Turkish Aerospace Industry Guide

Türkiye’s Aviation Industry and Research Ecosystem

A guide to institutions, from historic factories to engines, structural components, maintenance, research and education.

SOURCE-LINKED RESEARCH · 23 OCTOBER 2026

SpaceTRC · Conceptual systems map; not a product engineering drawing.

One aircraft, many specialisms

Viewing Türkiye’s aviation industry only through completed aeroplanes and helicopters leaves much of its production invisible. Structural parts, precision rotating components, engines, actuators, cabin systems and maintenance services are different links in the same value chain. This guide presents the contributions of public institutions and private companies according to the work they perform. Manufacturing a component is not the same responsibility as designing an entire platform. Nevertheless, expertise in a component or test infrastructure may be decisive in sustaining flight. Organisations should therefore be understood by their specialisms rather than placed in a single ranking by size.

[1] Kale Aero · [2] Turkish Technic

TOMTAŞ and Kayseri: Distinguishing heritage from the new company

The TOMTAŞ venture of the 1920s and later periods of the Kayseri Aircraft Factory were part of the Republic’s efforts to establish aircraft assembly, production and maintenance capacity. This history involves more than factory openings; it includes changes in production models, the workforce and maintenance tasks. Today’s TOMTAŞ Aviation and Technology states in its own official record that it was founded in 2023. Taking inspiration from the historic name does not mean uninterrupted continuity of the same legal entity. Presenting the historic factory and today’s structural-parts and fuselage-assembly company as separate records enables a more accurate understanding of both the past and current activity.

[3] Atatürk Research Centre · [4] Ministry of National Defence · [5] TOMTAŞ Aviation and Technology

Etimesgut and MKE: Another stage in production history

MKE’s own historical account records production of the Uğur trainer at Etimesgut Aircraft Factory. This period should be assessed within the later transformations of the production infrastructure established by THK. Historic aircraft production should not be used as a label defining all of an institution’s present activities. The guide therefore includes MKE’s aviation-related production period as a historical record. This distinction preserves the visibility of past design, manufacturing and maintenance expertise while preventing an unverified aircraft production line from being added to the current product list.

[6] MKE official account

Structures and subsystems

Kale Aero, Alp Aviation and Coşkunöz Aerospace offer different examples of flight’s less visible industrial foundations. Kale Aero works on structural parts and mechanical assemblies; Alp Aviation on flight-critical and rotating components; and Coşkunöz on structural parts and fuselage assembly. TAAC focuses on motion and flight control, landing gear and test systems. These activities involve more than delivering parts to a prime manufacturer; they also require engineering, special processes, quality verification and repeatable production capability. Identifying the programme and component or system for which an organisation is responsible is more informative than a general claim that it ‘builds aircraft’.

[1] Kale Aero · [7] Alp Aviation · [8] Coşkunöz Holding · [9] TAAC Aerospace Technologies

Current names and roles in engines

Kale Jet Engines’ role in turbine-engine development and production is assessed separately from Kale Aero’s structural manufacturing. Keeping company names current is particularly important in engines: TEITECH’s official statement of 7 August 2026 gives TRMOTOR’s new name as TEI TEKNOLOJİ. The current corporate page describes original engine programmes, auxiliary power systems and advanced research under this organisation. The guide retains the former TRMOTOR name as a search aid; it does not duplicate the same activities as two independent current companies. The existence of a development programme does not itself mean completed certification or delivery.

[10] Kale Jet Engines · [11] TEI Technology (TEITECH) · [12] TEITECH

Maintenance, engine overhaul and the passenger cabin

Turkish Technic’s aircraft and component maintenance, engineering and modification services show that aviation’s economic activity continues after production. Turkish Engine Center is a joint venture between Pratt & Whitney and Turkish Technic for engine maintenance and overhaul. TCI Aircraft Interiors meets another need through seats, cabin equipment and entertainment and connectivity systems. It is useful to view these organisations together, while preserving their distinct responsibilities. A maintenance organisation, a cabin-equipment manufacturer and an aircraft platform’s prime contractor perform different roles.

