Turkey Selects Engine To Power Light Helo

ANKARA —Tusas Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has selected the Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Co.'s CTS800 to power a light helicopter the Turkish company has been developing.

TAI has announced that its Light Utility Helicopter will be developed for the commercial market initially, but later versions will have military use as well.

The engine will be the same model as that used on the T129, the Turkish indigenous attack helicopter developed jointly with Italian-British AgustaWestland. But the utility version's engine will feature a commercialized full authority digital engine control.

Under a contract with Turkey's procurement authority, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), TAI has been developing the utility helicopter since 2013.

SSM says a first flight is expected in 2018-19 with certification following about 18 months later.

TAI hopes to sell its utility helicopter to the Turkish military and to export markets.

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