Kayseri Aircraft Factory

TOMTAŞ (Tayyare ve Motor Türk Anonim Şirketi) is the first aircraft factory established during the Republic of Türkiye period. Founded in 1926 in Kayseri through a partnership between Türk Tayyare Cemiyeti and the German-based company Junkers Flugzeug und Motorenwerke A.G., its purpose was to lay the foundation for modern aviation industry in Türkiye and to carry out the production, assembly and maintenance of aircraft. TOMTAŞ is the first aviation industry initiative in the history of the Republic.

One of the significant steps taken in the early years of the Republic in the defense industry was the decision to establish an aircraft factory. The Türk Tayyare Cemiyeti, founded on 16 February 1925 (later renamed Türk Hava Kurumu), quickly launched a project to build an aircraft production facility to develop aviation activities and meet the needs of the air forces.

To overcome shortages in capital, engineering expertise and technical knowledge, a partnership was formed with the German Junkers company. Under the agreement, Junkers would provide information and technology for aircraft production in Türkiye, while the Turkish side would construct the factory and assembly facilities.

TOMTAŞ officially commenced operations on 6 October 1926. The facility in Kayseri was equipped with technology considered quite modern for its time. Initially, assembly of Junkers A-20 and Junkers F-13 aircraft imported from Germany was carried out. Subsequently, some components of these aircraft began to be produced using local capabilities.

Between 1926 and 1928, the factory assembled a total of 15 Junkers A-20 and 3 Junkers F-13 aircraft. Maintenance and repair of aircraft engines were also conducted within the factory premises.

Junkers, which played a key role in the founding of TOMTAŞ, announced in the late 1920s that it could no longer sustain its investments in Türkiye due to economic and political reasons. Additionally, cooperation became strained due to disputes over wage disparities and job security between Turkish and German workers.

In 1928, the partnership with Junkers was terminated. Junkers’ shares in TOMTAŞ were acquired by Türk Tayyare Cemiyeti, transforming the factory into a fully domestic institution.

After the end of the partnership, the factory was reactivated in 1931 under the name Kayseri Uçak Fabrikası. During the 1930s, its activities accelerated in line with Türkiye’s national defense industry initiative.

During this period, Türkiye not only maintained and assembled aircraft purchased abroad but also moved toward licensed production. The Kayseri Aircraft Factory produced under license the French Potez 25 A2 and British Miles Magister aircraft between 1932 and 1939. Assembly and maintenance of PZL-24 fighter aircraft were also carried out there.

Following World War II, the Kayseri Aircraft Factory began to lose significance due to changing military strategies and defense collaborations. During the 1940s, Türkiye’s defense industry investments were centralized in Ankara and Eskişehir. Consequently, aircraft production activities at the Kayseri facility were halted and the site began modernization works to become a Hava İkmal Bakım Merkezi.

Today, under the name Kayseri 2nd Hava Bakım Fabrika Müdürlüğü, it operates within the structure of Türk Hava Kuvvetleri, providing aircraft maintenance, repair and modernization services. Domestic aircraft production in Türkiye continued in subsequent decades under the umbrella of the Türk Hava Kurumu Uçak Fabrikası (Etimesgut/Ankara) and Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayii AŞ (TUSAŞ).

TOMTAŞ (Tayyare ve Motor Türk Anonim Şirketi), Türkiye’s first aircraft factory, was restructured and relaunched in 2023 in Kayseri as TOMTAŞ Havacılık ve Teknoloji AŞ. This new entity was established with participation from Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, Erciyes Teknopark, Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayii AŞ (TUSAŞ), and various private sector partners.

In its new phase, TOMTAŞ Havacılık ve Teknoloji AŞ is active in the production, assembly and system integration of various domestic and national aviation platforms, primarily the jet trainer and light attack aircraft HÜRJET. It also plays an active role in aviation electronics, avionics systems and subtractive manufacturing processes.

TOMTAŞ is undertaking key roles in the HÜRJET project, Türkiye’s first manned jet-powered aircraft. Within this project, led by TUSAŞ, TOMTAŞ:

• Produces parts and components for HÜRJET
• Carries out assembly activities
• Contributes to the production and integration of the aircraft’s computer and avionics systems.

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On the same site in Kayseri where Tayyare ve Motor Anonim Şirketi (TOMTAŞ), Türkiye’s first aircraft factory, was established in 1926, the Aviation and Space Sciences High School is being constructed. This modern educational facility, designed architecturally in the shape of an aircraft, is being built in Erenköy Neighborhood of Kayseri. Student enrollment at the school is planned to begin in 2025.

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