TR Attack & Utility Helicopter Programs

[Zafer]

Gökbey with indigenous engine is expected to be delivered 2026. A three engine version is a brand new helicopter so imagine how long that would take... I wonder if it would be easier to try and develop an engine for T925 or find it some other way. Would be nice if Ukraine gave us the license but it seems they specifically want to avoid giving us that so we have to rely on them otherwise they fear once we get what we want we will abandon them or something yet they also say the can't deliver more than 14...

TAI came up with how many helicopter designs already in a few years, a variation should not take too long. And obviously 3 engine design capability will allow us to make even larger helicopters once we have 3k hp engines in the future, 25+ ton helicopters can be possible. It is a brilliant expansion of capabilities in any case.

 

[Kartal1]

T-625, T-629, T-925 and T-929 all must be navalized. If we manage to pull that off I think we will be good for the future. I think T-625 and T-925 will be a good combination for the backbone of our armed forces. Even if it's not the familiar S-70 I think T-925 will be a good replacement. Looking at the future of our helicopter fleet I see a lot of similarities to the Italian one with a couple of differences. Until the national platforms listed above and especially T-925 are ready I think we should try everything possible to keep our S-70/T-70 fleet operational trough upgrades, retrofits etc.

The biggest thing I am worried about is the low number of CH-47's. When we had the chance we should've used the opportunity to purchase more of them. There are some alternatives in Russia, but I don't think it will be a wise move to purchase anything Russian at this point.

 

[boredaf]

T-625, T-629, T-925 and T-929 all must be navalized. If we manage to pull that off I think we will be good for the future. I think T-625 and T-925 will be a good combination for the backbone of our armed forces. Even if it's not the familiar S-70 I think T-925 will be a good replacement. Looking at the future of our helicopter fleet I see a lot of similarities to the Italian one with a couple of differences. Until the national platforms listed above and especially T-925 are ready I think we should try everything possible to keep our S-70/T-70 fleet operational trough upgrades, retrofits etc.

The biggest thing I am worried about is the low number of CH-47's. When we had the chance we should've used the opportunity to purchase more of them. There are some alternatives in Russia, but I don't think it will be a wise move to purchase anything Russian at this point.

It is seriously rare for me to read something I agree completely on the Internet, but this comment was seriously it

I wonder if we can extend our license for S-70?

 

[Kartal1]

It is seriously rare for me to read something I agree completely on the Internet, but this comment was seriously it

I wonder if we can extend our license for S-70?

Well, it depends mainly on the geopolitical situation, but not only. We have a very good interaction with Sikorsky being the one of their largest customers. I would say that it is not impossible, but we shouldn't put all our eggs in this basket. S-70s and their variants are contributing a lot to our armed forces, but we must be prepared to cut the ropes and go with our national vision. I view this capability as strategic, especially in Turkiye's geography.

 

[Azeri441]

T-625, T-629, T-925 and T-929 all must be navalized. If we manage to pull that off I think we will be good for the future. I think T-625 and T-925 will be a good combination for the backbone of our armed forces. Even if it's not the familiar S-70 I think T-925 will be a good replacement. Looking at the future of our helicopter fleet I see a lot of similarities to the Italian one with a couple of differences. Until the national platforms listed above and especially T-925 are ready I think we should try everything possible to keep our S-70/T-70 fleet operational trough upgrades, retrofits etc.

The biggest thing I am worried about is the low number of CH-47's. When we had the chance we should've used the opportunity to purchase more of them. There are some alternatives in Russia, but I don't think it will be a wise move to purchase anything Russian at this point.

whats the point of navalizing all those helicopters? There is no point in the naval T-625 when you have a naval version of the T-629, or a naval version of T-629 when you got ATAK-2, creating a naval version of the helicopter is not simple and Turkey only has a need of up to 50 helicopters max, and export market is already pretty tiny and already dominated by the West.

 

[Kartal1]

whats the point of navalizing all those helicopters? There is no point in the naval T-625 when you have a naval version of the T-629, or a naval version of T-629 when you got ATAK-2, creating a naval version of the helicopter is not simple and Turkey only has a need of up to 50 helicopters max, and export market is already pretty tiny and already dominated by the West.

You may be right regarding T-629, but I am thinking of replacement for our lighter fleet of UH-1s. Gokbey would fill this gap perfectly.

 

[Sanchez]

whats the point of navalizing all those helicopters? There is no point in the naval T-625 when you have a naval version of the T-629, or a naval version of T-629 when you got ATAK-2, creating a naval version of the helicopter is not simple and Turkey only has a need of up to 50 helicopters max, and export market is already pretty tiny and already dominated by the West.

