the helicopter will be assigned to multipurpose missions such as search and rescue, wildfire response, and cargo or personnel transport. This handover follows earlier deliveries, including the Air Force’s third T-70 received in August 2024, and continues a sequence of staged acceptances that began in December 2022 with the first delivery to the Gendarmerie General Command. Officials noted that additional deliveries are planned to continue in September, consistent with the broader program timeline.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
In total, 109 T-70 helicopters are to be manufactured in Türkiye for six different users: the Land Forces Command, Air Force Command, Special Forces Command, Gendarmerie General Command, General Directorate of Security, and General Directorate of Forestry. (Picture source: Turkish MoD)
The Turkish Utility Helicopter Program (TUHP), later designated as the T-70 program, originated in the mid-2000s as Türkiye sought to replace and expand its fleet of multipurpose helicopters with a domestically produced platform. An initial attempt in 2005 was cancelled, but the project was relaunched in 2009 with bids from AgustaWestland’s AW149 and Sikorsky’s S-70i. In 2011, following evaluation by the Defence Industry Executive Committee, Sikorsky’s S-70i was selected as the basis for licensed local production under Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) leadership. The contract, signed in 2014 and becoming effective in 2016, called for 109 helicopters to be delivered over a ten-year period to six different users, incorporating significant local manufacturing of airframe structures, avionics, dynamic components, and engines. The program was valued at about $3.5 billion, and it aimed to provide not only helicopters for the Turkish Armed Forces and civil agencies but also a technology-transfer pathway to strengthen domestic industry.
The T-70 program, formally known as the Turkish Utility Helicopter Program (TUHP), is coordinated by the Defence Industry Presidency and led by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) as prime contractor. Key subcontractors include Aselsan for avionics, TEI for the licensed production of T700-TEI-701D engines, Alp Aviation for dynamic components and landing gear, and Sikorsky as the platform originator with the S-70i model as the base design. The program’s scope covers the licensed production of 109 helicopters intended for six operators: the Land Forces, Air Force, Special Forces, Gendarmerie, General Directorate of Security, and General Directorate of Forestry. Production has already completed an initial batch of 39 helicopters, and while deliveries are ongoing, future output is contingent on both industrial flow and external regulatory considerations, including U.S. congressional decisions.
The T-70 possesses a monocoque fuselage with structural allowance for integrating Turkish-designed mission systems, a standard crew of two, capacity for up to 20 passengers, and an external load capability of approximately 4 tons. Published performance parameters include a maximum speed of 295 to 296 km/h, an operational range of about 460 to 600 km depending on load configuration, and an endurance between 2.5 and 3 hours. The helicopter can operate in challenging conditions such as high altitude or high temperature environments. Service ceiling data lists a maximum altitude of around 6,096 meters, while gross takeoff weights range between 9,979 and 10,659 kg across configurations. Cabin measurements are approximately 2.14 m wide and 1.37 m high with an interior volume of 11.22 m³. Propulsion is provided by two T700-TEI-701D turboshaft engines built domestically under General Electric license, with TEI producing over half of the engine’s components.
Aselsan’s avionics integration includes the Integrated Modular Avionics System (IMAS), which combines mission computers, multifunction displays, digital maps, and navigation functions within a reconfigured cockpit layout. The system is designed for both daytime and nighttime operation and allows integration of communications, navigation, mission planning, and flight management functions in a single suite. Alp Aviation is responsible for the main rotor heads, gearboxes, and tail rotor systems, with deliveries of these components having begun in January 2020. Final assembly, structural work on the fuselage, rotor blade production, and testing are performed by TUSAŞ at its facilities. This arrangement has allowed Turkey to establish partial domestic independence in utility helicopter production, while also fulfilling offset and co-production agreements tied to the original contract with Sikorsky.
