TR Air-Force TF-X KAAN Fighter Jet

[Radko]

Not sure if anyone has shared this publicly available information before: this is TF-X's Large Area Display (LAD-208), designed by STG Engineering in Ankara. At 20" by 8", it is identical in size to L3 Harris' Panoramic Cockpit Display (PCD DU). However, it is a more conventional resistive touchscreen (works with gloves, unlike capacitive screens) instead of the IR solution used by the PCD DU (also works with gloves). The TF-X can certainly support a larger display in future blocks, the F-35 seems to be stuck with the form-fit 20" by 8" form-factor. I don't know the prevalence of resistive touch screens in cockpit avionics, but it's likely more common than L3 Harris' solution.

LAD-208	PCD DU
View attachment 52539	View attachment 52538

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LAD-208
PRODUCT PAGE
DATASHEET [PDF]
SPECS:

PANEL TYPE​ Active matrix LCD (normally black) PANEL ACTIVE AREA​ 20” x 8” PANEL RESOLUTION​ 2560 X 1024 COLOR DEPTH​ 8-bit – 16,777,216 colors and 256 grayscales VIEWING ANGLE​ H: +/-45° – V: +/-45° BACKLIGHT​ High efficiency low heat dissipation

LUMINANCE​ 25fL up to 300fL (day) 0.01fL up to 25fL (night) SUNLIGHT READABILITY​ High performance under 100.000 lux SOFTWARE​ RTCA/DO-178 up to Design Assurance Level (DAL) A HARDWARE​ RTCA/DO-254 up to Design Assurance Level (DAL) A DEFAULT VIDEO INTERFACE​ ARINC 818-2 (DVI; HD-SDI are offered as alternatives) NVG COMPATIBILITY​ NVIS class B, per MIL-STD-3009 Class B

Are we sure that it will be LAD-208? Maybe it would be a similar ASELSAN product

 

[moz68k]

Are we sure that it will be LAD-208? Maybe it would be a similar ASELSAN product

 

[Radko]

View attachment 52540

What about LAD-820?

 

[moz68k]

AFIK that's for Gökbey, not sure about this. However, the demonstrator cockpit at Farnborough is definitely the STG LAD-208.

 

[moz68k]

What about LAD-820?

Also, at least from specs alone, STG LAD-208 is technically superior.

 

[Turan]

LAD820

 

[moz68k]

Here's another cursory analysis of the current state of TF-X's avionics and computer systems: this time the National Mission Computer, presented by Mustafa Varank back in November. Keep in mind, I am a lowly software engineer, and not a military embedded systems engineer so everything is probably wrong. However, I can say that the NMC appears to be a modern design broadly in line with the US DoD's Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA). Everything is solid-state (no moving parts), unlike the current F-35 ICP, which uses the notoriously hot running IBM PowerPC architecture thus requiring fans. The NMC is likely using a multi-core variant of ÇAKIL as its CPU, which implements the efficient and open-source RISC-V microarchitecture. Its GPU is unknown but the PCI-E slot and AMD Radeon E8860 support listed for Bilgem's Real Time Operating System (GİS) suggests that they are probably using a COTS Radeon E8860 Embedded GPU for the time being.

Presented were two seemingly different components. However, I think the bare board camera-left is a test bench configuration of the complete system camera-right.

Annotated complete NMC in enclosure:

Annotated NMC test bench:

Feedback/corrections from any computer engineers is very much welcome.

 

[Huelague]

I don't know if it's right place to tell but Mr. Temel Kotil said that "We will build our own civilian airliners in the future after TFX". (Like Airbus and Boeing). He also added that "Our aim is Top 10 in the list of defence and aviation companies of the world and without civilian airliners it's very hard. We already have all we need but first MMU because it's not only a fighter but more than that."

Maybe in cooperation with Sierra Nevada Corporation?

 

[Zafer]

When???!??

TFX work will have been finished in 5 years Temel Kotil said.

 

[Lool]

I don't know if it's right place to tell but Mr. Temel Kotil said that "We will build our own civilian airliners in the future after TFX". (Like Airbus and Boeing). He also added that "Our aim is Top 10 in the list of defence and aviation companies of the world and without civilian airliners it's very hard. We already have all we need but first MMU because it's not only a fighter but more than that."

Temil Kotil knows his stuff, I must say. He isnt only a visionary but also a good businessman. No one more suitable to lead Turkey's most prestigious company tbh

 

[Era_shield]

Probably the fainting detection feature is related to the green sections on the top of the ASELSAN HMD and I think these parts are fiber optics that monitor the cognitive health of the pilot, just like in the Tempest concept.
View attachment 52532
View attachment 52533

Those are optical tracking dots, similar to what's used in VR HMDs. Due to the fainting detection system there must be biometric sensors somewhere, but if I was designing this I wouldn't put them in the helmet since it adds weight and those sensors can be placed in many other places on the body instead.

 

[Radko]

AFIK that's for Gökbey, not sure about this. However, the demonstrator cockpit at Farnborough is definitely the STG LAD-208.

Thanks

 

[MADDOG]

View attachment 52540

We'v gone over this before. The LAD-280 by SDG Engineering could've been for the cockpit mock-up alone. Because the job was specifically given to ASELSAN, and the product in question is said to be the LAD-820.

 

[zio]

Resolution of Aselsans displays are low.

 

[Radko]

No, it is not, it is same with what's being used on F-35

Resolution of Aselsans displays are low.

 

[azaher77]

General Manager @Temel_Kotil :
*: We need to start delivering the MMU by 2028. That's our contract.
**: GE engine, 4.5+ generation MMU Block 1
**: This is the first time it has been officially announced that 2028 is a contractual condition, not a personal goal

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1613797582572081152

 

[Zafer]

General Manager @Temel_Kotil :
*: We need to start delivering the MMU by 2028. That's our contract.
**: GE engine, 4.5+ generation MMU Block 1
**: This is the first time it has been officially announced that 2028 is a contractual condition, not a personal goal

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1613797582572081152

It is not in this statement but in other statements made before it was cited that TFX will be delivered in the year 2028 equipped with the national engine. This means earlier versions of the plane equipped with F16 engines can be delivered earlier than this date. I guess we can see some early deliveries with baseline specks as early as 2026 in normal conditions or even earlier should there be additional timeline pressure.

 

[Altay_TR]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1613550006673510400

 

[Hasanrize]

It is not in this statement but in other statements made before it was cited that TFX will be delivered in the year 2028 equipped with the national engine. This means earlier versions of the plane equipped with F16 engines can be delivered earlier than this date. I guess we can see some early deliveries with baseline specks as early as 2026 in normal conditions or even earlier should there be additional timeline pressure.

That is simply not possible. The national engine is supposed to be ready for integration in 2028, then the prototype with the new engine should be tested extensively, which will take time. Remember, TS-1400 was made long ago, yet testing is longer than its design. The same will happen to MMU's engine. Afaik design of that engine is not really started; TEI is in the learning process by TF-6000/10000.

 

[Zafer]

That is simply not possible. The national engine is supposed to be ready for integration in 2028, then the prototype with the new engine should be tested extensively, which will take time. Remember, TS-1400 was made long ago, yet testing is longer than its design. The same will happen to MMU's engine. Afaik design of that engine is not really started; TEI is in the learning process by TF-6000/10000.

That is the statement, I bet they know better.