TR Air-Force TF-X KAAN Fighter Jet

[Rodeo]

I don't know much about the Turkish aviation industry nor do I know much about Turkish foreign political interaction with other states. Having said that, IMO the Kaan project is faced with these problems

- US could block supply of US engines, crippling production. That is something that could be precipitated by the US view of Turkish actions within and without Turkiye ie if Turkiye pursued policies or actions repugnant to the US.
- Turkiye may not be capable of designing and building an engine suitable for use in the Kaan without considerable input from a foreign OEM able to do just that. Suitability for use in Kaan incorporates a time element (succeeding on a technical level in 2040 or 2050 is not much use). Is it realistic to think that a good engine can be designed, developed, tested and put into production by a Turkish OEM by 2030?

These are valid points and were reiterated many times in the forum. The fact is that we have no other choice. If we can't develop the engine we will be dependent on the US for F110s as you pointed out. And even if the US caused us no headache(which they will), KAAN would still be underpowered with twin-config F110s.

The timelines we're told regarding indigenous TF35K engine are;

- 2026 First Ignition
- 2028 Platform Integration and first flight
- 2032-2033 serial production

Time will tell if these milestones will be achieved on schedule. It's unlikely but not impossible, imho. The progress of TF6K and TF10K will give us some hint of our abilities. If we suffer any schedule slips with TF6K because of technical issues, then it would be unreasonable to expect TF35K to be put in serial production before 2035.

 

[dBSPL]

KAAN illustration by Cem Gürbüz:

via

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1705229935055409547

 

[boredaf]

KAAN illustration by Cem Gürbüz:

via

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1705229935055409547

Black looks so good, just black paint, gold markings and our flag *chef's kiss*

 

[dBSPL]

Black looks so good, just black paint, gold markings and our flag *chef's kiss*

I guess it will have a very dark gray color due to the RAM coating, but the SOLOTURK paintjob looks very good. Especially the stripes around the cockpit are great, lol. Probably SoloTurk will switch to KAAN just like Turkish Stars will switch to Hürjet.

 

[Bürküt]

KAAN illustration by Cem Gürbüz:

via

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1705229935055409547

I saw it yesterday and I immediately made it my profile picture.What a coincidence .

 

[B_A]

I don't know much about the Turkish aviation industry nor do I know much about Turkish foreign political interaction with other states. Having said that, IMO the Kaan project is faced with these problems

- US could block supply of US engines, crippling production. That is something that could be precipitated by the US view of Turkish actions within and without Turkiye ie if Turkiye pursued policies or actions repugnant to the US.
- Turkiye may not be capable of designing and building an engine suitable for use in the Kaan without considerable input from a foreign OEM able to do just that. Suitability for use in Kaan incorporates a time element (succeeding on a technical level in 2040 or 2050 is not much use). Is it realistic to think that a good engine can be designed, developed, tested and put into production by a Turkish OEM by 2030?

We can only try and do.

The leaders of technology changing day by day.Noone can see future,2000s not one think China produce 5th Jet

 

[buraktunahan]

I made some edits to the illustration with Photoshop. The result was as follows. (It will be dark in color due to the RAM coating. It will have formation lights on it. I also painted some markings on it.)

 

[Baryshx]

I don't know much about the Turkish aviation industry nor do I know much about Turkish foreign political interaction with other states. Having said that, IMO the Kaan project is faced with these problems

- US could block supply of US engines, crippling production. That is something that could be precipitated by the US view of Turkish actions within and without Turkiye ie if Turkiye pursued policies or actions repugnant to the US.
- Turkiye may not be capable of designing and building an engine suitable for use in the Kaan without considerable input from a foreign OEM able to do just that. Suitability for use in Kaan incorporates a time element (succeeding on a technical level in 2040 or 2050 is not much use). Is it realistic to think that a good engine can be designed, developed, tested and put into production by a Turkish OEM by 2030?

The search for alternative engines for Kaan, Hürjet, Anka-3 and Kızılelma should start now. I have no hope from the US and Ukraine. Or we will wait to build our own engines. I am in favor of waiting for our own engines no matter how many years.

 

[B_A]

The search for alternative engines for Kaan, Hürjet, Anka-3 and Kızılelma should start now. I have no hope from the US and Ukraine. Or we will wait to build our own engines. I am in favor of waiting for our own engines no matter how many years.

