The Land Forces Command has received its first T625 GÖKBEY helicopter. With a domestic production rate exceeding 70 percent, GÖKBEY will replace the UH-1 fleet and form the foundation of a major program totaling 83 helicopters.
With the delivery ceremony held at TUSAŞ facilities, the first GÖKBEY entering the Land Forces inventory marked the beginning of the transformation that will replace the UH-1 fleet.
The T625 GÖKBEY General Purpose Helicopter, one of Türkiye’s critical projects in aviation and the defence industry, has entered a new phase with its first delivery to the Land Forces Command. At the ceremony held at TUSAŞ facilities, not only the domestic platform production capability of the Turkish defence industry but also the modernization target in land aviation was clearly demonstrated.
The ceremony was attended by President of Defence Industries Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, Commander of the Land Forces General Metin Tokel, TUSAŞ Chairman of the Board Ömer Cihad Vardan, TUSAŞ General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu, along with numerous military and civilian officials.
Domestic content rate increasing in GÖKBEY
Speaking at the ceremony where the delivery documents were presented to Land Forces Commander General Metin Tokel, President of Defence Industries Haluk Görgün emphasized that GÖKBEY is not only an air platform but also a significant result of Türkiye’s determination for independent aviation production.
Stating that the current domestic content rate in the program has exceeded 70 percent, Görgün announced that this rate will surpass 80 percent following the full integration of the indigenous TS1400 engine.
Target: a large fleet of 83 helicopters
Within the scope of the program, 15 new GÖKBEY helicopters are planned to be delivered to the Land Forces Command and 42 to the Ministry of Interior in the coming period. Thus, a large-scale production program of 83 helicopters is taking shape.
TUSAŞ General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu stated that the second Land Forces helicopter will be delivered in June 2026, indicating that the production pace will gradually accelerate.
This delivery schedule shows that Türkiye has transitioned to a model that not only develops platforms but also simultaneously carries out mass production and force structure transformation.
The UH-1 Huey era is ending
Statements by Land Forces Commander General Metin Tokel clarified the operational role of GÖKBEY. Accordingly, the platform will replace the UH-1 Huey helicopters that have been in service for many years.
This transition does not only mean the replacement of ageing aircraft; it also signifies higher payload capacity, advanced avionics, modern mission systems, and lower logistical dependency.
Especially in tactical logistics, personnel transport, cargo, and versatile field support, GÖKBEY is set to become one of the next-generation backbone platforms for Turkish Land Aviation.
Land Forces and Gendarmerie versions shaped according to different mission requirements
Although GÖKBEY’s core air platform is common, its mission profile varies depending on the user institution.
Land Forces Configuration:
- Military general-purpose missions
- Personnel and troop transport
- Tactical logistics support
- Cargo and field operations
- Combat support missions
Gendarmerie (T625J) Configuration:
- Internal security operations
- Search and rescue
- FLIR / thermal imaging systems
- Law enforcement duties
- Self-defence and electronic warfare equipment
Mass production models are lighter and more efficient
One of the notable technical improvements in the new-generation GÖKBEY helicopters that have entered mass production is a weight reduction of approximately 200 kilograms. Thanks to this improvement, the platform’s useful load capacity has increased.
This difference can mean two fully equipped personnel or additional logistical load in the field. In operational reality, such gains have a direct impact on mission success.
Technical performance benchmark
The key features that stand out across all GÖKBEY variants are as follows:
- 6-ton maximum take-off weight
- 12-passenger capacity
- 306 km/h maximum speed
- Endurance exceeding 3 hours 45 minutes
A critical threshold in Türkiye’s aviation vision
The first delivery to the Land Forces represents more than a symbolic step for GÖKBEY; it reflects the level reached by the Turkish defence industry in the triangle of engine, platform, and mass production.
While the success of GÖKBEY strengthens Türkiye’s goal of reducing external dependency in rotary-wing platforms, it also reinforces the industrial infrastructure for future national air projects such as ATAK, ATAK-2, and others.
