Under this agreement, TEI will continue to provide critical parts for commercial, military and marine engines

19:08 GMT, March 20, 2010 In the joint venture signing ceremony that took place at the Ankara Sheraton Hotel, Mr. Vecdi Gönül, Minister of National Defense, Mr. Murad Bayar, Undersecretary for Defence Industries, Mr. Jeff Immelt, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of GE, high ranking officials from TEI, TUSAS, GE, TSKGV and THK and many guests attended the occasion.

The ceremony commenced with remarks by TEI Chairman of the Board, Air Force Senior Engineer Brigadier General (Rt.), Bora Çaclar, Chairman of the Board and CEO of GE Mr. Jeff Immelt and Minister of National Defence Mr. Vecdi Gönül, followed by the signing of the joint venture contract, a film showing TEI’s 25 years and ended with a reception.

In his speech delivered at the ceremony, Minister of National Defense Vecdi Gönül stated that TEI, founded 25 years ago as a project company involving F110 engines for the F-16 jets, today has become a company that can compete with worldwide manufacturers with its production, quality, its technological structure that can meet customer expectations, competitive products and services. Indicating that the partnership with GE for military and commercial aircraft and helicopter engines had attested to its contribution to domestic and international projects, Gönül said, “ The renewal of this partnership is of utmost importance to our future oriented projects on airplane engines.” Minister Gönül, emphasizing that the successes achieved by TEI are strategically very important for Turkey, noted that, “Our goal in engines is to establish a production line using our civil and military capabilities and at the same time become a regional engine center that will produce not only our engines but also produce and provide maintenance and repairs for other countries. In this respect TEI is taking firm steps to become a main engine manufacturer by creating a strong activity base from engine, assembly, overhaul, parts manufacturing, customer services and R&D.”

In the efforts to establish and expand a modern defense industry in Turkey, Turkish and American defense cooperation has had important contributions, indicated Gönül and added that, “In the point reached so far, Turkey has become a country that is ready with basic capabilities in the defense industry area and in fact has reached the capacity where she can provide support to large defense projects of the U.S. that is very demanding in technology applications.”

TEI General Manager Akin Duman stated that in the point that they had arrived today they had provided the utmost guarantee that they would not in any way deviate from their main goal, “In establishing a modern aircraft engine industry in Turkey from design to parts from modules to final engine production, from engine assembly and testing to maintenance and overhaul.” In attaining its present level, the contributions of its Turkish partners and the strong cooperation with GE had been important said Mr. Duman. With this confidence TEI is shaping its future and rapidly advancing to become an engineering and engine production center and main engine producer in our country and the globe. Duman went on to add that during the next 25 years within the framework of TEI’s expansion strategies their activities would continue with the same understanding and determination. Duman also mentioned that in line with our country’s forward looking requirements unique engine design and development had been included in the strategic development plan.

Jean Lydon-Rodgers, Vice President and General Manager of GE Aviation Military Systems said that they are pleased to extend this valued relationship. "Our involvement with TEI goes far beyond parts. Development of the Turkiye Technology Center in Istanbul, expansion into the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul arena, plus design and manufacturing of some of our most critical parts, underscores the growing scope of value TEI provides "he said.


GE Aviation's long-standing relationship with TEI began in 1985 with the establishment of a facility for production of F110 engines that power F-16 aircraft for the Turkish Air Force. TEI now produces more than 560 different engine parts.

Recently, TEI launched parts manufacturing efforts for the GEnx, which powers both the Boeing 747-8 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner. More than 1,000 GEnx engines are on order. TEI has also been selected to provide parts for the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team's F136 engine for the Joint Strike Fighter program, and is the only GE supplier to produce "blisk spools," a combination of blades and disks cast into a single forging for significant weight and durability advantages. TEI is also a recipient of GE Aviation's prestigious Brian H. Rowe Research & Development award for work on the J85 Ejector System.

Since its entry into the Turkish market in 1948 as the first foreign industrial investor, GE has steadily continued its growth through investments in technology and services. Today, GE is a leading player in finance, energy, consumer & industrial products, water technologies, media and engineering fields. GE employs 500 people in Turkey, and more than 18,000 employees through its joint ventures. GE Aviation's engines power the majority of fighters, cargo aircraft, helicopters and ships in the Turkish Armed Forces inventory, including F-16s, Black Hawks and Frigates. GE Aviation and CFM International also power more than 400 civil aircraft in Turkey.