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Turkish military aircraft maintenance capabilities were highlighted during a TRT Haber broadcast, with officials from ASFAT (Military Factory and Shipyard Management Inc.) facilities demonstrating readiness for upcoming aircraft procurement programs including Eurofighter and C-130J aircraft.
During Turkish media outlet TRT Haber's "Industrial Front" (Sanayi Cephesi) program featuring ASFAT facilities, Eskisehir 1st Air Maintenance Factory Director Brigadier General Levent Kefal provided insights into the facility's aircraft engine maintenance capabilities and future role in military aviation programs.
"We are particularly displaying our engines that have served the Air Force for years in our museum. The aircraft engines displayed in our museum are extremely important to us. The 1st Air Maintenance Factory Directorate has been the most effective and authorized unit in aircraft engine matters for years," Kefal said during the broadcast.
Kefal expressed confidence in ASFAT's role in both domestic aircraft development and international procurement programs during the interview.
"We hope to display our domestic engine here as well. We are involved in all new national projects - Hurkus, Hurjet, KAAN - and we will play a role as technical management responsible for all of them in the future," Kefal stated.
The facility director emphasized ASFAT's expanding responsibilities: "We take great pride in being involved in both our national aircraft and planned procurement projects including Eurofighter and C-130J, and all these new aircraft and new projects."
"Just as a heart is important for a human, an engine is equally important for an aircraft. We call ourselves heart doctors," Kefal explained during the ASFAT facility tour.
The brigadier general highlighted the facility's long-standing expertise in aircraft engine maintenance and repair, positioning the 1st Air Maintenance Factory as the primary authority for such operations within the Turkish Air Force.
According to defense publication Janes' report by Gareth Jennings, personnel from the Turkish Air Force's 2nd Main Maintenance Factory Directorate at Kayseri are currently at Marshall Aerospace in the U.K. to obtain type certification for the C-130J ahead of receiving the aircraft.
Three sources with knowledge of the procurement, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to Janes and other defense media that the airlifters would soon be arriving in the country.
The procurement involves 12 surplus U.K. aircraft that were retired from Royal Air Force service in June 2023. The confirmation came 11 months after Lockheed Martin told Janes in June 2024 that most of the retired RAF C-130Js "now have a home," although the company had not identified the customer at that time.
According to Gareth Jennings from Janes, construction of two new hangars for the C-130J fleet is set to commence at the Turkish Air Force maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility in Kayseri in the coming weeks.
The facility will continue to serve as the main operational base for the newly acquired transport aircraft, complementing Türkiye's existing military transport capabilities.
The approximately $740 million acquisition will significantly enhance both strategic and tactical airlift capabilities for the Turkish Air Force, according to unconfirmed reports. The C-130J fleet is expected to work in coordination with the ongoing ERCIYES modernization program.
The new aircraft will help reduce operational burden on Türkiye's existing Airbus A400M fleet while providing enhanced tactical air supply, personnel transport, and medical evacuation capabilities.
The Turkish Air Force currently operates a fleet of 19 C-130 aircraft, including C-130B and C-130E models. The addition of C-130J variants represents a logical progression, with existing maintenance and logistics infrastructure facilitating smooth integration.
Türkiye has been operating C-130s since 1964, when its first four C-130Es were delivered. The fleet grew slowly with more C-130Es until 1991 when six ex-U.S. Air Force C-130Bs were purchased. Another six C-130Es were then acquired from Saudi Arabia in 2011, all operated by 222 'Alev' squadron from Erkilet International Airport in Kayseri.
At least one airframe from the existing fleet will likely be repurposed for spare parts rather than receiving scheduled upgrades under the ERCIYES program.
Ahead of his official visit to Türkiye, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that all four Eurofighter partners support the potential sale of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Türkiye.
In an interview with Turkish media outlet Hurriyet, Lammy noted: "We are confident that all four Eurofighter partners support this sale."
Lammy's remarks come during Türkiye's ongoing negotiations with the Eurofighter consortium, which includes the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Reports have indicated that Germany previously expressed reservations about the sale, but a recent report in German media outlet Handelsblatt said that the German government is preparing to approve the long-delayed sale of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Türkiye.
The U.K. has been engaging with the German government to resolve these concerns.
Lammy emphasized the strength of the defense relationship between the two countries: "We already have a strong defense industry partnership with Türkiye, and we want to seize more opportunities. For example, the U.K.'s advanced defense industries complement Türkiye's dynamic supply chain by fostering trade, investment, and technology cooperation."
"We are seeking ways to develop our defense industry cooperation through the Türkiye/U.K. Defense Industry Council, which is a government and industry group that enables us to evaluate all available opportunities for our rising nations in this sector," Lammy said.
"The U.K. and Türkiye are in a very good position to meet the demands of the global defense industry by combining expertise, talent, and innovation," he added.
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In a joint press conference with U.K.'s Lammy, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan underscored growing cooperation in the defense sector, saying: "Our cooperation in the defense industry is progressing extremely well. From the procurement of Eurofighter aircraft to other joint projects, our companies and institutions are working effectively."
Lammy lastly noted that defense cooperation serves as a strategic pillar: "The defense sector is the basic strategic pillar of cooperation between the U.K. and Türkiye that drives economic growth and partnership, and of course, as close NATO allies, defense industry cooperation is a very important issue for us."
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