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I would say it wouldn't even be possible without those stepsThe biggest gain of Hürjet to Turkish Aviation, Turkish Airforce, TEI, TAI, etc is the experience and know how. Thanks to Hürjet project, KAAN development has been smoother and faster.
You're far too optimistic mate. I'm sure we're going to buy enough Hürjet to subsidise the investment TAI made in it, but apart from that, I can't see "a very significant number of air forces" tripping over themselves to get it.![]()
Many thanks to Kaan Azman for the visualization of the 'homemade' light fighter jet. I still believe that if a suitable engine solution can be created, a possible naval/LCA variant of this platform could potentially attract a very significant number of air forces, including the Turkish air force.
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While I am not expert I also suggested we might built something that would be capable enough and cheaper than KAAN. KAAN will be a capable fighter, but for sure more expensive to maintain and operate.There were two designs once that we were contemplating about:
View attachment 69370
View attachment 69372
It is a shame that the second one with single engine version was chosen.
Otherwise we wouldn’t be too far away from having indigenous engines for our trainer/light attack aircraft now. Two TF10000 engines would have been ideal for this plane. OK! It would have been more expensive to build and maintain, albeit marginally. But also we wouldn’t be in an engineless position now. At least in a few years from now we should be able to provide TF10000 engines.
Besides it would have been ideal for our carrier based operations too. (Apart from vertical take off and landing planes like F35Bs, Harriers and F35Cs, all carrier operated fighters are twin engined. Even the Indians are going for the twin engined Tejas for their carriers.)
Having chosen the single engined Hurjet for trainers doesn’t stop us going for a twin engined and modified version, with better stealth characteristics, so that it portrays a lower RCS as well.
For light attack and carrier based operations it could be a no brainer to build a twin engined Hurjet-2 which would give us a basis of commonality of production of parts and a cheap twin engined higher thrust, longer operational radius plane with better payload capabilities. (it is most likely that a good deal more thrust is going to be attained from the TF10K engine.)
In time it could prove to be the more economical replacement of our f16s with a stealthy twin engined new Hurjet version 2. After all there isn’t such a big difference between those two in terms of size!
View attachment 69373
Food for thought.
''if we built something that would be considered Gen 4.5 with some stealth characteristics.'' As a matter of fact this is the definition of the current form of KAAN as it is now... I strongly belive that we should focus on KAAN for the export markets as well... we should not ignore the development cost of new plane and a new engine... we should be providing a better option than Russian, French, Swedish and Chinese alternatives both economicly and technically ... and in addition to that buying a military aircraft is not only an economic and technicall decision but political decision as well KAAN in a 4,5 gen form is rewarding enough to take such a political risk for customers as well...otherwise realisticly speaking there is not much space in this specific market segmentWhile I am not expert I also suggested we might built something that would be capable enough and cheaper than KAAN. KAAN will be a capable fighter, but for sure more expensive to maintain and operate.
I think it might make sense if we built something that would be considered Gen 4.5 with some stealth characteristics. We know that low observability and sensor package carry a significant importance in today's air warfare. We will be talking about a decent capability in BVR engagements in A2A role and also a good capability in A2G, especially if we can introduce a loyal wingman in combination with a supersonic drones that would act as additional, mobile munition racks that would be commanded by the Hurjet II. As you suggested it may evolve into a carrier based fighter and a potent future stealth solution for a replacement for the F-16s. I mean why not? We are going to acquire an aircraft carrier so we will have to figure out what are we going to put on it. I am a bit concerned by the fact that we don't have an alternative to an eventual F-35B or F35C option.
I remember that in the opening of the Operation Olive Branch 72 F-16s operated in the same time in the air. Yes, the exact number had a symbolic importance at that time, but still that's a lot of fighters in the same time. Imagine a Hurjet II commanding a 2-3 or maybe more loyal wingmen, configured according to the specific need of the operation. They may be tasked with ISR, EW, A2G, A2A payloads and countless combinations of these. The need for so many manned jets in the air will be gone and we would also optimize the whole communication process by eliminating ground stations role and will free a capacity in terms of drone operators by giving the command to the Hurjet II's second pilot that will be acting as a mission support platforms commander.
