Even if we want I doubt they would be able to supply a critical input to the KAAN engine development. What we are looking for is state of the art modern technology.
They can assist us with ready to procure engines for now in different projects as they did till now, but nothing more. The years pass by and we are making progress.
Agree but even if they were able to, they have shown not to be trustworthy. And who is to say they won't "sabotage" the project if so pressured by the EU or the US?
Before I take that path I rather just sign a deal with RR to develop an Engine for Kaan honestly.
IMO we have two choices.
1. Trust in TEI and their Engineers to pull of a miracle in regards to the given timeline and develop and start mass producing an 5th gen engine in the next 4-6 years.
2. Sign a deal with RR to co-develop an 5th gen engine for Kaan and hope we can get an good deal in regards to license and exports permissions.
I would choose two. Our Air Force is in no place to accept delays on a crucial project, we don't have any assurances that the US won't just suddenly halt the delivery of F110 engines once Kaan is LRIP ready. I know TEI/TAI wants to produce the F110 in house but I think that is unlikely to happen. And the US won't greenlight a huge order of engines (~100), at least I don't expect them to.
And the given reason will be that Kaan entering service in a large number (36-48) will sway the balance in the region immensly on Türkiye's side.
Priority should be to deliver an almost indigenous aircraft to our Air Force. Exports can take a second place to that, and I think most people here will agree.
There is also the third option we don't mention often.
3. TEI develops an F110 copy (And no I am not meaning just copying the engine) as this would take less time and maybe could fit into the given timeline of having the engine be ready for 2028-2030.
On this point the question would be, how much would an inferior engine (compared to engines like the F135, F119) hinder the performance of Kaan in regards to Stealth, EW and Combat.
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THY signed a huge deal with RR for its newly ordered Airbus fleet. I think something has to give here or else we are left, again, with nothing.