Turkey Displays National Combat Aircraft Model at Singapore Air Show

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) debuted its national fighter jet TF-X at the Singapore Airshow, making it the first time that the jet is showcased in the Asian market.

The TF-X National Combat Aircraft (MMU) will be unveiled for the first time on March 18 next year and is scheduled to make its maiden flight in 2026.

The TF-X is a fifth-generation jet with similar features to Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II. The indigenous aircraft is being developed as the country is planning to gradually phase out the Air Force’s F-16s by the 2030s.

“We attach importance to the Asian market, we are determined to take important steps to accelerate our efforts to both increase our academic and production-oriented cooperation to strengthen our presence in this large market, including Malaysia and Kazakhstan,” said TAI CEO Temel Kotil.

The TAI is also exhibiting 1/7 mock-up models of other platforms it has developed. The company is working on the development of Hürjet, Turkey’s domestically developed advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft.