At TEKNOFEST in Istanbul, a new chapter was added to Turkey’s strong steps in the defence industry. ASFAT A.Ş., under the Ministry of National Defence, and Italy-based Magnaghi Aeronautica signed a joint venture agreement.
The ceremony was attended by Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler and Deputy Minister of National Defence and ASFAT Chairman Musa Heybet. The agreement was signed by ASFAT General Manager Prof. Dr Mustafa İlbaş and Magnaghi Aeronautica Chairman Paolo Graziano.
Maintenance and Overhaul Hub to Be Established in Turkey
Under the agreement, a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Centre will be established in Turkey. Initially, the centre will be responsible for the maintenance and repair of landing gear systems of ATAK helicopters in the Turkish Armed Forces inventory. However, the vision goes beyond military platforms. By also serving civil aviation, the centre aims to transform Turkey into an international hub for maintenance and overhaul services.
European Support for Bayraktar UAVs
The global success achieved by Baykar’s unmanned aerial vehicles, such as Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı, gains a new dimension with this cooperation. The ASFAT–Magnaghi partnership could provide critical infrastructure to support Bayraktar’s user network across Europe. As a NATO member, Italy’s strategic role in aviation is of particular importance in expanding the maintenance and logistics capabilities of Turkish UAVs.
Turkish and Italian Technology Hand in Hand
Magnaghi Aeronautica is renowned for its expertise in the design, production, and maintenance of landing gear. It also develops hydraulic and electromechanical subsystems for aircraft. The fusion of Turkish engineering and Italian technology is expected to add momentum to the defence industry ecosystem.
It should be recalled that earlier this year Baykar Technology and Leonardo, the Italy-based multinational defence company, signed a five-year partnership agreement to cooperate on the production of armed UAVs in Italy.
