Turkish Aerospace (TAI) is exhibiting a wide range of military products at the Nigerian Security Exhibition and Conference 2023, which is being held in Abuja from July 31 to August 2. The company is showcasing its latest unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), light attack and trainer aircraft, and helicopters.
“We believe that our products offer a number of advantages over those of our competitors,” said Selçuk Bayraktar, CTO of TAI. “Our products are highly reliable, and they are also very cost-effective,” said Dr Bahadir Gumus, the Regional Marketing Executive.
One of the highlights of the TAI exhibit is a model of the Aksungur drone. The Aksungur is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV that is capable of carrying a variety of payloads, including surveillance and reconnaissance systems, precision-guided munitions, and electronic warfare systems. The Aksungur has been exported to several countries, including Algeria, Pakistan, Angola and Qatar.
Another UAV on display is the ANKA S drone. The ANKA S is a Medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV that is also capable of carrying a variety of payloads. The ANKA S has been used by the Turkish Armed Forces in a number of operations, including the fight against ISIS. Chad, Algeria, and Tunisia have acquired the Anka drone system.
TAI is also seeking to sell the Anka drone to Nigeria and has offered to set up an Anka UAV production facility in the country. Although, Nigeria opted for the Bayraktar TB2 drone rather than the Anka UAV. Nigeria ordered 6 Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs along with 2 Ground Control Stations.
TAI is also exhibiting the Hukus light attack and trainer aircraft. The Hukus is a turboprop aircraft that is designed for both attack and training missions. The aircraft is equipped with a variety of weapons, including air-to-ground missiles and bombs. The Hukus have been exported to several countries, including Chad, Pakistan and Turkmenistan.
In addition to UAVs and light attack aircraft, TAI is also exhibiting the Hurjet, T-925 heavy-lift helicopter, and T-129 Atak helicopter. The Hurjet is a new-generation jet trainer aircraft that is currently under development. The T-925 is a heavy-lift helicopter that is designed for a variety of missions, including troop transport, cargo, and search and rescue. The T-129 Atak is an attack helicopter that is armed with a variety of weapons, including air-to-ground missiles and guns.
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) will supply six T-129 ATAK helicopters to Nigeria under a recent contract signing. Dr. Bahadir Gumus, the Regional Marketing Executive commented that Nigerian pilots are currently being trained in Turkey on the T-129 ATAK helicopter.
The TAI exhibit at the Nigerian Security Exhibition and Conference 2023 is a showcase of the company’s latest military products. The company is looking to expand its presence in the African market, and the Nigerian exhibition is a good opportunity to showcase its products to potential customers.