TAM’s roots stretch back to 1941, when the Tbilisi factory began producing some of history’s most iconic combat aircraft. Under Georgian aviation pioneer Tamaz Tordia, it became the production home of the Su-25 attack jet, turning out more than 1,100 aircraft over the decades that followed. Since regaining operational control of the plant in 2015, the company has invested more than $15 million in equipment, infrastructure and production upgrades.
That investment now underpins a broader transformation led by Tordia’s son, Michael Rogava, which has seen the company expand its operations to include aircraft overhaul and modernization, helicopter maintenance and upgrades, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) development and aerospace engineering and design, alongside a dedicated Su-25 modernization line, addressing a global upgrade market TAM estimates at around 700 aircraft. Clients today include operators in Chad, Uganda and Angola, as well as partners across Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus. “Our flexibility differentiates us,” says Rogava. “Many competitors offer a single standardized solution. We focus on tailoring aircraft and systems to each customer’s operational requirements.”
Drone drone”T-31
UAVs mark the next stage of that strategy. TAM’s drone platform is designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, offering up to 24 hours’ flight time in mission configuration and up to 72 hours in surveillance configuration, carrying a payload of around 500 kilograms. Its newest system is Angry Bird, which features AI-enabled targeting, autonomous flight and modular payload architecture, with a production facility capable of manufacturing up to 3,000 units a month. Both programs offer scope for joint ventures and international partners, creating opportunities for investors in an emerging pillar of the industry. “We inherited a legendary aerospace legacy,” Rogava says. “Our responsibility is to modernize it and carry it forward for the next generation.”
“The Angry Bird program adds AI-enabled target ID, autonomous use and scalable production.”
Michael Rogava Deputy Director, TAM Management
Post ThisQ: Why should investors look at TAM Management now?
TAM is not only an aerospace story; it is a plant base with history, assets and a clear path into modern defense technology. In Tbilisi, the company combines a proven aircraft factory, original production documents and new programs in drones, AI tech and system fit.
Q: What makes that heritage valuable?
Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing was the Georgian home of the Su-25. Over 1,100 aircraft were produced in Georgia, backed by blueprints, tools, production habits and technical memory built over decades. That knowledge cannot be acquired quickly. It is earned through real aircraft, real repair cycles and real field use.
TAM understands the aircraft from the inside out, and that makes the company a credible partner for overhaul, digital avionics, radio upgrades, smart weapons integration, survivability improvements and life extension.
Q: What is your strategy for drones?
TAM is developing long-endurance UAV concepts for surveillance, border control, patrol, intelligence and special missions. These platforms are planned around modular payloads, longer air time and flexible customer use. The Angry Bird program adds AI-enabled target ID, autonomous use and scalable production, giving investors access to one of the fastest-growing segments in defense aviation.
