By Ayla Jean Yackley

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - EADS (EAD.PA) unit Airbus plans to double spending in Turkey from last year's $74 million (48.5 million pounds) "very soon" as it deepens its partnership with the local aerospace industry, its chief executive said.

In a speech to mark the signing of Turkish Airlines' (THYAO.IS) recent order for 117 Airbus passenger planes, Fabrice Bregier also said Airbus planned to lift spending in Turkey by 30-fold in a little more than a decade.

"We expect by 2025 we will reach spending of $2.4 billion ... This will make Airbus the biggest partner for Turkish aerospace," Bregier said.

Bregier told Reuters in an interview the expenditure would mainly come in the form of orders likely to be awarded to state-run Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), which produces military and commercial aircraft.

Airbus Military, which is headquartered in Madrid, already produces parts for its A400M airlifter in Turkey, according to the company's website.

Turkish Transport Minister Binali Yildirim said at the ceremony the government wanted Airbus to make planes in Turkey.

"We want an extensive agreement from you on producing planes in Turkey and we have the capacity to give you every support and incentive for that," Yildirim said.

But Bregier said that suggestion was "even more ambitious" and that Airbus would instead play a supporting role to Turkey's existing aerospace industry.

Bregier also said he expected national carrier Turkish Airlines (THYAO.IS) to eventually order Airbus's A380, the world's largest airliner, to meet demand for flights to the United States and other long-haul, populous destinations.

See more here:

Airbus to lift spending in Turkish aerospace sector