(pic taken from me standing in front of the headquarters)
NOTE: Taking pictures inside the TF-X's assembly facilities is strictly prohibited. Taking pictures of Hürjet's assembly is also prohibited.
Locations visited:
-Hürjet
-F-16 structural and Özgür mod area
-MMU
HÜRJET
-Two prototypes are on the final assembly line. The number will increase to 4. There are two open slots for 2 more Hürjet fuselages.
-Piping and final assembly work in general takes A LOT of time and effort. The canopy and the tail section has gone on and off multiple times. It's all being handmade so this was expected.
-Hürjet will feature an Italian radar.
-Some crucial avionics have not arrived as of yet.
-Hürjet is set to feature a HMD.
-Hürjet's final assembly will be completed in a couple of months. Around the same time with the MMU.
-F-404's have been delivered and further deliveries are arriving as we speak. No delays or embargoes regarding the engines are expected.
-The aircraft stationed towards the right is the flying prototype, the one on the left will be used for static testing and it has its dedicated engine mock-up
.
-No delays right now. Everything going according to plan. The assembly is also not going slowly, as per TAI officials.
F-16 Özgür
-There is a single Özgür prototype. It is not always stationed at TAI facilities.
-The Özgür program has gone serial! Which means the F-16's stationed there will undergo the Özgür modernization package.
-No major delays regarding the program as a whole. There is a small delay in place regarding the first aircraft waiting to be delivered. It must be noted that the Turkish Air Force is responsible for the inspection of the aircraft.
-First deliveries still expected in 2022.
-AESA integration planned in 2023.
-HMD will be developed.
MMU
-There is one aircraft being assembled. And that is the GTU-0. Like aforementioned, no RAM paint.
-Forward fuselage, mid fuselage, mid-aft fuselage (includes wing assemblies) are all completed. Aft fuselage is nearing completion.
-The canopy has been delivered.
-The forward fuselage will be transferred to the final assembly line in a VERY VERY VERY VERY short time. No pictures will be posted.
-Much of the crucial systems will be present during rollout. Certain systems such as the HMD, IRST, EOTS and other systems aren't expected to be there at first.
-TAI is using unorthodox techniques and technologies while assembling the aircraft. I'm not allowed to give insight on any of these.
-Even TAI technicians on sight were surprised to see how fast the program was moving forward. Assembly work is certainly moving at an incredibly fast pace.
-There are around 200 technicians on sight.
-The MMU hangar has transformed from an empty warehouse with a half-built FF, to a genuine assembly facility. This, I can proudly confirm.
-F-110's on sight. No delays expected for the rest of the deliveries.
-Certainly no delays to the program as things stand.
Other info obtained:
-Hürkuş will be delivered. TurAF simply has very high standards. The aircraft is not hampered by any critical issues.
-Hürkuş 2's CDR has been completed. I can confirm it will have a composite fuselage
-The jet powered UAV... Not much to be seen unfortunately. They are certainly producing parts. And its assembly will be made at the dedicated UAV area.
-ATAK-2's assembly is going well. Most of the fuselage is not being made by TAI themselves. The company in question will deliver the fuselage and final assembly will start.
EDIT: Was set to visit MMU's simulator. But it's being managed by TurAF themselves and it was going through maintenance. So that didn't happen.
