First T625 GÖKBEY delivered to Turkish Gendarmerie
On 29 October 2024, Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayi A.Ş (Turkish Aerospace Industries – TUSAŞ) delivered the first fully indigenously developed T625 GÖKBEY twin-engined light transport & utility helicopter to the Türk Jandarma Havacılık Başkanlığı (Turkish Gendarmerie Aviation Directorate).
The aircraft delivered was the J-6003. The remaining two (J-6001 and J-6002) are expected to be delivered to the Jandarma before the end of the year.
During the ceremony, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated "two additional helicopters under the scope of the serial production contract will be delivered at the end of this year. A total of twenty GÖKBEY helicopters will be delivered by 2026."
The T625 is powered by the TEI TS1400 Turboshaft Engine designed for rotary wing applications. It was developed by TUSAŞ Engine Industries Inc. (TEI) in Turkey. The first flight of the TEI TS1400 with GÖKBEY was completed on 19 April 2023. On the avionics side, ASELSAN provides Turkish Aerospace Industries with the Flight Management System, Flight Control Computer, Glass Cockpit, Navigation Systems, IFF , Communication Systems and other avionics equipment. The T625 features a four-axis dual redundant automatic flight control system.
There are also rumours that the Türk Deniz Hava Komutanlığı (Turkish Navy Aviation Command) will receive a number of GÖKBEY helicopters.
Credit photos: article - Cem Dogut/Defence Turkey magazine, news overview - via tolgaozbek.com