HAVELSAN’s Kahramankazan Facility: Europe’s Largest
Where is Europe’s largest simulator facility being built? HAVELSAN is constructing a new simulator production and integration facility in the Space and Aviation Specialisation Organised Industrial Zone (HAB) in Kahramankazan, Ankara. Targeted to become Europe’s largest once all phases are complete, the facility will rise on a 60,000-square-metre site and employ around 600 personnel. This article covers the facility based on official sources.
For the systems to be produced there, see our articles on the HÜRJET simulator and the 12 civil simulators for Turkish Airlines.
Why a new facility?
According to HAVELSAN General Manager Mehmet Akif Nacar, the company began construction of the new facility because of existing capacity constraints. As large-volume work — Turkish Airlines’ order of 12 simulators and the HÜRJET simulator’s export to Spain — joined the military simulators, the need arose for a base at serial-production scale.
Capacity: 16 full flight simulators at once
The facility is designed with the capacity to carry out the production and integration of 16 full flight simulators (FFS) simultaneously and to handle more than 30 simulators a year. This scale aims to carry HAVELSAN into the small circle of major manufacturers in the simulator market.
Simulators for which platforms?
Simulators for Turkish platforms such as HÜRJET, Gökbey, HÜRKUŞ and ATAK will be produced at the facility. On the civil side, the narrow-body and wide-body aircraft simulators for Turkish Airlines will come off this production line.
Beyond simulators: robotic systems
The facility will not only produce simulators; serial production of air, land and sea robotic and autonomous systems will also take place there. This means HAVELSAN scaling up the production of its unmanned-systems family, including BAHA, BARKAN and SANCAR.
The Kahramankazan facility at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Kahramankazan HAB OIZ, Ankara |
| Area | 60,000 m² |
| Personnel | Around 600 |
| Capacity | 16 FFS simultaneously; 30+ simulators a year |
| Additional production | Air/land/sea robotic and autonomous systems |
| Target | Europe’s largest once all phases are complete |
Frequently asked questions
Where is the facility being built?
In the Space and Aviation Specialisation OIZ (HAB) in Kahramankazan, Ankara.
What will the facility’s capacity be?
Production and integration of 16 full flight simulators simultaneously; more than 30 simulators a year.
Which simulators will be produced?
HÜRJET, Gökbey, HÜRKUŞ and ATAK simulators, along with Turkish Airlines’ civil flight simulators.
Will it produce only simulators?
No; serial production of air, land and sea robotic and autonomous systems will also take place at the facility.
Sources
- HAVELSAN, “A Historic Day at HAVELSAN” — havelsan.com
- Anadolu Agency — aa.com.tr
- TRT Haber — trthaber.com
