TAI T925

The TAI T925 is a twin‑engine, turboprop transport aircraft developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) to replace the aging C‑130 fleet of the Turkish Air Force. The programme began in 2015, when the Ministry of National Defence issued a request for a medium‑size tactical airlifter capable of operating from short, unprepared runways. After a competitive domestic design phase, the first prototype rolled out in 2020 and made its maiden flight in early 2022, marking Turkey’s first indigenous tactical transport to reach flight‑test status.

Key features of the T925 include a high‑wing configuration for enhanced ground clearance, a reinforced cargo deck able to carry up to 12 metric tonnes of equipment, and rear‑loading ramps that accommodate vehicles, pallets and humanitarian supplies. Powered by two modern Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M turboprop engines, the aircraft offers a cruising speed of 560 km/h, a range of roughly 2,500 km with full payload, and short‑field performance that enables operations on runways as short as 1,200 m. Avionics are integrated with a glass cockpit, fly‑by‑wire flight‑control augmentation and NATO‑compatible communications.

The T925 is significant for Turkish aviation because it demonstrates national capability in designing and producing a sophisticated tactical transport, reduces reliance on foreign platforms, and supports both military logistics and disaster‑relief missions in the region.