Operational use has already spanned a wide variety of missions. The Forestry Directorate has employed the type in wildfire suppression campaigns in Muğla and Antalya during the summer season, while the Gendarmerie deploys it for border patrol, counter-terrorism, and troop transport. In mountainous regions, the helicopter has been dispatched for winter rescue operations, while in military contexts, the Air and Land Forces use it for cargo delivery and rapid troop movement. Police aviation units have been reported using the type for internal security, VIP transport, and urban support missions. The helicopter is also configured to act as an air ambulance, with medical evacuation use noted in natural disaster scenarios. Turkish defense sources emphasized that its versatility across different agencies makes it a standard multipurpose solution for both civil and military demands.
Despite ongoing deliveries, the program has faced structural challenges since U.S. sanctions were enacted in 2020 under CAATSA. Lockheed Martin announced on October 5, 2024, that it was partially suspending program activities, citing force majeure due to difficulties in securing export licenses and transferring certain software updates. The company warned of possible restructuring or termination of TUHP contracts, which could result in financial losses, but it also reported that as of 31 December 2024, cumulative development losses were minimal, as Türkiye has continued production and delivered the first 39 units. Turkish reporting indicated that the program’s continuation depends on negotiations between Ankara and Washington, with the remaining 70 helicopters still subject to U.S. congressional decisions. At the same time, Turkish industry has maintained production of airframes and components domestically, allowing deliveries to continue at a slower but consistent pace.
The Air Force’s induction of its fourth T-70 in Konya coincided with a broader series of procurement announcements in August 2025. At that time, the Land Forces confirmed acceptance of a T-70 helicopter alongside other systems, including the KMG556 light machine gun and the Dragoneye-2 thermal camera. Dragoneye-2 features a mid-wave infrared sensor, HD color TV imagery, laser rangefinding, integrated GPS and compass functions, and digital video outputs. The KMG556, weighing 7.8 kg, has a fire rate of 750 to 950 rounds per minute with effective ranges of 800 meters for area targets and 600 meters for point targets, and it is fitted with a telescopic stock and quick-change barrel. These acquisitions illustrate how the T-70 program sits within a broader modernization effort that introduces new air mobility, sensor, and small-arms capabilities simultaneously, reinforcing multiple branches of the Turkish Armed Forces and associated security agencies.
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On September 3, 2025, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence announced that the fourth T-70 utility helicopter was formally inducted into the Turkish Air Force during a ceremony at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya. The announcement indicated that the helicopter will be assigned to multipurpose missions such as search and rescue, wildfire response, and cargo or personnel transport. This handover follows earlier deliveries, including the Air Force’s third T-70 received in August 2024, and continues a sequence of staged acceptances that began in December 2022 with the first delivery to the Gendarmerie General Command. Officials noted that additional deliveries are planned to continue in September, consistent with the broader program timeline.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
In total, 109 T-70 helicopters are to be manufactured in Türkiye for six different users: the Land Forces Command, Air Force Command, Special Forces Command, Gendarmerie General Command, General Directorate of Security, and General Directorate of Forestry. (Picture source: Turkish MoD)
The Turkish Utility Helicopter Program (TUHP), later designated as the T-70 program, originated in the mid-2000s as Türkiye sought to replace and expand its fleet of multipurpose helicopters with a domestically produced platform. An initial attempt in 2005 was cancelled, but the project was relaunched in 2009 with bids from AgustaWestland’s AW149 and Sikorsky’s S-70i. In 2011, following evaluation by the Defence Industry Executive Committee, Sikorsky’s S-70i was selected as the basis for licensed local production under Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) leadership. The contract, signed in 2014 and becoming effective in 2016, called for 109 helicopters to be delivered over a ten-year period to six different users, incorporating significant local manufacturing of airframe structures, avionics, dynamic components, and engines. The program was valued at about $3.5 billion, and it aimed to provide not only helicopters for the Turkish Armed Forces and civil agencies but also a technology-transfer pathway to strengthen domestic industry.
The T-70 program, formally known as the Turkish Utility Helicopter Program (TUHP), is coordinated by the Defence Industry Presidency and led by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) as prime contractor. Key subcontractors include Aselsan for avionics, TEI for the licensed production of T700-TEI-701D engines, Alp Aviation for dynamic components and landing gear, and Sikorsky as the platform originator with the S-70i model as the base design. The program’s scope covers the licensed production of 109 helicopters intended for six operators: the Land Forces, Air Force, Special Forces, Gendarmerie, General Directorate of Security, and General Directorate of Forestry. Production has already completed an initial batch of 39 helicopters, and while deliveries are ongoing, future output is contingent on both industrial flow and external regulatory considerations, including U.S. congressional decisions.
