The Kizilelma drone literally cries out for a 16,000 lbf Engine with a dry thrust of 10,000 lbf.
It is incomprehensible why one would develop a 6000/10000 lbf engine... instead of an 10000/16000 lbf engine.
Ultimately, Hürjet also needs an F-404 equivalent.
With an 10000 lbf core and 16000 with afterburner, you can also upgrade into a 12000 lbf dry and 18000-19000 lbf wet Engine for Hürjet & Co.
With the TEI TF-6000/10000, 12000-13000 lbf is the limit; the diameter and length of the engine do not allow for more.
It is easy to criticise the manufacturers. But before doing so, one should look in to why manufacturers of military jet engines concentrate on 6000lbf dry and 10000lbf wet thrust level engines,
Motor Sich, Rolls Royce, Honeywell and TEI all have gone for this level of thrust.
6,000 lbf (pounds-force) dry thrust level for military jet engines represents the ideal "
sweet spot" for the next generation of unmanned aerial vehicles (
UAVs), advanced
trainer aircraft, and
light combat aircraft.
This thrust class balances the need for high-performance, supersonic capability in a compact form factor, particularly suited for stealthy, twin-engine, or smaller airframes.
Here is why 6,000 lbf (approx. 26.7 kN) is a key target level:
- Optimal Power for Modern Combat UAVs: This thrust level is perfectly matched for advanced Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) such as Turkey's Baykar Kızılelma and ANKA-3, which require more power than trainer engines but do not need the massive thrust of a full-sized fighter engine.
- Scalability to Supersonic (Afterburning) Versions: A 6,000 lbf dry engine is frequently designed to be paired with an afterburner, allowing it to easily scale to 10,000 lbf+ (e.g., the TEI-TF10000), covering both subsonic endurance and supersonic combat capabilities in one core design.
- Stealth and Compact Design: At this thrust level, engines can be made compact enough to be "buried" inside the fuselage, reducing the radar cross-section (stealth) and minimizing frontal area, which reduces drag.
- Technological Training and Know-How: Developing an engine in this class serves as a crucial, achievable "stepping stone" for nations aiming to acquire the technical expertise needed to build larger, more powerful fifth-generation fighter engines.
- Versatility in Applications: The core of a 6,000 lbf engine can be adapted into different variants, including turboshafts for 10-ton plus class helicopters, engines for fast attack boats, and electrical power generators.
Examples of this focus include the Turkish TEI-TF6000, Honeywell F124 & F125, RR Adour and similar engines.
