Image source: topwar.ru
The Turkish Defense Industry Department has announced a competition for the development of a turbofan engine. The promising power unit is designed for the fifth-generation TF-X fighter, Defense News reports. To say that I was very surprised is to say nothing at all. To create a promising engine for a 5th generation aircraft, provided that no turbofan engines have been produced before, is beyond optimism. Given the fact that Turkey has a very difficult economic situation, and the creation of such an engine is more than a costly project, it is difficult to say what Erdogan hopes for.
Applications for participation in the competition were submitted by two companies and, as expected, both Turkish. Tusas Engine Industries and TRMotor. According to the head of the Turkish Defense Industry Department Ismail Demir, the TAEC company created by the Turkish Kale Group and the British manufacturer Rolls-Royce will also take part in the competition. However, the participation of the British in the project raises strong doubts. Turkey does not have the best relations with its NATO partners right now, so it is not worth counting on the transfer of any serious technologies. And the British don't have any "breakthrough" technologies. Their development ended on engines for Eurofighter. They are now buying F-35s in the USA themselves.
Demir listed the requirements, more precisely, "voiced the wishes", to the participants of the program. The engine should be produced in Turkey, the intellectual property rights will belong to the republic. Also, the manufacturer should not restrict the receipt of export licenses. It is clear that the Turks themselves will not be able to make such engines, and those who can - the French and the British, will not agree to such conditions.
It is believed that the engine being developed by TAEC will allow the TF-X to fly at an altitude of more than 12 thousand meters. The aircraft will be able to reach speeds up to Mach 1.8. According to Demir, TAEC's proposal meets all criteria, except for the transfer of intellectual property rights. If Turkey cannot reach an agreement with Rolls-Royce, the engine development will continue on its own.
In March, Demir announced that the TF-X fighter prototypes would receive an American General Electric F110 engine. However, it is unclear what his confidence is based on. Although Erdogan is negotiating with Biden for the supply of a certain number of F-16s and components for the modernization of those that are already flying in Turkey. But the question remains open, since Congress has not yet approved the delivery, and Sweden and Finland are in no hurry to fulfill their promises. So, the F-16 agreement in exchange for agreeing to join NATO may not take place.
Hopes that the promising aircraft will make its first flight in 2026, and in 2029 the TF-X may enter service, look from the category of low-science fiction.
