LE BOURGET, FRANCE — Pratt & Whitney and Kale Havacilik San, A.S., (Kale Aero) of Istanbul, Turkey, signed a memorandum of understanding at the Paris Air Show with the intent to develop a joint venture partnership to produce aircraft engine components. Under the proposed joint venture, Kale will own 51 percent and Pratt & Whitney will own 49 percent of the joint venture company located in Istanbul. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. company.
"We look forward to the new venture and working with our partners in Turkey," says Tom Farmer, president, Pratt & Whitney Military Engines. "Turkey is an important customer for Pratt & Whitney and we value the industrial capabilities and expertise of the Turkish aerospace industry. This partnership will establish a world-class manufacturing capability to produce military and commercial aircraft engine components for our customers around the world."
The joint venture will specialize in manufacturing hardware for the F135 engine powering the F-35 Lightning II aircraft. In the future, the partnership will expand to support highly complex metal fabrications and spare parts for Pratt & Whitney military fighter engine models F100 and F119, and military transport engine model F117.
"We are happy and proud to embark on this road together with the world's leading aero engine manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney," says Osman Okyay, president, Technical & Chemical Division, Kale Group Companies. "Kale Aero is placing top priority on the F-35 program. We were the first qualified supplier from Turkey selected for this project, the largest defense industry project ever, and we pride ourselves for being the only Turkish company with parts on the first flying F-35 Lightning II aircraft. Kale Aero has also undertaken the task of manufacturing parts for the F135 engine, and our excitement is further enhanced by the fact that through this joint venture partnership, we will greatly expand our contribution to this great engine."
