Special to WorldTribune.com

ANKARA — Turkey has launched an engine facility for the Joint Strike Fighter.

Turkey has overseen a joint venture that would produce engines for the U.S.-origin F-35 fighter-jet. The venture, Kale Pratt & Whitney, would focus on the critical parts of the JSF engine.

“For Turkey, such types of industrial production mean a rise in standards and becoming more advanced,” Turkish President Abdullah Gul said.

The venture, located in the Aegean province of Izmir, was formed by Turkey’s Kale and the U.S. firm Pratt & Whitney. The company plans to employ 700 people in the first phase of engine production, reported to cost $75 million.

“We are not opening an ordinary industrial plant,” Gul said. “We are talking about a manufacturing a product with very delicate standards that passed all safety tests.”

Turkey has been a Level 3 partner in the JSF project. Ankara, which said it plans to order 100 aircraft, has decided to begin with procurement of two F-35As.

Officials said the engine factory, inaugurated on June 6, would
contribute to strategic projects in Turkey. They cited Ankara’s plan to
develop a fighter-jet.

“I believe this facility will grow, the number of parts produced here
will increase and they will be used for the planes that Turkey will design
and manufacture by itself, as well as other vehicles that include high
technology,” Gul said.

  Abdullah Gul, Joint Strike Fighter, Kale, Pratt & Whitney, Pratt & Whitney to hire 700 in Turkey to produce F-35 engine parts