The contract for the Basic Trainer Aircraft was signed between TAI and Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. (KAI), at a ceremony, held at TAI’s facilities on 18 July 2007.

In order to meet the future basic trainer aircraft requirement of the Turkish Air Force Command (TuAF), a Request for Proposal was issued by the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) in January 2006. Embraer (Brasil) and KAI (South Korea) companies sent their proposals to SSM in July 2006. The evaluation activities, realized by SSM and TuAF teams, were completed by June 2007.

At the Defense Industry Executive Committee Meeting held on 20 June 2007, the contract negotiations were decided to be initiated with KAI.

In line with the resolution of the Defense Industry Executive Committee held on June 20, 2007, contract negotiations were started between SSM and KAI. Following the completion of negotiations between TAI and KAI, a contract was signed between the two companies on 18 July 2007.

On the other hand, the “Basic Trainer Aircraft Procurement Agreement” was signed between SSM and KAI on August 3, 2007, with the participation of the Ambassador of South Korea and representatives of TuAF, KAI as well as TAI.

Under the program, the manufacturing, assembly, flight test and delivery of a total of 40 firm (+15 optional) Basic Trainer Aircraft, planned to replace the existing T-37s that are in the inventory of TuAF, will be realized by TAI.