Turkish Aerospace vs TUSAS vs TAI: The Same Company?
Yes – Turkish Aerospace, TUSAS and TAI are all the same company. TUSAS is the Turkish legal name (Turk Havacilik ve Uzay Sanayii A.S.), while Turkish Aerospace and TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries) are its English brand and abbreviation. One company, several names. However, it must not be confused with TEI, which is a separate engine manufacturer.
| Name and identity at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Turkish legal name | Turk Havacilik ve Uzay Sanayii A.S. (TUSAS) |
| English name | Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TAI) |
| Common English brand | Turkish Aerospace |
| Founded | 28 June 1973 |
| Merged form | 2005 (TAI + TUSAS) |
| Headquarters | Kahramankazan, Ankara |
| Not to be confused with | TEI (separate engine company) |
| Chairman | Omer Cihad Vardan |
| CEO / General Manager | Dr. Mehmet Demiroglu |
Are TUSAS, TAI and Turkish Aerospace the same?
Yes. They refer to a single company that carries different names in different languages. TUSAS is the Turkish acronym of Turk Havacilik ve Uzay Sanayii Anonim Sirketi, the company’s legal name. TAI stands for Turkish Aerospace Industries, the English rendering, and Turkish Aerospace is the shortened international brand the company uses today on aircraft, at trade shows and in export marketing. The reason for multiple names is historical: the organisation was rebuilt through mergers over three decades, and both the Turkish acronym and the English brand survived. When you read TUSAS, TAI or Turkish Aerospace, you are reading about the same manufacturer headquartered in Kahramankazan, Ankara.
What does the company do?
Turkish Aerospace is Turkey’s leading aircraft and space manufacturer and prime contractor.
- Combat and trainer aircraft: KAAN fighter, HURJET jet trainer, HURKUS turboprop trainer.
- Unmanned aerial vehicles: ANKA family, AKSUNGUR, ANKA-3.
- Helicopters: T129 ATAK, T625 GOKBEY, T929 ATAK-2.
- Space: contributions to GOKTURK, IMECE and TURKSAT 6A.
- Structural work packages for Airbus and Boeing.
The easiest way to understand the naming is to follow the timeline. The company was founded, restructured as a joint venture, and finally merged into the single entity known today.
As a single merged company, Turkish Aerospace reports its scale through international rankings rather than as a listed firm.
How many people does it employ?
Turkish Aerospace employs approximately 17,000 people (2024-2025 sources), including around 7,000 engineers and 6,000 technicians. Some 2026 figures give about 16,180 staff. The workforce roughly grew by 10,000 people between 2015 and 2025 as the KAAN, HURJET and helicopter programmes expanded.
Why TUSAS is not the same as TEI
This is the most common naming mix-up. TEI (TUSAS Engine Industries) is a separate company that designs and builds engines. Turkish Aerospace (TUSAS) is a shareholder in TEI, but the two are distinct legal entities with different products: Turkish Aerospace builds airframes and complete platforms, while TEI focuses on propulsion. For example, indigenous engine development for programmes like KAAN and HURJET involves TEI, not the Turkish Aerospace airframe house. Sharing the ‘TUSAS’ element in the name does not make them one company.
Turkish Aerospace, TUSAS and TAI are the same company; TEI (TUSAS Engine Industries) is a separate engine manufacturer. Prototype configurations differ from serial production, and indigenous-engine targets are not the same as ready engines. Unconfirmed technical values are noted as not officially disclosed.
Frequently asked questions
What does TAI mean?
TAI stands for Turkish Aerospace Industries – the English name of the company whose Turkish legal title is Turk Havacilik ve Uzay Sanayii A.S. (TUSAS). It is the same manufacturer that today brands itself simply as Turkish Aerospace on aircraft and at international trade shows.
Is TAI the same as TUSAS?
Yes. TAI and TUSAS are two names for one company. TUSAS is the Turkish acronym of the legal name, while TAI is the English abbreviation. Both, along with the brand Turkish Aerospace, refer to the same firm headquartered in Kahramankazan, Ankara.
Is Turkish Aerospace the same as TEI?
No. TEI (TUSAS Engine Industries) is a separate company that builds engines. Turkish Aerospace is a shareholder in TEI, but they are distinct legal entities: Turkish Aerospace makes airframes and complete platforms, while TEI focuses on propulsion for those platforms and others.
Why does the company have two names?
The two names are historical. The organisation was founded as TUSAS in 1973, restructured as the Turkish-US joint venture TAI in 1984, and merged in 2005. The Turkish acronym (TUSAS) and the English name (TAI / Turkish Aerospace) both carried over, so the company is known by both today.
What was Turkish Aerospace formerly called?
The company traces back to TUSAS (Turk Havacilik ve Uzay Sanayii), founded in 1973, and to TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries), the 1984 joint venture. After the 2005 merger it kept the TUSAS legal name and increasingly uses the shorter English brand Turkish Aerospace.
Which name should I use?
All three are correct. Use ‘Turkish Aerospace’ as the modern international brand, ‘TUSAS’ for the Turkish legal name or acronym, and ‘TAI’ as the traditional English abbreviation. In technical and export contexts, Turkish Aerospace and TAI are the most widely recognised.
Does TEI build the engines for KAAN?
TEI is Turkey’s main indigenous engine developer and is central to national engine efforts for programmes such as KAAN and HURJET. The KAAN prototype flies with two General Electric F110 engines, while an indigenous engine remains a development target – work in which TEI, not the Turkish Aerospace airframe house, plays the lead role.
Is Turkish Aerospace state-owned?
Yes. It is a state-controlled joint-stock company held almost entirely by public-sector bodies: the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation (TSKGV, 54.49%) and the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB, 45.45%), plus a 0.06% legacy stake held by the Turkish Aeronautical Association. It is not publicly traded.
Sources
- Turkish Aerospace official website – tusas.com (corporate history and naming)
- Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) – ssb.gov.tr
- Defense News Top 100 (2025 edition)
- Anadolu Agency (AA) – corporate coverage
- Wikipedia – Turkish Aerospace Industries and TUSAS Engine Industries (background reference)