We can built a good number of them for the lighter tasks in terms of capability requirements, that would supplement perfectly the already big drone fleet we built and we are continuing to improve upon, build KAAN in smaller numbers for when higher capability is needed in accordance to our economy strength.
The Hurjet II would also have an export potential as I am not aware of something that would fit in the specs as "stealth, low cost, 4.5 Gen" fighter. it may be the perfect option for economically weaker countries that may want to posses a capability not very far from the 5th and 6th Generation platforms in the future at a fraction of the cost. If I am wrong, correct me please, but I think the fact that it would be a stealth fighter by itself is a huge leap in terms of capabilities compared to all the current 4-4.5 Geneneration operational fighters. Just combine it with the future proof avionics and the capable sensor package and munitions that we are capable of producing and you got the perfect solution, at least for me, based on my non-expert look at the situation.
Yes, KAAN is 4.5 Gen right now, but is designed as a 5th Generation and it is destined to be such. As far as I remember they even started an exploration into a 6th Gen capability boost.''if we built something that would be considered Gen 4.5 with some stealth characteristics.'' As a matter of fact this is the definition of the current form of KAAN as it is now... I strongly belive that we should focus on KAAN for the export markets as well... we should not ignore the development cost of new plane and a new engine... we should be providing a better option than Russian, French, Swedish and Chinese alternatives both economicly and technically ... and in addition to that buying a military aircraft is not only an economic and technicall decision but political decision as well KAAN in a 4,5 gen form is rewarding enough to take such a political risk for customers as well...otherwise realisticly speaking there is not much space in this specific market segment
There were two designs once that we were contemplating about:
View attachment 69370
View attachment 69372
It is a shame that the second one with single engine version was chosen.
Otherwise we wouldn’t be too far away from having indigenous engines for our trainer/light attack aircraft now. Two TF10000 engines would have been ideal for this plane. OK! It would have been more expensive to build and maintain, albeit marginally. But also we wouldn’t be in an engineless position now. At least in a few years from now we should be able to provide TF10000 engines.
Besides it would have been ideal for our carrier based operations too. (Apart from vertical take off and landing planes like F35Bs, Harriers and F35Cs, all carrier operated fighters are twin engined. Even the Indians are going for the twin engined Tejas for their carriers.)
Having chosen the single engined Hurjet for trainers doesn’t stop us going for a twin engined and modified version, with better stealth characteristics, so that it portrays a lower RCS as well.
For light attack and carrier based operations it could be a no brainer to build a twin engined Hurjet-2 which would give us a basis of commonality of production of parts and a cheap twin engined higher thrust, longer operational radius plane with better payload capabilities. (it is most likely that a good deal more thrust is going to be attained from the TF10K engine.)
In time it could prove to be the more economical replacement of our f16s with a stealthy twin engined new Hurjet version 2. After all there isn’t such a big difference between those two in terms of size!
View attachment 69373
Food for thought.
While I am not expert I also suggested we might built something that would be capable enough and cheaper than KAAN. KAAN will be a capable fighter, but for sure more expensive to maintain and operate.
I think it might make sense if we built something that would be considered Gen 4.5 with some stealth characteristics. We know that low observability and sensor package carry a significant importance in today's air warfare. We will be talking about a decent capability in BVR engagements in A2A role and also a good capability in A2G, especially if we can introduce a loyal wingman in combination with a supersonic drones that would act as additional, mobile munition racks that would be commanded by the Hurjet II. As you suggested it may evolve into a carrier based fighter and a potent future stealth solution for a replacement for the F-16s. I mean why not? We are going to acquire an aircraft carrier so we will have to figure out what are we going to put on it. I am a bit concerned by the fact that we don't have an alternative to an eventual F-35B or F35C option.
