As the construction process of the National Combat Aircraft, one of Turkey's most important defense industry projects, passed a critical stage, the fuselage and wing parts of the aircraft were moved to the final assembly line and assembly work began.
President of the Presidency of Defense Industry Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir, on his social media accounts, announced that the critical stages in the National Combat Aircraft Project were completed one by one, and the fuselage parts were moved to the final assembly line, while the most critical stage in the project was started.
The final assembly line start ceremony for the project, for which Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) undertakes the main integrator under the coordination of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), was held at TAI facilities with the participation of officials from the Ministry of National Defense, SSB and Air Force Command.
1️⃣ Our National Combat Aircraft has entered the final assembly line! 🇹🇷
Thus, we left behind another critical stage!✈️
In line with our 2023 goals, we will complete the assembly of our National Combat Aircraft and take it out of the hangar.
➡️ @TUSAS_TR pic.twitter.com/oo9talu4On
— İsmail Demir (@profismaildemir) November 23, 2022
While the front fuselage, front middle fuselage, wing module and rear fuselage parts of the National Combat Aircraft prototype were transported to the final assembly line, the assembly and system integration work of the first prototype, which will be released from the hangar on March 18, 2023, with ground tests, has officially started. it happened.
“The locomotive of the industry is a project”
Making an assessment of the stage of the project, President of the Presidency of Defense Industry Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir stated that it was a dream for him to be in the process of building such an aircraft as an aircraft engineer and used the following statements:
“I thank my Lord that we were able to take part in this process. From the day I started my first university, I had a dream of living such a day. Hopefully we are at the beginning of the end. We are opening the first curtain of this work. Our job will be finished when our aircraft is successfully operational. We have opened the curtain, but we still have a long way to go. You employees will also have a story to tell to your children and perhaps even your grandchildren. 'We were part of the team that built Turkey's first jet fighter.' you will say.”
Expressing that the project is also a locomotive that attracts the industry, Demir said, “We have activated our sub-industry and technology related to dozens of sub-systems. I hope we will all go together on this journey.” he said.
Emphasizing that the experience gained by the employees of the company will spread throughout Turkey and the products triggered by the technologies here in many fields, not just aviation, Demir said, “Our work is not finished yet, we have a lot of work to do. This is a job of the heart, the work of the heart, by putting our heart, by combining our minds and intelligence, we will achieve success together in this red apple journey. Hopefully, we will build the Turkish Century together. Under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we will continue to work with all our strength to achieve our 2023 goals.” said.
“It will start ground tests”
TUSAŞ Chairman of the Board Rafet Bozdoğan stated that they aim to complete the project by March 18 and said, “We have come to a very important and critical threshold in the project. Hopefully, we will be able to meet the expectations of our armed forces very quickly. It is a difficult and big project. Hopefully, we will be able to get the engine out of the hangar on March 18. Hopefully, we will see this project being taken out of the hangar on March 18 with a larger participation.” used the phrases.
TUSAŞ General Manager Temel Kotil pointed out that they built Turkey's first National Combat Aircraft in this project, which they were honored with, and said, “We actually built the aircraft. We don't actually build airplanes, we build the company that will make airplanes. We have more than 13 thousand employees. The facilities appeared almost immediately. This company also makes all kinds of planes from now on. After that, it will start ground tests after exiting the hangar and prepare itself for flight. ” he said.
While the parts of the National Combat Aircraft prototype were transported to the final assembly line, Demir carried out the assembly using the automatic drill unit. After the assembly, the participants signed the memorial board.
Next are the other stages
It is aimed to include approximately 6 structural parts and 500 subsystems in the first prototype of the National Combat Aircraft Project, in which world-class production is prioritized. It is envisaged that the project will be developed in phases and that the subsystems will be increased in the later prototype and mass production stages.
In the project, where the installation activities of the Yıldırım Test Facility, which will be used in the next phase, have been completed to a large extent, the installation activities of Demir Kuş (Iron Bird) and system integration laboratories have also started.
It is planned to start new phases (detail design and qualification phase) in the National Combat Aircraft Project in the 2023-2029 period. In this process, it is aimed to realize the first flight, to produce development test aircraft and full-size structural test aircraft.
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