Turkey's latest TF-X fighter jet on display at Teknofest
Teknofest, a six-day festival, features numerous activities such as aviation shows, seminars, workshops, a drone championship, contests and concerts.
Turkey's TF-X (Turkish Fighter - Experimental) fighter jet will feature two engines, a single pilot, and stealth features such as internal weapons bays.
Tensions between Turkey and the US are having a deep impact on Turkey's defence industry.
Washington has blocked the sale of its F-35 fighter jet to Ankara after Turkey had already invested one billion dollars in the programme.
The US decision has brought about the urgency for Tukey to speed up the production of its own aircraft.
Turkey's largest air technology fair, Teknofest, gave deeper insight into Turkey's long-term plans for its airpower including Turkey's new fighter jet, the TF-X, which is expected to reach twice the speed of sound, and further reduce Turkey's reliance on foreign fighting systems, such as the F-35.
Turkey says the aircraft is expected to go into production around 2029.
TRT World's Ali Mustafa reports from Istanbul.
Turkey's Defense Industry Executive Committee in 2010 started the TF-X project for the production of an indigenous fighter plane to replace Turkey’s F-16 fleet, and that would work together with the Stealth F-35.
Istanbul Ataturk Airport is hosting the six-day festival, co-organized by the Turkish Technology Team Foundation and the Industry and Technology Ministry.
The festival will feature numerous activities such as aviation shows, seminars, workshops, a drone championship, contests and concerts.
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