I remember that in the opening of the Operation Olive Branch 72 F-16s operated in the same time in the air. Yes, the exact number had a symbolic importance at that time, but still that's a lot of fighters in the same time. Imagine a Hurjet II commanding a 2-3 or maybe more loyal wingmen, configured according to the specific need of the operation. They may be tasked with ISR, EW, A2G, A2A payloads and countless combinations of these. The need for so many manned jets in the air will be gone and we would also optimize the whole communication process by eliminating ground stations role and will free a capacity in terms of drone operators by giving the command to the Hurjet II's second pilot that will be acting as a mission support platforms commander.
We can built a good number of them for the lighter tasks in terms of capability requirements, that would supplement perfectly the already big drone fleet we built and we are continuing to improve upon, build KAAN in smaller numbers for when higher capability is needed in accordance to our economy strength.
The Hurjet II would also have an export potential as I am not aware of something that would fit in the specs as "stealth, low cost, 4.5 Gen" fighter. it may be the perfect option for economically weaker countries that may want to posses a capability not very far from the 5th and 6th Generation platforms in the future at a fraction of the cost. If I am wrong, correct me please, but I think the fact that it would be a stealth fighter by itself is a huge leap in terms of capabilities compared to all the current 4-4.5 Geneneration operational fighters. Just combine it with the future proof avionics and the capable sensor package and munitions that we are capable of producing and you got the perfect solution, at least for me, based on my non-expert look at the situation.
I understand and to a degree not rejecting the idea of a single engined sister plane to KAAN.I'd argue that we would be better off with designing and producing a 1 engine smaller Kaan rather than 2 engine Hürjet. As capable as it might be, I don't see Hürjet as an effective solution for an aircraft carrier in any way. We are going to have a proper ac in late 2030s at earliest and more likely in 2040s, there is no way a 4th gen plane can still operate safely in 10-15 to 20 ears time.
A lot of parts could be designed to be common. Airframe design has to be addressed. Probably more of a delta wing construction will have to be applied."Stealthy twin engine hürjet" is not hürjet and the airframe would have 0 common parts with the hürjet. Better just make twin engine KE or Anka 3
But Hürjet is nothing like Gripen, in fact, it is even inferior to Korean T-50 in terms of payload despite using the same engine. Comparing Hürjet to Gripen, even its first iteration is an insult to Gripen and unfair to Hürjet.I understand and to a degree not rejecting the idea of a single engined sister plane to KAAN.
But let us look at the current situation and contemplate with the bird in hand rather than the ones in the bush. We still don’t have a concrete physical presence of that indigenous engine that may power that single engined plane. Yet we have a TF6K that is working and being readied for prototype production. Also a single engined KAAN will not be cheap.
Smaller diameter engines are easier and cheaper to produce. Our TF6K engine is being designed as a stealthy engine and the size of it makes it more feasible to be upgraded to a level that is close to double the thrust levels than what TEI has been advertising. I remember reading about the grapevine news that already at this early stages it is developing 6700+lbf thrust levels. That sort of thrust from two engines are actually similar to what a single GE-F414 engine develops. That one engine propels Gripen-E to 2Mach speed with a usable payload of 7200kg, MTOW of 16500kg and a combat range of 810Nmiles.
It would be more economical and clever to employ a Stealthy Hurjet with twin engines from a carrier whereby we know we can build that plane and don’t have any outer force hampering our engine choice. Per hour cost of a plane like that will be cheaper than a KAAN, no matter how economically you produce that baby KAAN.
In an ideal world a single engined KAAN sounds good. But today we have a flying Hurjet in hand and a working engine that will be available within a couple of years.
Just to put a close perspective to twin engined Hurjet’s use; If I remember correctly, Sweden’s Gripen-E is fully navalised against salt water corrosion and as a delta wing design is inherently stealthy. Plus thanks to Akaer, who were also responsible for Hurjet’s airframe design, is an extremely manoeuvrable plane. It can take off land on short runways.