Turkey’s T-70 multi-role utility helicopter built under the $3.5 billion Turkish Utility Helicopter Program (TUHP) by the Turkish Aerospace Industry (TUSAŞ/TAI) is scheduled to begin flight tests in 2020.

S70A-9 Black Hawk helicopter landing on a flight deck (Picture source: U.S. Navy)

“Turkish-built T-70 multi-role utility helicopter will begin test flights next year,” Turkish Aerospace Industry (TUSAŞ/TAI) Deputy General Manager Kemal Yıllıkçı said.

TAI is leading the program as a prime contractor with other subcontractor companies; Sikorsky Aircraft, Aselsan, Turkish Engine Industries (TEI) and Alp Aviation. The T-70 will be equipped with domestic software and hardware and will have a locality ratio of 95%. The deadline for the delivery of the aircraft for Turkey’s Land Forces, Air Force, Gendarme, Special Forces, National Police, and the Directorate General of Forestry, was set for 10 years.

In 2016, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) signed a $3.5 billion agreement with Sikorsky Aircraft. As part of the deal, 109 T-70 type Black Hawk helicopters will be produced and delivered to the Turkish Air Forces, Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), General Commandership of the Gendarmerie, Special Forces Command, the Security General Directorate and the General Directorate of Forestry within the next 10 years beginning from the date of the deal. TAI will customize T-70 helicopter in two configurations, for utility and firefighting.

For every T-70 helicopter that TAI assembles for the Turkish end users, TAI will also assemble an S-70i helicopter that Sikorsky will purchase from TAI for sale in the international market.