TR Air-Force TF-X KAAN Fighter Jet

[godel44]

I think the visit and the report came at the initiative of the French but it was Turkish officials who suggested Turkey can contribute to FCAS. It doesn't really sound to me like it's a big deal. Turkey will evolve Kaan to the 6th generation as its main project but could do parts production for FCAS or Tempest or any other project as a commercial opportunity.

There are potential collaboration areas, but I would be surprised if anything came out of it. Greece is not a factor but there are many areas France actually cares about in which Turkey's interests conflict with the French, especially in Africa.

 

[Merzifonlu]

The French have their tails tucked in badly with the USA in aviation. Because they fell out with the USA because of Canada and Greenland.

They foolishly filled the Rafale and its ammunition, which they boast about so much, with USA components. They would have happily gone to the Russians, but they also became enemy with the Russians through Ukraine. In addition, even if Russian weapons are of high quality, they are not of NATO standards. They do not fit the infrastructure of the French army.

The only country that can produce weapons that are both of NATO standards and "USA-free" is Turkey right now! We are living in very interesting times, very much so! That is why these shameless French, in complete desperation are fawning over us, whom they love as much as their sins.

Source: https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/rafale-american-inputs-needed
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Now that I think about it, same French can't sell us Meteor if the USA doesn't allow it. So instead of the USA components they used in Meteor, they want to use the subcomponents we developed for Gökhan!

Now the pieces have fallen into place...

 

[Ahlatshah]

According to a report prepared by 5 senators from the French Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee who visited Turkiye, TR wants to give support the 6th generation fighter jet program “FCAS”

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1886008962589352290

The US moves that point to isolationism and its desire to re-evaluate Canada and Greenland issues in line with its own interests are creating a cold shower in the Franco political understanding, which could be a lever for Turkish-French rapprochement.

n your own view,is this news plausible?
If so,why didnt the Greek media report it yet?
After all,this is also big news for the Greeks and they know everything about us before we do.

Here is the report

Renforcer la relation franco-turque afin d'agir conjointement pour la paix - Sénat

www.senat.fr

Headline is: "Strengthening the Franco-Turkish relationship in order to act jointly for peace"

That is the report to the France Senate. It is comprehensive report and lets say "constructive".

News of Defence Turk is not baseless

 

[Sanchez]

They foolishly filled the Rafale and its ammunition, which they boast about so much, with USA components.

You are oversimplifying things. Rafale is not any more bound by ITAR than Kaan is.

So instead of the USA components they used in Meteor, they want to use the subcomponents we developed for Gökhan!

Meteor is not a French missile, it's a European joint developed missile with French participation. It's not even yet clear if Gökhan even completed its ground tests.

 

[Yasar_TR]

The French have their tails tucked in badly with the USA in aviation. Because they fell out with the USA because of Canada and Greenland.

They foolishly filled the Rafale and its ammunition, which they boast about so much, with USA components. They would have happily gone to the Russians, but they also became enemy with the Russians through Ukraine. In addition, even if Russian weapons are of high quality, they are not of NATO standards. They do not fit the infrastructure of the French army.

The only country that can produce weapons that are both of NATO standards and "USA-free" is Turkey right now! We are living in very interesting times, very much so! That is why these shameless French, in complete desperation are fawning over us, whom they love as much as their sins.

I can see where you are coming from and understand your logic behind this. French are in a bit of a pickle. They need Allies with clout now.
But in terms of US parts in Rafale; there are not many !
In fact, compared to the Gripen and EF2000, Rafale is fairly indigenously manufactured. Only a handful of parts are of US origin.

What European Fighter Jets Have Critical US Components?

All European fighter jets currently in production use US-sourced components - although some use more than others.

simpleflying.com

But your comments about Meteor and Gokhan is a little far fetched.
For starters, as per @Sanchez ’s post Meteor belongs to a consortium made up of : UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden. France has a one in 6th shout in the meteor case. In terms of funding; UK 39.6% and Germany 16%. France is funding 12.4%, Italy 12%, and Sweden and Spain 10% each. So they are minority partners.
Secondly, Meteor is powered by a ramjet that uses solid fuel. Gokhan is to use liquid/gel fuel. Technology and system of operation of the two are totally different.

 

[Saithan]

I am with @boredaf on this. We have to wait and see. France is against us in everything and thus we should make our striders shorter and be think twice.

France is facing the Atlantic so no way they'll be frontline in any war. not since WW2. I think getting our hands on meteor is just as much for learning and analysing to be able to develop our own missiles as it may be necessary for EF.

So hearing KAAN is progressing as planned is fine, but I think we need to get that engine contract in place very soon.

 

[hugh]

Response from SSB Görgün to claims of supplying KAAN to Saudi Arabia

President of Defense Industries Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün said, "We did not hold any discussions specific to any product or platform."

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1886293792778829897

 

[Spitfire9]

So hearing KAAN is progressing as planned is fine, but I think we need to get that engine contract in place very soon.

How far does the engine design have to progress before a contract can be made for development to certification of the TF35000?

 

[Saithan]

How far does the engine design have to progress before a contract can be made for development to certification of the TF35000?

