First Gökbey helicopter delivered to Turkish Land Forces Command

A screenshot of an SSB video showing delivery of the first Gökbey helicopter to Turkish Land Forces Command on 30 April 2026. (SSB)

The first domestically developed T625 Gökbey medium-twin helicopter was delivered to Turkish Land Forces Command on 30 April 2026.

Türkiye's Secretariat of Defense Industries (SSB) announced the milestone which marked the commencement of deliveries to the wider Turkish armed forces.

In October 2024, the Turkish Gendarmerie became the first operator of the Gökbey. This was followed in July 2025 with an order of 57 helicopters for the national armed forces, gendarmerie and coast guard.

Developed by Turkish Aerospace (TA) under the Turkish Light Utility Helicopter (TLUH) programme, the Gökbey has been designed for domestic and international military, paramilitary, and civilian purposes in hot and high environments, and is equipped to carry 12 passengers.

Initially named Özgün (Original), the T625 designation was revealed in December 2016, and denotes a 6 tonne maximum take-off weight, two engines, and five main rotor blades. Key design features include a five-bladed main rotor and a four-bladed tail rotor to minimise vibration and noise, as well as a 30-minute ‘run-dry' capability for the gearbox. Aselsan produces the avionics for the cockpit, with two wide touchscreens (8×20 inches) and two smaller touchscreens (8×10 inches).

Initially powered by twin Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company (LHTEC - a Rolls-Royce and Honeywell partnership) CTS800 turboshaft engines, the T625 is now fitted with a Tusaş Engine Industries (TEI) TS1400 powerplant. The Gökbey features a 4-axis dual-redundant automatic flight-control system, and all critical systems such as the transmission, rotors, landing gear, and aerostructures have been designed by TA.

Performance specifications listed in Janes All the World's Aircraft: Development & Production