Why did the terrorists target TUSAŞ? Here is the image that best summarizes what happened.

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The Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TUSAŞ), targeted by terrorists, plays a significant role in increasing the domestic production rate in the defense industry to over 80%, and is the leading company in defense and aviation exports. Recently, TUSAŞ has stood out with products such as the basic trainer aircraft HÜRKUŞ, the jet trainer aircraft HÜRJET, and the national combat aircraft KAAN.

TURKEY'S TECHNOLOGY CENTER

TUSAŞ, targeted by terrorists, was established on June 28, 1973, under the Ministry of Industry and Technology to reduce Turkey's dependence on foreign defense industry. Following the decision to use F-16 aircraft to meet the Turkish Air Force's need for combat aircraft, TUSAŞ was founded in 1984 as TUSAŞ Aerospace Industries Inc. (TAI), a Turkish-American joint investment company, to produce F-16 aircraft, integrate systems on the aircraft, and conduct flight tests for delivery to the Air Force. Before the 25-year period was completed, in 2005, the foreign shares of TAI were purchased by Turkish shareholders, and the company was restructured. In this context, TAI and TUSAŞ merged, expanding their activities under the TUSAŞ umbrella, and became Turkey's technology center in the development, modernization, production, system integration, and life cycle support processes of aerospace and defense industry systems.

MORE THAN 15,000 EMPLOYEES

Ranked among the top 100 global players in the aerospace and defense industry, TUSAŞ is organized into 6 strategic business centers: aerospace structures group, aircraft group, helicopter group, unmanned aerial vehicle systems group, space systems group, and national combat aircraft group. While the domestic production rate in Turkey's defense industry was around 20% in the early 2000s, it is expected to exceed 80% by 2024, with TUSAŞ taking on a locomotive role. Today, more than 3,500 companies in the defense industry ecosystem provide employment for over 90,000 people, while TUSAŞ employs more than 15,000 people. Today, nearly 55% of TUSAŞ's shares belong to the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation, and nearly 45% belong to the Presidency of Defense Industries. The company's facility in Kahramankazan, which was attacked, is used for modern aircraft production equipped with high-tech machinery and equipment.

THE COMPANY WITH THE HIGHEST EXPORTS

Having signed dozens of local and international projects to date, TUSAŞ is also one of Turkey's leading defense exporters. According to the Turkish Exporters Assembly, TUSAŞ became the company with the highest exports in the defense and aviation category this year. Among the top 1,000 exporting companies, it ranked 27th.

VIRAL FOOTAGE

All this data reveals why TUSAŞ was targeted by the terrorist organization. Moments when engineers at TUSAŞ joyfully chased after the national combat aircraft KAAN, which successfully completed its first flight after the attack, went viral. Those who watched the footage expressed their wishes saying, "May no stone touch your foot."