Turkish Aerospace Industries Selects VISTAGY FiberSIM Software to Accelerate UAV Development Program

VISTAGY has announced that Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has purchased FiberSIM software to streamline the design-to-manufacturing process of complex composite parts for the Turkish Indigenous Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) – TIHA Program. 

FiberSIM will be used to perform detailed part design, generate flat patterns, and compile and distribute manufacturing data and documentation for fuselage skins and frames, fairings, landing gear keel beam structures, wing and tail skins, spars and ribs. 

The use of FiberSIM will help TAI efficiently design composite parts that are tuned for the unique requirements of specific manufacturing processes and constraints, ultimately improving product performance and reliability while reducing development time and manufacturing cost.

This sale continues a long-standing relationship between the companies and expands the use of FiberSIM within TAI. Previously, TAI used FiberSIM to design and manufacture composites parts for the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft and is currently using it on the development of the HÜRKUŞ primary and basic trainer aircraft secondary structures which are made of composites.

“The growing acceptance of UAS (unmanned aerial systems) aircraft to perform the 'dull, dirty and dangerous' missions in place of human pilots has resulted in a dramatic upsurge in their use,” said Chris Red, editor and vice president of market research for Composite Market Reports. 

“Approximately $1.5 billion was spent globally during 2008 on UAS aircraft and procurement is expected to grow 300 percent over the next decade. Production of related advanced composites are expected to grow at an even faster rate.

"The development and production of unmanned aircraft therefore represents one of the most exciting and dynamic segments of the global aircraft industry. The ability to design light-weight, robust composite structures is essential to enabling engineers to create ever-more capable systems and get them into the hands of war fighters.”

“VISTAGY’s experience and expertise in composite design methodologies was a key factor in our decision to purchase FiberSIM for our UAV program,” said Dr. Gursel Erarslanoglu, manager of structure engineering for TAI’s Integrated Aircraft Systems Group.

“FiberSIM enables us to design composite parts and transfer manufacturing data to the factory floor in a fast and reliable way, thanks to its user-friendly interface. VISTAGY software, support and services have been instrumental over the years in helping us increase our development capacity and keep pace in this dynamic growth market.”

“We’re pleased to expand our relationship with one of the world’s premier aerospace organizations to help them deliver composite parts and assemblies to market on time and on budget,” said Scott Carlyle, vice president of worldwide sales for VISTAGY. "The rapid growth in the demand for UAVs makes it an attractive market to pursue. We’re confident that the combined acumen of both organizations and FiberSIM's proven ability to streamline the composites engineering process will help TAI continue to expand its business and meet its goals in this industry sector.”