Türkiye has delivered the first GÖKBEY general-purpose helicopter to its Land Forces Command, marking the platform’s entry into active service as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) inventory with domestically developed systems. The delivery took place on April 30 during a ceremony at Turkish Aerospace Industries facilities in Kahramankazan, Ankara.
Speaking at the ceremony, Haluk Görgün said the GÖKBEY program would continue to expand in the coming years. “In the coming years, we will deliver 15 more GÖKBEY helicopters to the Army Command and 42 more to the Ministry of Interior,” he stated.
The Ministry of National Defense (MSB) had earlier confirmed during its weekly press briefing that the first delivery of the domestically produced helicopter would be completed as of April 30, highlighting the milestone as part of broader modernization efforts.
Görgün also emphasized ongoing work to integrate the indigenous TS1400 turboshaft engine into the platform. “Certification activities for the integration of our domestically produced TS1400 engine into the GÖKBEY platform are also continuing,” he said, adding that the helicopter currently has a localization rate exceeding 70%. “With the integration of the domestic engine, we will hopefully raise this rate to over 80%,” he noted.
Developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries, the GÖKBEY helicopter is positioned as a key component of Türkiye’s push to enhance sovereign aerospace capabilities. Its induction into service is expected to contribute directly to operational flexibility and mission readiness across multiple roles, including transport, medical evacuation, and utility missions.
Separately, the MSB said inspection and acceptance activities for the KARAOK anti-tank weapon system have been completed by the Land Forces Command, with the systems entering active service. Deliveries of various weapons and ammunition by Machine and Chemical Industry also continued this week.
The ministry added that exports of the HAR-66 light anti-tank rocket to Malaysia are ongoing, underscoring Türkiye’s parallel focus on expanding its defense export portfolio while reinforcing domestic capabilities.
The GÖKBEY delivery reflects Ankara’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, boost deterrence, and scale up indigenous production across critical defense domains.
