TOMTAS to play key role in Hurjet production with ‘super incentive’ support

TOMTAS, Türkiye’s first aircraft factory, will play a pivotal role in the production of the Hurjet jet training and light attack aircraft, thanks to support under the country’s “super incentive” scheme.

The factory, which is being revitalized as part of a significant defense and aerospace investment, is expected to begin operations in August 2023, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the company’s original founding.

Under the new incentive program, TOMTAS will produce up to 12 Hurjet aircraft annually, with the potential to increase this capacity to 48 units as international demand grows.

‘Super incentive’ support to boost Hurjet production

TOMTAS will benefit from the Project-Based State Aid for Investments (super incentive) program, which includes customs duty exemptions, VAT exceptions, tax reductions, employer share support for social security premiums, skilled workforce assistance, and land allocation.

These incentives are designed to encourage high-tech manufacturing and defense industry growth in Türkiye.

The new investment, totaling approximately ₺9.5 billion ($250 million), will span six years, starting in 2023.

The factory, located in Kayseri, will employ around 1,000 people, including 150 highly skilled workers. The facility will also create thousands of additional jobs in the region through subcontractors and related industries.

Expanding Hurjet production capacity

The factory will initially have the capacity to produce 12 Hurjet aircraft annually, with production of 2,016 tons of aircraft components and 84 major aircraft parts each year.

As demand for Hurjet increases internationally, the factory’s production capacity is expected to rise to 24 jets per year, and eventually to 48.

TOMTAS General Manager Ali Eksi emphasized the importance of this project for Türkiye’s aerospace and defense sector, particularly in the context of the Hurjet program, which will contribute significantly to national defense and export potential.

Key milestones in Hurjet production

Ali Eksi outlined TOMTAS’ involvement in the Hurjet project, including a signed contract in October 2024 to provide components for 12 aircraft as part of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) approved supplier network.

The assembly of Hurjet’s components, including the front, middle, and rear fuselage sections, wing boxes, and tail assemblies, will begin in October 2023.

TOMTAS’ role in assembling key components of the Hurjet will not only contribute to Türkiye’s defense industry but will also position the company to support global aviation firms in producing, assembling, and maintaining aircraft parts.

Future expansion of aviation expertise in Kayseri

The Hurjet assembly facility will mark the beginning of a new era for TOMTAS and Kayseri, as the company aims to establish the region as a hub for aerospace and aviation manufacturing. TOMTAS plans to expand further, with a new aviation campus set to open at Kayseri Airport in 2027.

“We are committed to making Kayseri a central hub for aviation, and Hurjet will be the key to achieving that,” said Eksi. “We’re proud to be part of this transformative project, which will elevate Türkiye’s presence in the global aerospace industry.”