T625 is Gökbey and unless we are not buying more Seahawks(not happening) or are building a Seahawk replacement(we're not), a navalized T625 like the AW159 Wildcat is a must for the navy.

 

[Baryshx]

3 engine config would completely change the entire gearbox and transmission, which is basically building a new helicopter.

Is this a practical thing? Within this class and type, what kind of engine configuration do their counterparts use.

 

[Aqerdf]

AW101, CH-53, Super Frelon, Z-8, A313A, and maybe more.

It complicates r&d, maintenance, overall cost i guess. But you can somewhat compensate with common engine architecture among your helicopter fleet, if you standardise this engine for your helicopter fleet.

For this configuration, it's necessity comes from either having limited engine portfolio or having need for beyond normal power for an helicopter.

I think if TEI-T700 or Ukr. TV3 or if there is some easily reachable PT6 variation are couldn't purchased, we should go for this config.

Or delaying the hole T9XX series and only going for T6XX series, for now.

(well, other than Forestry's T925 order. Which can be handled since their numbers are not that much and they're conducting civilian duties so acquiring engines for them in limited numbers is easier...)

 

[hawk21]

Generally, developing a reliable transmission is a lot more difficult than developing a new engine. A triple engine transmission would be an even bigger challenge.

I think it would be easier to develop a more powerful derivative of TS1400 and use it in a dual engine 13 ton helicopter than taking the TS1400 and developing a 3-engine transmission for it.

The NH-90 uses 2x 2380 shp Adour or 2x 2269 shp T700 engines.

TS1400 is at 1400-1600 shp power currently and is relatively far along in testing. It shouldn't be hard for TAI to come up with a derivative with 50% larger thrust (~ 2400 shp).

That will solve the problem of T-925's engines.

 

[Zafer]

There must b a reason why there are 3 engine helicopters.

 

[hawk21]

There must b a reason why there are 3 engine helicopters.

sure. If a 3 engine configuration can help put the helicopter into service earlier, then by all means go for it.

 

[Merzifonlu]

IMO, we can solve the power package problem of the T925&T929 with the domestic engine and domestic transmission we have available. We can use 4 x TS-1400 engines. We can position 2 engine on the right side and overlapping each other. The engines are interconnected by the existing domestic transmission. The same will happen on the left side, of course. With this application, we can have a total power package of 5600 HP. The only problem would be that this power pack is a bit heavy, about 150 kg.

 

[Test7]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1753482449370451987

 

[Sanchez]

Uuu great news. Wonder if a modernization of the old birds is planned. AF300 is... old.

 

[Sanchez]

Gökbey had its deliveries delayed for how long I can't even remember

First T625 was to be delivered to gendarme in Q1 2023 with all three being delivered by end of 2023. Current delay is 1 year, as still no official deliveries to gendarme has been made and no news about the third being built. Tests are continuing and in november it was announced that 3 T625 prototypes have passed 700 flight hours.

 

[boredaf]

First T625 was to be delivered to gendarme in Q1 2023 with all three being delivered by end of 2023. Current delay is 1 year, as still no official deliveries to gendarme has been made and no news about the third being built. Tests are continuing and in november it was announced that 3 T625 prototypes have passed 700 flight hours.

On top of that, we are over a year since last T-70 delivery and almost a year since last T-129 delivery for the army.

 

[Kaan Azman]

T-625, T-629, T-925 and T-929 all must be navalized. If we manage to pull that off I think we will be good for the future. I think T-625 and T-925 will be a good combination for the backbone of our armed forces. Even if it's not the familiar S-70 I think T-925 will be a good replacement. Looking at the future of our helicopter fleet I see a lot of similarities to the Italian one with a couple of differences. Until the national platforms listed above and especially T-925 are ready I think we should try everything possible to keep our S-70/T-70 fleet operational trough upgrades, retrofits etc.

The biggest thing I am worried about is the low number of CH-47's. When we had the chance we should've used the opportunity to purchase more of them. There are some alternatives in Russia, but I don't think it will be a wise move to purchase anything Russian at this point.

T629 I would doubt but big yes for T929. You have a greater space in terms of payload for powerful radars and light cruise missiles (ÇAKIR, KUZGUN TJ...)

 

[Radonsider]

On top of that, we are over a year since last T-70 delivery and almost a year since last T-129 delivery for the army.

Not all deliveries are made public...

 

[boredaf]

Not all deliveries are made public...

So, there are posts when army gets missiles, trucks, drones, even when coast guard gets simple boats even when helicopters are being delivered to other countries, but no posts when it comes to our deliveries? That's just really, really weird.