(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI or TUSAS) is highly confident that the United States will approve its application to acquire engines for the fifth-generation fighter jet “KAAN” and the light combat aircraft “HURJET,” which are currently under development.
In an interview with Turkey’s defense portal, SavunmaSanayiST.com, at the Farnborough Airshow, TAI CEO Mehmet Demiroglu expressed optimism about securing the necessary engine approvals.
“Aircraft engines are crucial components. Currently, the engines for the KAAN and HURJET fighter jets are awaiting approval from the United States Congress. We do not anticipate any issues at this time,” Demiroglu stated.
“This process can sometimes take time,” he added.
However, Demiroglu remains hopeful, citing the recent F-16 purchase agreement, as a positive indicator.
Earlier this year, Washington approved Turkey’s request to acquire 40 new variant F-16 fighter jets and 80 modernization kits valued at $23 billion, following Ankara’s ratification of legislation allowing Sweden to join NATO.
This approval resolved a longstanding dispute between Ankara and Washington over the F-16 purchase.
Demiroglu emphasized that if the application to acquire engines for the KAAN and HURJET does not succeed, TAI will seek alternative solutions.
“We will take our own measures. We will not stop here. We will either find new engines or develop our own. We have already developed our own engine for KAAN, and we will do the same for the light combat aircraft HURJET.
We will not abandon the KAAN development program,” he affirmed.
Both the F110 engines for the KAAN fighter jet and the F404 engines for the HURJET light combat aircraft are developed by General Electric (GE) of the United States.
Previously, Turkey ordered 100 F404 engines for the HURJET and requested that the F110 engines be produced domestically in Turkey to meet local demand.
As an interim measure, Turkey has sought permission from the United States to locally produce the GE-129 variant of the F110 engine under license.
Turkey plans to use the GE-129 engines in the first batch of the fifth-generation KAAN fighter jets before transitioning to domestically produced engines.
The GE-129 engine is a twin-engine version used in the F-15 fighter jet, while the GE-110 variant is used in the F-16, also operated by the Turkish Air Force.
This suggests that the first batch of Turkey’s KAAN fighter jets will likely use the same engines as the F-15.
The application to produce the GE-129 engines under license in Turkey follows an agreement between TUSAS Engine Industries (TEI) and GE Aerospace.
TEI, a joint venture between Turkish Aerospace Industries and GE Aerospace, along with other local partners, aims to ensure Turkey’s self-sufficiency in producing engines for both aircraft and missiles.
In addition to manufacturing GE-110 engines under license, TEI also produces engines for the T-70 helicopter (a local variant of the S-70) and the LHTEC engines used in TAI’s T129 ATAK attack helicopter.
Currently, TEI is developing its most powerful turbofan engine, the TEI-TF10000, an advanced variant of the earlier TEI-TF6000 engine, designed to provide 10,000 pounds of thrust.
The TEI-TF10000 engine is intended for use in the unmanned combat aircraft “Kizilelma,” developed by Turkey’s renowned drone manufacturer Baykar Technology, and is expected to operate from the country’s largest warship, the TCG Anadolu.
This engine serves as the foundation for developing domestic engines that will equip Turkey’s fifth-generation KAAN fighter jets. — DSA