The first T625 GÖKBEY helicopter has entered service with the Turkish General Directorate of Security, expanding the use of the domestically developed helicopter beyond armed forces programs to public security missions. The Turkish Ministry of Interior announced that the police fleet will receive a total of 18 helicopters of this type, while the second helicopter will be delivered within a short period according to the schedule announced by the Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries.
The delivery took place on September 2, 2026, during a ceremony held at the facilities of the Turkish Aerospace Industries Company, TUSAŞ, in Kahramankazan, attended by Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi, President of the Presidency of Defense Industries Haluk Görgün, TUSAŞ General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu, and General Director of Security Ali Fidan.
What Does GÖKBEY Add to the Security Fleet?
Çiftçi said that the aviation department of the General Directorate of Security currently operates 35 helicopters, 5 aircraft, 19 tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, and one operational unmanned aerial vehicle. This system is used in counterterrorism, security missions, reconnaissance and surveillance, and disaster and emergency response.
According to Turkish officials, GÖKBEY will add the capability to reach broad areas quickly and support coordination and surveillance from the air. However, the source did not specify the equipment fitted to the version delivered to the police or the nature of the missions or areas to which the helicopters will be assigned. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that the security version is identical to the configurations of other users.
From Testing to Institutional Operation
GÖKBEY is a twin-engine, 6-ton general-purpose helicopter equipped with modern avionics, an advanced flight-control system, and a structure adaptable to different operational requirements. The helicopter has completed approximately 3,000 flight-test hours since its first flight on September 6, 2018.
Six police pilots and four helicopter technicians are currently undergoing conversion training on GÖKBEY at TUSAŞ. This means that the delivery is not limited to transferring the platform, but also requires building operational and maintenance capabilities within the user organization, a stage whose success will determine how quickly the helicopters enter actual service.
An Industrial Program That Extends Beyond a Single Platform
Görgün said that more than 200 Turkish companies are participating in GÖKBEY and subsequent domestic helicopter projects, from the prime contractor and suppliers to small companies and research institutions. He stated that Turkey has so far delivered, counting all users, 39 T70 helicopters, 8 GÖKBEY helicopters, and 80 ATAK helicopters, in addition to exporting 12 ATAK helicopters to friendly and allied countries.
He also indicated that, by his estimate, the helicopter programs have spared Turkey direct imports exceeding $8 billion, while the total economic impact, including maintenance and sustainment costs throughout the platforms’ service lives, could reach more than $35 billion. These figures were presented by Görgün during the ceremony, and the source did not provide the methodology used to calculate them or details enabling independent verification.
Why Does This News Matter?
The actual significance of the delivery lies in testing GÖKBEY within a security organization with broad daily responsibilities, not merely in adding another aircraft to the inventory. The next phase will reveal the program’s ability to provide continuous training, maintenance, logistical support, and suitable equipment. Görgün says the delivery marks the beginning of a new phase involving equipment integration and the development of configurations based on user feedback, while the targeting of other civilian users, foremost among them the Ministry of Health, has been announced without specifying dates or operational versions for this step.