On 11 June 2024, at a general assembly meeting of Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ), a new board of directors was formed, with Ömer Cihad Vardan elected as chairman of the board and Dr Mehmet Demiroğlu appointed by the board as general manager. Demiroğlu takes over from Temel Kotil, who has been the company’s general manager for the last seven years.
Demiroğlu, who has a background in mechanical engineering, had until now been serving as executive vice president of the company’s helicopter division. He started his career at TUSAŞ in 2021, previously working in engine-related units at TUSAŞ Engine Inc (TEI) and BMC Power.
Turkish Aerospace has multiple major programmes on the go right now as it acts as the vanguard for the advanced development of the Turkish aerospace industry. Chief among these is the programme for Kaan fifth-generation combat aircraft – the country’s first indigenously developed jet fighter – which conducted its maiden flight on 21 February 2024 after production activities were initiated in March 2022.
The company has also developed the Hürjet advanced jet trainer, the country’s first indigenously produced supersonic-capable jet aircraft, which achieved its maiden flight on 25 April 2023.
The T929 Atak 2 ‘Heavy Duty Attack Helicopter’ is also in development and made its first flight on 28 April 2023.
None of these aerospace projects, however, use indigenously developed powerplants, which is perhaps a reason why Demiroğlu, which his engine-related experience and mechanical engineering qualifications, has been appointed as the company’s general manager.
