TAI Engine Industries (TEI) General Manager Faruk Aksit announced that they will deliver the first four T700-GE-701D engines, which will be produced under the GE license for the Turkish General Purpose Helicopter Project, to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) within this year.

Akşit stated that 60 percent of the T700-GE-701D engine to be used on the 109 T70 General Purpose Helicopters will be indigenous. The helicopters will be developed based on the S70i Helicopter of Lockheed Martin Sikorsky Aircraft. T70 helicopters are powered by two engines. 

Within the scope of the “TUHP-Turkish Utility Helicopter Program” will be delivered to Turkish Land Forces, Turkish Air Forces, General Command of Gendarmerie, Special Forces, Turkish National Police and Directorate of Forestry during next 10 years. TAI is responsible for manufacturing, final assembly operations, tests and integrated logistic support of all airframe structures and composite rotor blades. In addition to TAI’s work scope, TEI-Turkish Engine Industries will build engines under a license of GE-General Electric. Aselsan will develop and integrate avionics and will co-develop with Sikorsky Aircraft an enhanced digital cockpit known as the Integrated Modular Avionics System (IMAS); and Alp Aviation is responsible for production and assembly of landing gears, gearbox and dynamic components.