[2] Turkish Technic · [13] Turkish Technic · [14] TCI Aircraft Interiors

Product and company in uncrewed systems

KARAYEL-SU appears in Lentatek’s official product portfolio. An aircraft’s product name is not the same as the name of the organisation that develops it. Former brands and company names in historic documents should not be multiplied into independently active manufacturers without comparison with current product pages. The guide does not aim to manufacture an artificial company count from different names. Design, flight testing, delivery and use also require distinct evidence. This section verifies the product’s presence in the portfolio; it does not use figures such as current fleet size, export volume or future delivery dates that require separate verification.

[15] Lentatek

Research, testing and engineering expertise

TÜBİTAK SAGE’s defence-technology and munitions research, TÜBİTAK MAM’s aviation-engine materials work and GE Aerospace’s Türkiye Technology Center engine engineering are distinct, complementary activities. SAGE emphasises development of aircraft-related systems; MAM investigates alloys and production processes; and the GE centre works on design, software, prototyping and repair technologies. They cannot all be labelled aircraft manufacturers. Distinguishing a research institution, industrial supplier and international engineering centre operating in Türkiye reveals more clearly where and how expertise is developed.

[16] TÜBİTAK SAGE · [17] TÜBİTAK SAGE · [18] TÜBİTAK MAM · [19] GE Aerospace

Different responsibilities of public institutions and universities

While the Presidency of Defence Industries coordinates industrial development and procurement projects, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is the authority responsible for civil aviation safety and security. Universities train engineers, maintenance specialists, pilots, air traffic personnel and researchers. Eskişehir Technical University, METU, Istanbul Technical University and the University of the Turkish Aeronautical Association appear here under education and research. Developing a laboratory prototype or flying a student project is valuable, but does not automatically make a university a series manufacturer. Educational infrastructure and institutional oversight should be treated as continuing functions that enable the sector to develop.

[20] Presidency of Defence Industries · [21] Directorate General of Civil Aviation · [22] Eskişehir Technical University · [23] Middle East Technical University · [24] Istanbul Technical University · [25] University of the Turkish Aeronautical Association

Space activities in their own domain

TÜBİTAK UZAY, Plan-S and Fergani Space work on satellite platforms, subsystems, payloads and space missions. Although they share engineering disciplines with aviation, their operating environments and product classes differ. The guide keeps these organisations under the ‘Space – separate field’ filter. This makes public and private contributions to space visible without incorrectly expanding the list of aircraft manufacturers. The development, launch and in-orbit operation stages of a satellite project should likewise not be combined into a single achievement label.

[26] TÜBİTAK UZAY · [27] Plan-S · [28] Fergani Space

PRODUCTION / RESEARCH / PEOPLE

The organisations of an ecosystem.

This guide is a source-verified selection of public institutions and private companies in Türkiye. The organisations fulfil different roles; not every one manufactures aircraft. It is neither a complete registry of all firms nor a ranking of achievement.

Showing 31 organisations.

Uncrewed systems

Baykar

Uncrewed systems

A detailed research dossier and its references are available on the platform.

One aircraft, many specialisms

TOMTAŞ and Kayseri: Distinguishing heritage from the new company

Etimesgut and MKE: Another stage in production history

Structures and subsystems

Current names and roles in engines

Maintenance, engine overhaul and the passenger cabin

Product and company in uncrewed systems

Research, testing and engineering expertise

Different responsibilities of public institutions and universities

Space activities in their own domain

The organisations of an ecosystem.

Baykar

TUSAŞ

TEI

ASELSAN

HAVELSAN

Turkish Aeronautical Association

TOMTAŞ / Kayseri Aircraft Factory (historic)

MKE / Etimesgut aircraft production (historic)

TOMTAŞ Aviation and Technology

Kale Aero

Kale Jet Engines

Alp Aviation

TEI Technology (TEITECH; formerly TRMOTOR)

Turkish Technic / THY Teknik

Turkish Engine Center (TEC)

Coşkunöz Aerospace

TCI Aircraft Interiors

Lentatek

TÜBİTAK SAGE

TÜBİTAK MAM

TÜBİTAK UZAY

GE Aerospace Türkiye Technology Center

TAAC Aerospace Technologies

Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB)

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM)

Eskişehir Technical University

Middle East Technical University

Istanbul Technical University

University of the Turkish Aeronautical Association

Plan-S

Fergani Space

Continue your research.

Turkish Aviation History

World Aviation History

Aviation Technologies in Türkiye

Follow the evidence.