Paris Air Show 2023: T625 Gökbey helicopter deliveries to start this y…

Turkish Aerospace (TA) has completed the initial production of T625 Gökbey helicopters and aims to make deliveries to the first operator, Turkish Gendarmerie General Command, in August 2023.

The T625 is a twin-engine medium utility helicopter with a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of just over six tonnes. The initial aircraft are fitted with a pair of LHTEC CTS800-4AT turboshafts, although when it is available, the helicopter will receive domestically produced Tusaş Engine Industries TS1400 turboshafts. At a media briefing on the second day of the Paris Air Show 2023, TA CEO Temel Kotil said production T625 would receive TS1400 engines within two years.

There is scope for the T625 to replace variants of the Bell 212 and Bell 205 in service with the Turkish Armed Forces and civil organisations. According to Janes data, the Turkish Air Force currently operates 11 UH-1Hs, the Turkish army operates 52 UH-1Hs and 23 AB205As, and the Turkish Navy operates 9 AB212 anti-submarine helicopters and two utility AB212s. Kotil would not be drawn on whether the company was developing a specific anti-submarine variant at this stage.