Despite US sanctions, Turkish Air Force receives another T-70 helicopter

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Despite US sanctions, Turkish Air Force receives another T-70 helicopter

Despite the sanctions imposed by the United States, the Turkish Air Force command has added a fourth T-70 helicopter to its arsenal. Moreover, the machine is already the second machine of this type in service with the Turkish Air Force, equipped with systems for protection against the effects of electronic warfare.

Earlier, the American company Lockheed Martin announced the suspension of work on the Turkish Multi-Purpose Helicopter Program (TUHP), citing force majeure circumstances caused by the US government sanctions imposed on Turkish companies in 2020.



However, as can be seen, despite sanctions from its NATO ally, Turkey has retained the ability to produce T-70 helicopters. Meanwhile, the program, which is estimated to cost approximately $3,5 billion, envisages the production of 109 helicopters over the next ten years.

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is the prime contractor, with Aselsan (avionics), TEI (T700-TEI-701D engine production), Alp Aviation (dynamic components and landing gear), and Sikorsky (platform developer with the S-70i as the base design) also participating in the program.

Turkey's multirole helicopter production program began in the mid-2000s. The contract, signed in 2014 and entered into force in 2016, provides for the delivery of helicopters to the Turkish Armed Forces and the country's civilian agencies.
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  1. Kerensky Rank
    Kerensky
    +2
    9 September 2025 19: 03
    Despite sanctions from its NATO ally, Türkiye has retained the ability to produce T-70 helicopters.

    That is, the Turks made it themselves...
    1. TermNachTer Rank
      TermNachTer
      -1
      9 September 2025 19: 19
      It could have been bought somewhere on the side. Turboshaft engines, of course, are not lying around on the street, but they are not special warheads. You can buy it for good money. Alternatively, they could have taken it from a non-flying aircraft and put it on this one to show Trump that they didn't give a damn about his sanctions.
      1. Kerensky Rank
        Kerensky
        0
        9 September 2025 19: 23
        They could have taken it from a non-flying plane and put it on this one to show Trump what they cared about his sanctions.

        It is a possible option.
    2. Word Rank
      Word
      0
      10 September 2025 02: 28
      The Turks are not capable of such production,
      The avionics were provided by the Polish branch of Sikorsky with 50% participation in the business. And the engine and rotor are American General Electric, the helicopter is the official version of Black Hawk. There is no miracle and cannot be in the tomato country, Azerbaijanis and the media are spreading nonsense and lies.
    3. Alexey RA Rank
      Alexey RA
      0
      10 September 2025 13: 00
      Quote: Kerensky
      That is, the Turks made it themselves...

      Import substitution was carried out in the best Turkish traditions.
      Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is the prime contractor, with Aselsan (avionics), TEI (T700-TEI-701D engine production), Alp Aviation (dynamic components and chassis) also participating in the program. and Sikorsky (the developer of the platform with the S-70i as the base design).

      They did their MBT like this - they bought the engine first in Germany, and after the sanctions - in Korea. And they also reported at first about switching to local production... but the deadline for the switch was pushed back further and further.