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Interview

Leonardo: Reduce TF-X Avionics Cost Risks Through Partnership

Leonardo, with over 45,000 employees around the world and experience in the Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab Gripen programmes, is a leading international provider of avionics systems for fast-jet aircraft. With a major presence in Turkey, including through its local subsidiary ‘Selex ES Elektronik Turkey’, the firm is looking with interest at opportunities to partner with Turkish companies for the upcoming TF-X aircraft programme. Leonardo’s Chris Bushell, Director of Major Air Programmes at Leonardo Airborne and Space Systems, talks to Defence Turkey about their aspirations for TF-X

Date: Issue 83 - July 2018

Defence Turkey: Mr Bushell, thank you for speaking to us today, please could you start by giving us a quick overview of Leonardo’s experience in Turkey?

Thank you for giving us this opportunity to speak to your readers. Leonardo has actually been operating in Turkey as far back as 1989 through our fully owned subsidiary called ‘Selex ES Elektronik Turkey’. This company has provided and supported avionics, secure communications systems, naval sensors and air traffic control systems to Turkey. In fact, our technologies provide security for the Turkish people on a daily basis, for example via the country-wide air traffic management system, which links over 20 air traffic control towers with Ankara’s main operations centre. Going forward, we are looking at how we can be of service to Turkey on a number of future programmes, a particularly important one being the future air superiority fighter aircraft, the TF-X.