For the non-Turkish audience, I transcripted Temel Kotil's ten minutes speech and Google-Translated to English. I did small changes that seemed off. Translation could be improved but you'll get the gist of it.
"They showed it in the 60's when I was touring(Lockheed Martin). They designed different fighter planes almost once a week during the cold war. But today I understand that the American air force has this much inventory. Germany has that much inventory. England has this much inventory. They're not in a rush like us. That's why they're going slow. They go in control. They set a bad example for us. Last night, we were talking with a large foreign company. They have a project. He said this time this will end, that time this will end. I said, if so, we'll catch up with you. It's not a joke. Yes. Let's not take the developed world companies as an example. Their situation today is different. Their countries' defense situations, status and needs are different. Thank God for the pace we caught with the TFX. With everyone's effort. I thank everyone. To all foundation companies. We are a foundation company. It's the same with others and with Havelsan also. thank you all. to all those who helped us. but the truth of the matter is this. I've started to understand this especially lately. Let's not take advanced defense companies as an example. Let's take as an example their pace in the 60s and 70s during the Cold War.
Of course, we talk to our guests about what is done, sometimes with such technology companies as well as with very big companies that we work with, bigger than us. We show them. they are surprised. so how did you do it? We say it's very normal. we do. yes, at the moment the plane's landing gear is about to be fitted. Landing gear arrived yesterday. Being integrated. By the 20th of the month, the landing gear will have been installed. and the engine will be installed. By March 18, avionics will be installed, cockpit finished, canopy installed, landing gear, actuators, fuel tanks, everything will be on it. I will repeat it. counting the days. Of course, what we're showing right now is the tip of the iceberg. more technician-based work is currently in progress. because since the design is finished, it comes down to the technicians. They work 24/7. It's not a joke, but it's the truth. The shifts have begun to mix. When the plane starts to take shape, our employees say, let's take a photo. We take photos under control to show it to our grandchildren. We drilled over 170.000 holes on it by hand. Since it is a prototype, we have 4-5 years to adjust the robotic systems since it is the first. We will make the first planes by hand. I saw that the technician has a big drill in his hand. It's like a long, thin, about 5mm. The labor of technicians is the tip of the iceberg. underneath that is the concept design of this, the geometric design of this, the design of the systems, the canopy, the landing gear, the structural design, awfully long engineering hours. Our 1300 engineers, our own personnel of the TUSAS, are working 24/7. and sibling organizations from outside, stm, havelsan, aselsan, roketsan, sage, tübitak bilgem, tübitak. private companies. If I continue with the names it will get longer. they work for us. In order for such a plane to be national, it has to be built in Turkey from A to Z. It is necessary not to get permission from anyone for manufacturing and making the desired number. then it becomes national. otherwise we made F16 under license. but the more the Americans give, the more we make. Or we make the T70 helicopter under license. Now it has to be local to be national.
The canopy is native. A Turkish company is making it, Volo. Building a canopy is very difficult for warplanes. You have to do very well optically. When the pilot turns his head, there should be no refraction. bird strike experiments. we do it ourselves. it has to be strong. If a foreign object hits it, it should not break. It has to be light. It should not reflect electromagnetic waves. I remember back in 2016, the canopy of the Hürkuş had a gasket problem. It was from a European country. It was from Switzerland. they didn't give it to us. I remember how tiresome that was. Turkish company is making the canopy. Volo. The landing gear is made by a Turkish company. very important. The landing gear of an airplane is a very difficult subject. because it's a huge mass. eight tons, it will punch the ground. otherwise it would slide off the runway. it is made by a company called TAAC that we are a partner in. Actuators, warplanes are unstable planes. Therefore, it must constantly maneuver precisely. Its control surfaces are not like normal subsonic planes. This is very fine technology. We are talking about processing with a submicron-accuracy. Because in those actuators, in the systems that move it, air is used instead of oil. a Turkish company does this. TAAC does. Hopefully we will make the engine locally. we started. but for now the first engine start will take place with the engine of the F16. Our first aircrafts will have F16 engines. BİLGEM makes the flight computer. There are a lot of sensors on the plane. Because 5th generation fighter jet means, it listens to all sides like a globe. It receives every incoming signal. and evaluating. as well as electronic warfare in counter-intervention.
Aselsan is tasked with this. If I continue, this plane is 100 percent national. When the Turkish engine arrives in 2028, its engine will also be domestic.
It(the plane) emerged rapidly, by the grace of God. It was such a surprise to everyone. it came out very quickly. But of course, success comes from the heart. comes from devotion. I'll end it with this. What I learned in this program. We set ourselves bad examples. I won't go into the company name. It's worldwide. Because they are in the stock market, I can't give the name. They say that this company of the developed country made this plane in this many years. they take very long time. if we go back to the 1960s, that is Lockheed Martin, they showed it when I toured. they designed a different fighter plane almost once a week. during the cold war. but today I understand. The American air force has this much inventory. Germany has that much inventory. England has this much inventory. They are in no rush like us. That's why they go slow. They go in control. They set a bad example for us. No. We should set our own style."
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