Kale Jet produces 1,000th turbojet powering SOM and ATMACA

The 1,000th KTJ-series domestically developed turbojet engine produced by Kale Jet Engines was celebrated at a ceremony held at the Presidency of Defence Industries. President Haluk Görgün said the SOM, ATMACA, ÇAKIR and KARA ATMACA missiles now fly with domestic engines, with the localisation rate exceeding 80 percent.

The 1,000th KTJ-series domestically developed and manufactured turbojet engine produced by Kale Jet Engines under the coordination of the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) was celebrated at a ceremony held at the SSB Nuri Demirağ Hall. SSB President Haluk Görgün, Kale Group Deputy Chairman Osman Okyay and company representatives attended the ceremony.

“Developing the first engine is a major engineering achievement. However, producing and delivering it 1,000 times with the same quality is an industrial achievement in its own right,” Görgün said. Noting that the defence industry’s localisation rate had risen from the 20 percent range to above 80 percent over nearly a quarter of a century, Görgün said, “Our goal is to achieve a Türkiye whose production cannot be halted by someone else’s decision, that does not compromise its security and is immune to sanctions.”

Recalling that the engines needed to power missiles had previously been purchased from abroad, Görgün said deliveries had been delayed, while embargoes and restrictions had affected production schedules. He added that missile exports to friendly countries had also faced restrictions imposed by the country selling the engines. Emphasising that they had not forgotten the embargoes imposed after the Cyprus Peace Operation, Görgün said that although the missiles belonged to Türkiye, continued production remained dependent on the delivery of engines from abroad.

SSB Nuri Demirağ Salonu'nda düzenlenen KTJ serisi 1000. motor üretim töreni

Görgün said the SOM, ATMACA, ÇAKIR and KARA ATMACA missiles were now powered by domestic engines, eliminating both a significant dependency affecting production continuity and a major dependency in missile exports. He said they had calculated that $200 million in resources had remained in the country through this project alone.

Görgün said engine sales and the export of ROKETSAN missiles had had a positive impact on Türkiye, adding, “Our country, which once waited for engines, now meets the needs of other countries.” He also said Kale Jet Engines would continue developing new engines.

Kale Jet produces 1,000th turbojet powering SOM and ATMACA