TR UAV/UCAV Programs | Anka - series | Kızılelma | TB - series

[Yasar_TR]

Does 2 F110 engines on lower output have a less infrared signature than a F35 engine on higher output?

According to unconfirmed sources :

F110
non afterburner/dry exhaust temperature : 600-700 degrees C
Afterburner exhaust temperature : 1700-2000 degrees C

F135
non afterburner/dry exhaust temperature : 600-650 degrees C
Afterburner exhaust temperature : 1500-1700 degrees C

So in reality there isn’t much between them.

It depends on how well the aircraft disguises IR picture of engines is what matters.

In essence these values vary a great deal depending on RPM of engines and the length of time afterburners are applied

An aircraft’s skin temperature goes up drastically with its speed and altitude. At Higher altitudes air is thin the friction is less. Hence less heat develops .
But at higher altitudes planes can go faster. This increases friction and skin temperature climbs.

At mach2 and high altitude the skin temperature can be between 120 to 180 degrees C

I always remember the Russian IR picture of an f22 from 150km away.

 

[TheInsider]

I found the exact values for F110 it is 482 degree celcius 10 feet away from the nozzle and 935 degree celcius when measured from the exhaust thermocouple(inside the engine just before the afterburner), both at military power. Admittedly the first figure is more useful considering the IR signature.

 

[Yasar_TR]

I found the exact values for F110 it is 482 degree celcius 10 feet away from the nozzle and 935 degree celcius when measured from the exhaust thermocouple(inside the engine just before the afterburner), both at military power. Admittedly second figure is more useful considering the IR signature.

View attachment 81555

But interesting that nearly 300 metres away, the temperature is still 40 degrees C. At 15 metres from nozzle it is nearly 150 degrees C. That is a lot of IR signature.
Also this has a lot to do with staff safety around those engines. So it must be taken stationary on tarmac. I wonder what values it should give at high altitude.
Shame a similar test is not available for f135 to compare.

 

[TheInsider]

But interesting that nearly 300 metres away, the temperature is still 40 degrees C. At 15 metres from nozzle it is nearly 150 degrees C. That is a lot of IR signature.
Also this has a lot to do with staff safety around those engines. So it must be taken stationary on tarmac. I wonder what values it should give at high altitude.
Shame a similar test is not available for f135 to compare.

We can roughly estimate F-135 values from this.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509522004028

In the Introduction, it was explained that runways are exposed to very high temperatures during the vertical take-off and landing of F-35B combat aircraft. During a take-off or landing, heat is vertically applied to runways through a single direction and can reach up to 930 °C temperatures with a heating rate of 85 °C s−1.

The F-35B heating problems

In the last few days, I've often written about the F-35B. I have explained that the STOVL concept could not be abandoned and that, hopefully, USMC,

theaviationist.com

The newly released document, hosted on a government building-design resource
site, outlines what base-construction engineers need to do to ensure that
the F-35B’s exhaust does not turn the surface it lands on into an
area-denial weapon. And it’s not trivial. Vertical-landing “pads will be
exposed to 1700 deg. F and high velocity (Mach 1) exhaust,” the report says.
The exhaust will melt asphalt and “is likely to spall the surface of
standard airfield concrete pavements on the first VL.

And lastly, IR recording at near idle thrust. Body of F-35 is dark as expected because it is painted with IR signature supressing paint. On the other hand nozzle is glowing and exhaust plume is a lot more visible.

https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/uz38e0

 

[Huelague]

We have some very advanced shit on our hands when it comes to RAM. Early studies probably go back 2 decades. There are clues for deduction for the careful eyes in academia, and Ergun Kırlıkovalı mentioned contributing to 4 next-generation RAM materials for the Kaan

I remember the discussion, especially in the field of Nano technology.

 

[UkroTurk]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2066799763245179392

The radar-absorbent material (RAM) coating designed to provide stealth capabilities for the KAAN has been manufactured in Ankara, has passed over 30 tests, and is ready for use.

It can be said that the KAAN's stealth level will surpass that of the F-35, thanks to innovations in RAM technology.

The radar-signal-absorbing coating used on the KAAN and ANKA-3 is superior to the coating used on American F-35 aircraft.

The next-generation coating developed for the KAAN and ANKA-3 was designed with more durable and modern components to overcome the chronic maintenance issues associated with the F-35.

The KAAN’s Radar Cross Section (RCS) value is 0.001 m²—roughly the size of a golf ball.

The KAAN incorporates millions of lines of code written by ASELSAN and HAVELSAN.

AFAIK Rafale and EF have 1m2 RCS. ( No idea frontal or from ground)

Here claims 0.1 M2 , APG 68 could detect( most probably frontal)

Anyways, under any surcamstances the seeker of missiles could not engage to KE from long distances. If SM-3 engaged to those flighters, the thermal signature would be vital from long distances.

 

[Zafer]

How many times the radar visibility of Kaan

4000​	SU-35​
1200​	F16​
500​	Rafale​
250​	EF​
100​	SU-57​
70​	Kızılelma​
50​	H-20​
1​	F35​
1​	Kaan​
1​	Anka3​
0.1​	F22​

 

[Saithan]

Baykar, Leonardo to detail next phase of air combat partnership - Latest News

Turkish defense company Baykar and Italy’s Leonardo will present results from joint flight tests involving the Bayraktar KIZILELMA unmanned fighter aircraft and Leonardo’s M-346 Fighter Attack jet at the Farnborough International Airshow.

www.hurriyetdailynews.com

 

[MonteCarlo]

Astore Levante by LBA systems aka European TB3 with Leonardo subsystems displayed in Farnborough aviation fair

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2079140919173841168

 

[Saithan]

Astore Levante by LBA systems aka European TB3 with Leonardo subsystems displayed in Farnborough aviation fair

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2079140919173841168

You know it's kinda sad to see it. even though everyone knows it's TB3 with different components. I hope at least they kept the "TB3" in the name.