Turkiye always trust western so much and dont accept the dometic replacement.

 

[Spitfire9]

I am curious about the upcoming first flight of the prototype Kaan. What systems not required for flight itself will be in the airframe and functional - radar, IRST etc?

Given that there has not been a design freeze (as I understand things), I presume that any modifications to the airframe design will not risk compromising other systems being developed for the aircraft, so requiring them to be modified as a consequence of airframe modification (apart from adjustments to the flight control software being needed).

 

[uçuyorum]

If domestic industry does not have the know how to develop a viable, reliable engine then a Turkish engine cannot be used, can it? If it would take 15+ years to achieve the required thrust and reliability domestically, co-operation with a foreign OEM is the only way to get the Kaan flying with a non-US engine before perhaps 2040. Turkiye can try to go it alone but what is the chance of succeeding before 2040 or succeeding at all?

TF6000 first firing will be proof that we can make make a proper turbofan engine. All eyes are on that at the moment. If that project goes well that is proof enough that we can manage an engine for Kaan. Worst case scenario after that would be an engine that performs somewhat under expectations and maybe requirements will be reduced for first few blocks while engine matures, that is my expectation. But even with F110 level performance and 4.5 Gen specs Kaan would still be a significant addition to our Air Force.

 

[No Name]

TF6000 first firing will be proof that we can make make a proper turbofan engine. All eyes are on that at the moment. If that project goes well that is proof enough that we can manage an engine for Kaan. Worst case scenario after that would be an engine that performs somewhat under expectations and maybe requirements will be reduced for first few blocks while engine matures, that is my expectation. But even with F110 level performance and 4.5 Gen specs Kaan would still be a significant addition to our Air Force.

Does anyone know when the first firing of the TF6000 will take place?

 

[boredaf]

Does anyone know when the first firing of the TF6000 will take place?

I don't think they've given a precise date, just some time before the year ends.

 

[Ecderha]

Does anyone know when the first firing of the TF6000 will take place?

Information.
Sorry but It is Turkish
TEI General Manager Prof. Dr. Mahmut F. Akşit just saying that they will show Real engine on Izmir fair this year
Also he saying that they doing two parallel things.
1. Indigenous the testing machine for the engine
2. The engine itself
So He personally saying that before the year ends they will try to Show real engine on Izmir fair and Show real test by powering engine and running

 

[Sanchez]

Ejection seat tests have started for the National Fighter Aircraft KAAN.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1707010363613438321

I demand to see videos..

 

[Afif]

It doesn't get old does it?
I never thought we are gonna witness something as gorgeous as F-22. But here it is, in flesh and bones.

It is almost a continues torture of pain and joy simultaneously.
It is painful becuase every time I see this big boy, I am reminded that this is not ours and we can't make it. But also, at the same time it is good to know that, at least Türkiye can.

 

[MADDOG]

https://x.com/gdhdefence/status/1707013467520020574?s=20

Ejection seat tests have started for the National Fighter Aircraft KAAN.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1707010363613438321

I demand to see videos..

KAAN's engine and ejection seat come from abroad. Testing of the ejection seat is currently being carried out.

Other parts are local. Including landing gear, which is very difficult to produce.

(HÜRJET) made its 23rd flight. The first delivery will be to the Turkish Air Force as a training aircraft in 2025.

(ANKA and AKSUNGUR SİHA) We make very good money from these. AKSUNGUR is doing very well in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

-TAI CEO Kotil

 

[BalkanTurk90]

Why ejection seat needs tests when it comes from abroad and is already tested product ? And does TAI or others have any project for national ejection seat ?

 

[MADDOG]

Why ejection seat needs tests when it comes from abroad and is already tested product ? And does TAI or others have any project for national ejection seat ?

There is this thing called a 0-0 test. The ejection seat would work just fine but there is a canopy in the way. They need to finalize the design of the detcord and make possible modifications to the seat (perhaps even the canopy) in order to allow a safe escape. And the only way to safeguard this is to make a physical test. Aircraft manufacturers send an entire forward fuselage to Martin Baker to allow these tests to take place. This was the case for both Hürkuş and Hürjet projects as well.

 

[Zafer]

Why ejection seat needs tests when it comes from abroad and is already tested product ? And does TAI or others have any project for national ejection seat ?

The ejection seat is an integral element to the airframe and has to work well on this particular plane.