TR Air-Force TF-X KAAN Fighter Jet

[Kartal1]

After @Anmdt mentioned how the Ukrainians seem to behave when it comes to the procurement of engines and other things working with them to develop an engine for Kaan might be a mistake.

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.

 

[Khagan1923]

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.


----------------------------------------------

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.

 

[B_A]

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.


----------------------------------------------

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.

I dont think a F110 copy/improved version will have big problem; because the Chinese/Russian 5th generation Jet still using AL-31 series.

 

[Fatman17]

Ukrainian Companies Ready to Provide Turkish Fighters with Engines | Defense Express

Ukraine and Turkey continue cooperation even in context of the russia-Ukraine war. Ukrainian manufacturers participate in tenders to supply Turkish TAI KAAN fifth-generation fighter aircraft with engines

en.defence-ua.com

Ukraine and Turkey to collaborate even during the Russian- Ukraine war is ongoing

 

[uçuyorum]

What's the original source for 16 January flight for Kaan? Hope it's true but I don't see any reputable source

 

[Sanchez]

What's the original source for 16 January flight for Kaan? Hope it's true but I don't see any reputable source

We've heard "in a few weeks", nothing else is semi confirmed now. On 17th and 18th, weather will be nice and calm, if they decide to go then.

 

[Zafer]

Probably the first flight date of Kaan will be the last time a date is given for a flight of a plane as this is actually an iconic moment in the progression of Turkish industry. After this every new launch will look smaller and even trivial.

 

[Spitfire9]

We've heard "in a few weeks", nothing else is semi confirmed now. On 17th and 18th, weather will be nice and calm, if they decide to go then.

Last week Kotil was reported to say FF would be in coming days.

Turkish fighter jet KAAN near final stretch for maiden flight

'Multi-role aircraft KAAN is set to fly in coming days,' says Turkish aircraft maker’s CEO - Anadolu Ajansı

www.aa.com.tr

Is FF date in the next few days or in the next few weeks? I hear that timing may be governed by a mixture of engineering and political factors. I suppose that delaying to fly on a particularly important day politically will not make any significant difference to the development timeline.

I'm looking forward to seeing KAAN fly.

When are prototypes no 2 and no 3 scheduled for roll out?

 

[Rodeo]

Last week Kotil was reported to say FF would be in coming days.

Turkish fighter jet KAAN near final stretch for maiden flight

'Multi-role aircraft KAAN is set to fly in coming days,' says Turkish aircraft maker’s CEO - Anadolu Ajansı

www.aa.com.tr

Is FF date in the next few days or in the next few weeks? I hear that timing may be governed by a mixture of engineering and political factors. I suppose that delaying to fly on a particularly important day politically will not make any significant difference to the development timeline.

I'm looking forward to seeing KAAN fly.

When are prototypes no 2 and no 3 scheduled for roll out?

Jan 16th for the first flight was not given by Kotil. It was a newspaper claimed that would be the date for FF. And there was no confirmation.

Second prototype is in assembly phase and is to roll-out mid 2024. It will be slightly different than this one, will have more detailed cuts and more subsystems integrated to it.

The third prototype is also in production but not in as advanced state as the second prototype.

 

[DBdev]

Weather will be much better last week of march. January February are the worst possible months for a critical, national pride at stake, first flight test.

 

[TR_123456]

If that thing doesnt fly this week,i will kill someone!!!!!!!

 

[Spitfire9]

Weather will be much better last week of march. January February are the worst possible months for a critical, national pride at stake, first flight test.

Sure, but how much of a good weather window is required? I would think that a forecast 48 hour good weather window would allow time to organise in advance and fly on one of those 2 days. I remember watching the Boeing 777X sit on the runway for its first flight, abandon FF due to weather then fly later that day/the next day.

 

[Zafer]

I guess it should be partially cloudy at worst to be considered a good weather for a first flight so no luck in the next 5 days I guess.

TAI Campus 5 day weather forecast

 

[Isbara]

If that thing doesnt fly this week,i will kill someone!!!!!!!

Probably it won't. Always clear weather is prefered for first flights.

 

[Merzifonlu]

If that thing doesnt fly this week,i will kill someone!!!!!!!

Relax my friend. They may make the first flight before the March 31 elections, for election propaganda. Under the weight of this stress, you will fall ill by that time, God forbid! LOL

 

[TR_123456]

Relax my friend. They may make the first flight before the March 31 elections, for election propaganda. Under the weight of this stress, you will fall ill by that time, God forbid! LOL

All would be good if they hadnt given a fly date,it just pisses me off.
As if flying it is such a big deal for some of us but they made it a big deal.

 

[Merzifonlu]

All would be good if they hadnt given a fly date,it just pisses me off.
As if flying it is such a big deal for some of us but they made it a big deal.

+ ∞

 

[I_Love_F16]

All would be good if they hadnt given a fly date,it just pisses me off.
As if flying it is such a big deal for some of us but they made it a big deal.

Kotil wants to make the first flight of Kaan as soon as possible, where the government wants to delay it for elections purposes. That’s the way I see it.

 

[Oublious]

Best thing is not expect when they give dates, we will see it like they did with ANKA-3. After 6 months Anka3 was flying, so people do not expect bigs when they give a date.

 

[DBdev]

Kotil is ready but if you have noticed even Hürjet, ATAK 2, etc. video updates disappeared all of a sudden compared to election month.

I think they will release dozens of videos in March election campaign. Most logical and prudent course of action would be to ready second prototype to taxi tests in March and God forbid if something unexpected happens during flight test of prototype 1, we will at least have a backup.