Why would be pathetic? Russian AL-41F1S also has 4k hours service life. GE F414 utilized in Hornet, Super hornet, KF21, Tejas, Gripen also has 4k hours lifespan.
For TF35000, 4K service hours would be quite reasonable to begin with. Later Improvements can be introduced in stages.
Why should GE claim:
quote:
Reduced life-cycle cost
GE Aerospace’s F414 features the latest technologies to enhance engine performance, improve engine durability, and reduce life-cycle cost (LCC) for current and future operators of next-generation combat aircraft.
unquote
If the f414 has less life than f404.
F414Engine
www.geaerospace.com
Let us not mix “overhaul lifecycle” with “engine lifespan”.
f414 is essentially the same engine as the f404 with a larger fan that increases thrust.
just a few numbers I found online:
F414 : overhaul used to be every 2000hrs now 4000hours,
Engine life: 6-8000hrs
RR's EJ200 : Overhaul every 2000hrs,
Engine life : 6000hrs
Klimov's RD-33 : Overhaul every 300 hours,
Engine max life : 1000hrs
AL-31: Overhaul every 1,000 hours,
Engine life : 4000hrs
Going back to Turkish engine situation; we know that TS1400 is not too far beyond its foreign equivalent. It is constantly being evolved too.
TEI manufactures T700 TEI 701D engine for the Blackhawk helicopters. Production involves additive technologies and hot sections including locally produced single crystals.
First of all if GE were not happy with TEI’s hot section parts, those parts wouldn’t be on that engine. Secondly Turkish armed forces wouldn’t accept a Blackhawk helicopter with an engine fitted with inferior life and performance parameters.
So any indigenous engine KAAN will have, will not be too far beyond western equivalents.