 

[Yasar_TR]

You know it's kinda sad to see it. even though everyone knows it's TB3 with different components. I hope at least they kept the "TB3" in the name.

It is the Turkish phobia people have. If made in Turkey, as far as some European defence circles, the relevant equipment may not be up to “western” standards.

It just reminds me of the early seventies when we used to shop for clothing in Mark and Spencer in the UK, everyone used to look for the made in Italy labels.
Then in the late 90’s I remember couples looking at clothing and next to Chinese made cheaper ones, they were choosing Turkish ones and talking between themselves that it was better quality.

Italian brand will open a lot of doors for us.
In time we will overcome this phobia as well. In fact Italy and Spain are two good examples for it that we are on the right track.

 

[Kaan Azman]

I think they still done a good job with the name, Levante refers to the east (Türkiye)

 

[Yasar_TR]

I think they still done a good job with the name, Levante refers to the east (Türkiye)

Bro Levante in Latin means where the sun rises from.
Historically it means the lands that are Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Cyprus of today.
Entities like the English Levant Company and the French Compagnie du Levant were chartered in the late 1500s and 1600s to monopolize commerce with the East.
The word is synonymous with areas and people (levantain) who traded with Ottoman Empire and Europe. They were given special privileges to trade with Europe and Ottoman Empire. A lot of Christians like English, Italians and French took up residence in those lands to carry on trading with both Ottomans and Europeans who were given capitulations to trade.

A lot of these originally foreign people who were settled in Turkiye, after the republic, became part of the society in Turkiye and were called Levanten.

Astore in Italian is Goshawk which is Doğan or Atmaca. So it means goshawk of the lands mentioned above.

We have no jurisdiction over those lands now.

 

[Fuzuli NL]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2079191676355035560

LBA Systems Displays Bayraktar TB3 “Astore Levante” UCAV | TURDEF

LBA Systems unveiled the Astore Levante UCAV based on the Bayraktar TB3 marine UCAV, incorporating Leonardo’s onboard systems during the FIA 2026 exhibition.

turdef.com

LBA Systems Displays Bayraktar TB3 “Astore Levante” UCAV​

• 20 Jul 2026, 16:06

LBA Systems unveiled the Astore Levante UCAV based on the Bayraktar TB3 marine UCAV, incorporating Leonardo’s onboard systems during the FIA 2026 exhibition.
Baykar and Leonardo’s JV, LBA Systems, unveiled the Astore Levante UCAV (Eastern Goshawk in Italian to reflect its nature as a Turkish-Italian development) during the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 as a Italian customisation of Bayraktar TB3 for the European market.
Astore Levante’s onboard systems will include Leonardo’s systems such as LEOSS-T EO/IR, BriteStorm integrated EW system, IFF428 Mod 4/5 IFF system, and SDR SRT-800 radio.

On the other hand, the UCAV will have other options such as the Gabbiano T-80UL rotating multi-function radar, the Osprey 30 multi-function AESA radar, the SAGE ESM system, and the ULISSES sonobuoy processing system.
The weaponry remains Turkish-made, including MAM-C/L/T glide munitions, CİRİT laser-guided missile, UAV-122 short-range aeroballistic missile, and KEMANKEŞ 1 loitering munition. All of the displayed weapons have been tested from Bayraktar TB3, with CİRİT being the most recent one and a possible route for persistent and airborne C-UAS capabilities through its dedicated variant. However, foreign weaponry integration should not be ruled out considering the fact that Astore Levante is aimed at the European market.
Astore Levante is expected to be fielded on Italy’s ITS Cavour carrier and possibly the ITS Trieste LHD, as Bayraktar TB3 has proven itself to be capable of operating from the shorter TCG Anadolu (L400) LHD of the Turkish Navy.
While Italy’s stance on how Astore Levante will be used has not been stated explicitly, it is possible to take some notes from the Turkish Navy, which demonstrated Bayraktar TB3’s armed ISR capabilities and unmanned-unmanned teaming with USVs (See team-up tests with PİRANA and ALBATROS USVs). In addition to this, Leonardo’s ULISSES sonobuoy processing system being repeatedly pitched alongside the UCAV means that the Italian Navy is considering supportive use in anti-submarine warfare thanks to the long endurance that a helicopter can not match.
Beyond this, Astore Levante has a possibility of making it to airfields despite its roots as a marine UCAV for ramp-assisted STOL operation. It is known that the Turkish Land Forces have acquired the UCAV, which would offer improved takeoff/landing distance compared to the Bayraktar TB2.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi

 

[Strong AI]

KIZILELMA and M-346 Flight Formations:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2079202309540593800

Next step should be BVR tactics. Read below please.

This PDF, which I printed out from a manual for Falcon BMS (F-16 Simulation), sums up my expectations for what an unmanned fighter jet and loyal wingman should be able to do, either through its AI or by commands from a human operator (MUM-T).
FYI, "spiked" means you are being tracked (being locked on) by a radar.

What are your expectations?