The T-70 possesses a monocoque fuselage with structural allowance for integrating Turkish-designed mission systems, a standard crew of two, capacity for up to 20 passengers, and an external load capability of approximately 4 tons. Published performance parameters include a maximum speed of 295 to 296 km/h, an operational range of about 460 to 600 km depending on load configuration, and an endurance between 2.5 and 3 hours. The helicopter can operate in challenging conditions such as high altitude or high temperature environments. Service ceiling data lists a maximum altitude of around 6,096 meters, while gross takeoff weights range between 9,979 and 10,659 kg across configurations. Cabin measurements are approximately 2.14 m wide and 1.37 m high with an interior volume of 11.22 m³. Propulsion is provided by two T700-TEI-701D turboshaft engines built domestically under General Electric license, with TEI producing over half of the engine’s components.
Aselsan’s avionics integration includes the Integrated Modular Avionics System (IMAS), which combines mission computers, multifunction displays, digital maps, and navigation functions within a reconfigured cockpit layout. The system is designed for both daytime and nighttime operation and allows integration of communications, navigation, mission planning, and flight management functions in a single suite. Alp Aviation is responsible for the main rotor heads, gearboxes, and tail rotor systems, with deliveries of these components having begun in January 2020. Final assembly, structural work on the fuselage, rotor blade production, and testing are performed by TUSAŞ at its facilities. This arrangement has allowed Turkey to establish partial domestic independence in utility helicopter production, while also fulfilling offset and co-production agreements tied to the original contract with Sikorsky.
Operational use has already spanned a wide variety of missions. The Forestry Directorate has employed the type in wildfire suppression campaigns in Muğla and Antalya during the summer season, while the Gendarmerie deploys it for border patrol, counter-terrorism, and troop transport. In mountainous regions, the helicopter has been dispatched for winter rescue operations, while in military contexts, the Air and Land Forces use it for cargo delivery and rapid troop movement. Police aviation units have been reported using the type for internal security, VIP transport, and urban support missions. The helicopter is also configured to act as an air ambulance, with medical evacuation use noted in natural disaster scenarios. Turkish defense sources emphasized that its versatility across different agencies makes it a standard multipurpose solution for both civil and military demands.
Despite ongoing deliveries, the program has faced structural challenges since U.S. sanctions were enacted in 2020 under CAATSA. Lockheed Martin announced on October 5, 2024, that it was partially suspending program activities, citing force majeure due to difficulties in securing export licenses and transferring certain software updates. The company warned of possible restructuring or termination of TUHP contracts, which could result in financial losses, but it also reported that as of 31 December 2024, cumulative development losses were minimal, as Türkiye has continued production and delivered the first 39 units. Turkish reporting indicated that the program’s continuation depends on negotiations between Ankara and Washington, with the remaining 70 helicopters still subject to U.S. congressional decisions. At the same time, Turkish industry has maintained production of airframes and components domestically, allowing deliveries to continue at a slower but consistent pace.
The Air Force’s induction of its fourth T-70 in Konya coincided with a broader series of procurement announcements in August 2025. At that time, the Land Forces confirmed acceptance of a T-70 helicopter alongside other systems, including the KMG556 light machine gun and the Dragoneye-2 thermal camera. Dragoneye-2 features a mid-wave infrared sensor, HD color TV imagery, laser rangefinding, integrated GPS and compass functions, and digital video outputs. The KMG556, weighing 7.8 kg, has a fire rate of 750 to 950 rounds per minute with effective ranges of 800 meters for area targets and 600 meters for point targets, and it is fitted with a telescopic stock and quick-change barrel. These acquisitions illustrate how the T-70 program sits within a broader modernization effort that introduces new air mobility, sensor, and small-arms capabilities simultaneously, reinforcing multiple branches of the Turkish Armed Forces and associated security agencies.
