Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) opened its presence at EDEX 2025 in Cairo with a clear message: regional airpower modernization is accelerating, and Türkiye intends to be a long-term partner in shaping that trajectory. Backed by more than three billion dollars’ worth of international contracts secured over the past five years, the company arrived with its largest-ever pavilion at the show, underscoring Ankara’s strategic push to promote its next-generation aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned platforms to Middle Eastern and African customers.
Company officials emphasized that the visit builds on renewed cooperation efforts with Egyptian aerospace entities. Discussions on joint production, industrial participation, and deeper technology-transfer arrangements are ongoing—an extension of diplomatic warming between Ankara and Cairo over the past three years. This evolving relationship sets the stage for more structured collaboration, particularly as Egypt and regional air forces seek modern capabilities without the long procurement timelines associated with traditional Western suppliers.
TAI’s expanding export footprint has strengthened its credibility. The ANKA UAV family has been delivered or ordered by multiple nations, the larger AKSUNGUR drone is in service with two export customers, and the T129 ATAK attack helicopter has been exported to three countries. HÜRKUŞ turboprop trainers are operational with two international air forces, while the Şimşek target drone has entered several overseas inventories. This momentum provides the backdrop for the company’s full-spectrum showcase in Cairo.
Leading the lineup is KAAN, Türkiye’s indigenous fifth-generation fighter and the company’s most ambitious project to date. With a maximum takeoff weight of 34,750 kilograms and twin 13,150 kgf-class engines enabling speeds up to Mach 1.8 at 40,000 feet, KAAN is engineered around low observability, high agility, and advanced sensor fusion. The aircraft incorporates internal weapon bays, plus-nine-G maneuverability, and a cockpit architecture with large-area displays and a modern helmet-mounted cueing system—placing it in direct competition with fifth-generation designs from the United States, Europe, and Asia.
A landmark moment for KAAN came in 2025, when Indonesia signed a ten-billion-dollar contract for 48 aircraft, with final assembly provisions and industrial partnership included. The deal positions KAAN as a serious export contender for air forces across the Middle East and Africa evaluating next-generation fighter options.
At the mid-tier of the portfolio, HÜRJET represents TAI’s push into advanced jet trainer and light combat markets. The single-engine, tandem-seat aircraft carries up to 7,500 pounds of payload, reaches Mach 1.4, and operates at altitudes up to 45,000 feet. Designed for lead-in fighter training, aggressor missions, and close air support, HÜRJET is among TAI’s signature platforms at EDEX.
The aircraft received a significant boost when Spain selected it for a program that may include up to 45 units—marking one of the most notable NATO endorsements of a Turkish platform and advancing its appeal among regional air forces looking to replace aging trainer fleets.
In the unmanned segment, the ANKA family remains TAI’s most mature line. The baseline ANKA MALE UAV provides 30 hours of endurance, a 30,000-foot ceiling, and a payload exceeding 350 kilograms. Its architecture supports EO/IR sensors, SAR/GMTI radar, electronic warfare payloads, and precision munitions. Secure datalinks, SATCOM connectivity beyond 2,500 kilometers, and automated takeoff and landing enhance its operational flexibility.
The newer ANKA III, designed around a low-observable flying-wing configuration, pushes into high-end unmanned strike and suppression-of-air-defense missions. With a maximum takeoff weight of 7,250 kilograms and a 1,600-kilogram payload, it supports AI-enabled teaming concepts with fighters like KAAN—offering regional air forces a path toward collaborative combat operations.
For rotary-wing missions, the T129 ATAK continues to anchor TAI’s combat helicopter offerings. Powered by twin CTS800-4A engines, the platform carries a 20 mm cannon, up to 16 anti-tank missiles, guided rockets, and air-to-air missiles. Its operational record—combined with exports to the Philippines and Nigeria—reinforces its suitability for counterinsurgency, anti-armour, and border-security missions across Africa.
The Şimşek high-speed target drone provides realistic threat simulation for air defense forces. Reaching 0.63 Mach and operating up to 25,000 feet, it supports payloads that mimic radar, infrared, and electronic signatures, enabling more complex and cost-effective training.
By arriving at EDEX 2025 with fighters, trainers, attack helicopters, UAVs, and advanced training drones, Turkish Aerospace signals its transformation from a platform developer into a full-spectrum airpower provider. For Middle Eastern and African militaries pursuing rapid modernization, the combination of competitive pricing, shorter delivery timelines, and growing industrial-cooperation options positions Türkiye as an increasingly influential supplier.
With the largest national pavilion at the show and a rapidly growing export portfolio, Turkish Aerospace’s presence in Cairo sends a broader geopolitical message: Türkiye is no longer merely participating in regional defense markets—it is shaping them.
