One of the most significant projects of Turkey’s national defence industry initiative, the National Combat Aircraft (MMU) Project, is progressing rapidly under the coordination of the Presidency of Defence Industries. This project, which brings together a formidable coalition of Turkey’s defence industry giants, is set to elevate the country to a higher league in defence technology.
HAVELSAN: “MMU Will Propel Turkey to the Next Level”
HAVELSAN’s General Manager, Ahmet Hamdi Atalay, stated that MMU is not just a fighter jet project but a major initiative that will enable Turkey to make a significant leap in technology. Emphasising their aim to place Turkey among the select few countries capable of producing 5th generation fighter jets, Atalay noted that the aircraft is expected to roll out of the hangar in 2023.
Atalay highlighted the sophisticated software infrastructure of MMU, describing it as a “flying computer.” He explained, “The jet will contain approximately 20 million lines of code, with hundreds of software modules working together. Therefore, it is only natural that HAVELSAN is one of the key players in this project.”
HAVELSAN’s Strength to Boost MMU
Addressing HAVELSAN’s expertise in software development, Atalay recalled that they had written millions of lines of code for large-scale projects in the past. He mentioned that the company produced 10 million lines of code for the Advent Combat Management System and 15 million lines for the Air Force Information System. Atalay stressed that HAVELSAN’s modular software development and high-performance integration capabilities would provide a significant advantage for MMU.
Atalay also pointed out that HAVELSAN’s global success in aircraft simulators would greatly contribute to MMU. He noted that the company had developed simulators for a wide range of platforms, from F-16 fighter jets to training aircraft, helicopters, and land vehicles. He added that this accumulated knowledge would play a critical role in MMU’s development process.
F-35 Experience Transferred to MMU
Atalay explained that HAVELSAN had so far remained in the background of the project due to the initial focus on mechanical and conceptual design. However, with software and operational components now on the agenda, the company is set to take on a more active role.
He announced that, following a joint evaluation by the Presidency of Defence Industries, the Air Force Command, and TUSAŞ, HAVELSAN was officially included in the MMU project. Within this scope, HAVELSAN established a “National Combat Aircraft Directorate,” appointing an expert who had previously worked on the F-35 project to lead the unit.
“We will combine our experiences from the F-35 project with our expertise within the Air Force to make substantial contributions to MMU,” said Atalay, underlining HAVELSAN’s critical role in the process.
A Massive Team of 500 Engineers
HAVELSAN has begun forming a dedicated team for MMU. Approximately 400-500 engineers are expected to work on this massive software project, which requires 20 million lines of code. The current team within HAVELSAN will soon begin collaborating with other teams in the building established by TUSAŞ specifically for MMU.
With contributions from HAVELSAN and other defence industry giants, the MMU Project continues to progress rapidly, poised to break new ground in Turkey’s defence sector.
