TUSAŞ Egypt Technology Transfer Talks and the AOI Link

TUSAŞ and the Aircraft Factory at Helwan, part of Egypt's Arab Organization for Industrialization, signed a letter of intent at EDEX 2023 to explore joint projects and technology transfer. No transfer contract has been made public.

TUSAŞ (Turkish Aerospace) and Egypt have not announced any technology-transfer contract. The publicly documented step is a joint cooperation agreement, described as a letter of intent, that TUSAŞ signed at EDEX 2023 in Cairo with the Aircraft Factory at Helwan, part of Egypt’s Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI). The agreement covers aerospace and defence cooperation and the exploration of joint projects and technology transfer. Since then, senior Egyptian visits, airshow demonstrations and reported KAAN discussions have kept the relationship moving.

What TUSAŞ signed with AOI at EDEX 2023

At the EDEX 2023 exhibition in Cairo, held from 4 to 7 December 2023, TUSAŞ signed a joint cooperation agreement with AOI’s Aircraft Factory at Helwan. According to Military Africa, the aim was to enhance cooperation in aerospace and defence and to explore joint projects and technology transfer. Turkish outlet Defensehere described the document as a letter of intent.

Speaking in Cairo, Dr. Halil Tokel, adviser to the TUSAŞ general manager, outlined the next step. As reported by Anadolu Agency via Breaking News, he said: “we signed a protocol today… Egypt’s aircraft factory will meet its counterpart institution in Türkiye and joint work will be done.”

The wording matters. A letter of intent sets a framework for talks. It is not a production licence or a transfer contract. For background on the Turkish company, see our TUSAŞ company profile.

What TUSAŞ showed in Cairo

TUSAŞ brought a broad product range to EDEX 2023. Military Africa reported that its stand included mock-ups of:

AKSUNGUR and ANKA unmanned aerial vehicles
HÜRKUŞ and HÜRJET
ATAK and T129
TF-X, the programme now known as KAAN

The display set out the scope of what Egypt could, in principle, discuss with the Turkish manufacturer. It did not amount to an order or a commitment on either side.

Why AOI’s Helwan factory is the natural partner

The Aircraft Factory at Helwan has a long industrial record. Established in 1950, it assembled the K-8E trainer in the 1990s and still maintains Egypt’s K-8 fleet, according to Military Africa and EDR Magazine. It also produces parts for Dassault.

This combination of assembly experience, fleet support and work as a supplier to a major Western manufacturer makes Helwan a natural Egyptian counterpart for any aerospace industrial cooperation. For a wider picture of Egypt’s air arm, see our overview of the Egypt fighter jets fleet.

Timeline: TUSAŞ and Egypt, 2023–2026

Date	Event	Status
4–7 Dec 2023	TUSAŞ signs joint cooperation agreement (letter of intent) with AOI’s Helwan Aircraft Factory at EDEX 2023	Signed
Dec 2023	Dr. Halil Tokel says the two factories will meet and carry out joint work	Public statement
Feb 2024	Egyptian Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Osama Askar visits TUSAŞ facilities, inspects HÜRJET and watches a flight demonstration	Reported by Aerospace Global News
Sep 2024	HÜRJET flies demonstrations at the first Egypt International Airshow at El Alamein; KAAN model exhibited	Reported by Anadolu Agency
Sep 2026	TUSAŞ promotes KAAN at El Alamein Airshow 2026	Reported by Defense Türkiye
Sep 2026	Ankara and Cairo reported to be exploring Egyptian KAAN participation, including joint production	Reported, not signed

The February 2024 visit by Lt. Gen. Osama Askar was reported by Aerospace Global News. Seven months later, according to Anadolu Agency, HÜRJET performed demonstration flights at the first Egypt International Airshow at El Alamein, while TUSAŞ displayed a KAAN model.

The KAAN discussions

At El Alamein Airshow 2026, TUSAŞ again promoted KAAN with a model on its stand, according to Defense Türkiye. Al-Monitor reports that Ankara and Cairo are exploring Egyptian participation in KAAN, including joint production. This is a media report. No agreement has been announced.

One clarification is often missed. The Hamza-1 VTOL drone developed with AOI is a HAVELSAN programme, not a TUSAŞ one, according to Anadolu Agency. It reflects wider Turkish–Egyptian industrial engagement, but it should not be counted as part of the TUSAŞ–Helwan track. Naval cooperation is also on the agenda; see our report on Türkiye’s interest in joint MILGEM warship building with Egypt.

What is not known or confirmed

There is no public TUSAŞ technology-transfer contract with Egypt.
No work-share figures between TUSAŞ and AOI have been published.
Egyptian participation in KAAN, including joint production, is reported by Al-Monitor but has not been signed or officially confirmed.
No order for HÜRJET or any other TUSAŞ aircraft by Egypt appears in the available sources.

Until either company or government announces a contract, the relationship is best described as a framework for cooperation backed by high-level visits and regular airshow presence.

FAQ

Has TUSAŞ agreed to transfer technology to Egypt?

Not publicly. TUSAŞ signed a letter of intent with AOI’s Helwan Aircraft Factory at EDEX 2023 to explore joint projects and technology transfer, but no transfer contract has been made public.

Why is AOI’s Helwan factory involved?

Helwan, established in 1950, assembled the K-8E trainer in the 1990s, still maintains Egypt’s K-8 fleet and produces parts for Dassault. That experience makes it Egypt’s natural industrial partner for aerospace cooperation.

Is Egypt joining the KAAN programme?

Al-Monitor reports that Ankara and Cairo are exploring Egyptian KAAN participation, including joint production. Nothing has been signed.

Sources

Featured image: CeeGee via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Illustrative photo.