I am not gonna argue with Big 4 in Aero engine business but Also MTU does not have any modern aero engine design they fully own its IPs. They are huge subcontractor but Not an Engine designer.
CFM is also joint venture among big 4 in order to increase their profit rather than compete with each others in its field. It wont enter another field of aero engine business unless its parent companies decides. So Neither of these 2 companies is or will be competing for aero engine business in general sense.
Yes, IHI is ahead of TEI and it is that simple. But that doesn't mean TEI isn't fighting for the 5th position.
Don’t underestimate MTU Aero engines. They work similar to TEI bu are in fact ahead of TEI with their set up. They have been manufacturing jet engines and parts for much longer than TEI. They do design, develop and produce aero engines in conjunction with companies like P&W and GE for commercial passenger planes and gas turbines.
To be honest unless you are one of the big 4 ( CFM, GE, P&W and RR) you have no chance of producing engines for passenger jets. For military planes, MTU already manufactures most of the EJ200 engine anyway.
Whether it’s the PW1100G-JM or the GE9X: MTU Aero Engines components are found in one-third of the world’s commercial aircraft.
www.mtu.de
Yes CFM is a conglomerate set up by GE and Safran. But they do operate as a separate entity. They are the largest jet engine manufacturers today. They have subcontractors like TEI, MTU and IHI.
We will get there in the end. But it will take a bit more time. I don’t know about 5th position. But in terms of military jet engine manufacturers may be 6th or 7th ( GE, P&W, RR, Safran, IHI, MTU) . We can’t even manufacture a turbofan yet. Even Motor Sich of Ukraine with their outdated technology were ahead of TEI in terms of complete engine manufacturing capability. We had to buy engines from them for our helicopters and UCAVs.
You don’t become one of the top 5 jet engine manufacturers in the world, just because you managed to produce a non flying but operating turbo shaft engine. TEI has not manufactured any engines that fly, apart from the F16 turbofans and Atak t-129 and T700 Blackhawk tuboshaft engines in house.
As I have said; A bit more patience. Let’s see TS-1400 and TF-6000 flying ; Also MMU indigenous engine become a reality. Then we can discuss if we are as good as IHI. We have the basis to become a contender. But let us walk before we run with our grading.