No mate, while I think the TF35K is nice and important. I believe getting a contract in place for the F110 engine is just as important. Because we don't have the leeway to play around with an engine that has yet to be produced, considering how the world is going from bad to worse every day.

The F110 engine in KAAN will give us at least a 4th gen fighter jet, at best 4.5 gen. But we need to have the platform up and flying and dropping bombs to get that Knowhow under our skin. Even if KAAN ends up being more lightly armed than a fully fledged F16, I think it's necessary to keep working and producing to get that experience.

 

[Zoth]

Here is the report

Renforcer la relation franco-turque afin d'agir conjointement pour la paix - Sénat

www.senat.fr

Headline is: "Strengthening the Franco-Turkish relationship in order to act jointly for peace"

That is the report to the France Senate. It is comprehensive report and lets say "constructive".

News of Defence Turk is not baseless

I would love Turkey to get involved into an European joint program but i would rather us stay alone than getting involved with France and Germany.

There would be possibility of us entering into GCAP due to close relationship of our MiC with the British and Italian counterparts, but the real problem would be Japan, they don't accept anything that would delay the program.

I personally think that we should not touch anything FCAS related.

My personal wet dream is Spain joining our Kaan project, that would make the project much better, a sisterly/brotherly nation that also has aviation capabilities, it would be win-win, but they are already part of FCAS, so i don't know.

 

[Huelague]

My personal wet dream is Spain joining our Kaan project, that would make the project much better, a sisterly/brotherly nation that also has aviation capabilities, it would be win-win, but they are already part of FCAS, so i don't know.

Spain, Italy, Malaysia and some sponsors like Qatar and S.A.
At the beginning, S. Korea was the best choice, next to Sweden.

 

[alfonsvlora]

KAAN'da süreç açıklandı: 6 prototip yolda! | SavunmaSanayiST

Savunma Sanayii Başkanı Görgün, KAAN projesinin planlandığı gibi ilerlediğini belirtti. 2025’te uçuş planlanırken, 6 test uçağı seri üretimi hızlandıracak.

www.savunmasanayist.com

This article from 04 February 2025 is interesting. Here Mr. Gorgun says:
Noting that six aircraft will be produced during this process, Görgün said, “The six aircraft will accelerate our processes on the way to mass production. Each will have different functions and test activities. Flight activities are planned for the first produced aircraft, the second, third and subsequent aircraft for 2025.

I don't think these declared prototypes will all be with the F110 engine. Therefore, a strong question arises here!
Could it be that the KAAN TF36000lb engine is already finished?

 

[hugh]

I don't think these declared prototypes will all be with the F110 engine. Therefore, a strong question arises here!
Could it be that the KAAN TF36000lb engine is already finished?

NO

 

[Spitfire9]

KAAN'da süreç açıklandı: 6 prototip yolda! | SavunmaSanayiST

Savunma Sanayii Başkanı Görgün, KAAN projesinin planlandığı gibi ilerlediğini belirtti. 2025’te uçuş planlanırken, 6 test uçağı seri üretimi hızlandıracak.

www.savunmasanayist.com

This article from 04 February 2025 is interesting. Here Mr. Gorgun says:
Noting that six aircraft will be produced during this process, Görgün said, “The six aircraft will accelerate our processes on the way to mass production. Each will have different functions and test activities. Flight activities are planned for the first produced aircraft, the second, third and subsequent aircraft for 2025.

I don't think these declared prototypes will all be with the F110 engine. Therefore, a strong question arises here!
Could it be that the KAAN TF36000lb engine is already finished?

I think I recall the TAI chairman saying TF35000 would be installed from 2028. Presumably for testing a 1xF110 + 1xTF35000 KAAN FTB.

 

[boredaf]

I don't think these declared prototypes will all be with the F110 engine. Therefore, a strong question arises here!
Could it be that the KAAN TF36000lb engine is already finished?

 

[Huelague]

View attachment 73397

I hope we can do similiar tests with KAAN in Türkiye.

6 Prototypes will be produced, one will be for EMP tests I hope.

 

[dBSPL]

I think there was a defenseturkey article years ago with a list of test systems and test centers that are and will be established under the KAAN program, I searched a bit but I couldn't find it. However, we already know about the Lightning Test Facility, I wonder if this facility can also be used for EMP simulations?

 

[uçuyorum]

I think there was a defenseturkey article years ago with a list of test systems and test centers that are and will be established under the KAAN program, I searched a bit but I couldn't find it. However, we already know about the Lightning Test Facility, I wonder if this facility can also be used for EMP simulations?

If I had to guess an emp would destroy that facility instead

 

[alfonsvlora]

I think I recall the TAI chairman saying TF35000 would be installed from 2028. Presumably for testing a 1xF110 + 1xTF35000 KAAN FTB.

That's exactly how it is!
It is precisely these types of disjointed statements in time, which make you think (hypothesize) that perhaps this engine may not only have been built, but may even be in the testing stages

 

[hugh]

That's exactly how it is!
It is precisely these types of disjointed statements in time, which make you think (hypothesize) that perhaps this engine may not only have been built, but may even be in the testing stages

Last month, Haluk Görgün said that TF36000 will be integrated into KAAN in 2029 or in the beginning of 2030. So 2028(for engine) date is outdated.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1879170405627306211