For many years, the engine issue has been a big topic of discussion in Turkey. For this reason, it is among the most frequently asked and curious questions to us. Unlike our other news, we skip the introduction, development and conclusion part and share the answer directly. Yes, Turkey can make aircraft engines.
But if you are wondering how it is made, whether it is made under license or with original projects, in which aircraft or missiles it is used, and who is the leader in this field, we will also touch on these issues.
Turkey can make airplane engines!
Turkey has been trying to become a self-sufficient country in the defense industry for a long time, in other words, to meet its critical needs. In fact, this target dates back to its founding 99 years ago, even much earlier. But history is a different matter.
Currently, Turkey can manufacture both piston and jet engines with the great contributions of the private sector and technology transfers. Here, TEI (TUSAŞ Engine Industry), which is under the roof of TUSAŞ, comes to the fore. However, there are companies that have important and critical investments in this field, such as Kale Group.
The National Combat Aircraft will have the same power as the F-22, which the USA did not give to anyone!
TEI General Manager Prof. Dr. Mahmut Faruk Akşit said in a speech that the MMU (National Combat Aircraft) could have the strength of the F-22.
TEI is currently the shining star of the industry. Especially under the license agreement of General Electric’s F110 engine, which has been used in F-16s for many years. It carries out assembly, testing and repair activities from a to z. It can provide services not only in Turkey, but also in countries such as Oman and Saudi Arabia. In this context, we know that he has touched more than 325 F110s, so he has a great knowledge from this project.
Of course, there are more than one project like this. For example, General Electric Aviation’s T700-GE-701D engine, which powers many helicopters from AH-64 Apache helicopters to MH-60M Black Hawk, can be produced as T700-TEI-701D with its own configurations. In other words, it can go one step beyond assembly and do many things from spare parts production.
But as we have mentioned, these are works done under license. In addition to these, there are 10 different original and license rights, namely domestic and national engine projects. The most well-known among them is the ANKA and Bayraktar TB2 SİHAs (40+ units, the number is increasing) TEI-PD170 (Turbodiesel aviation engine).
To briefly mention the others, TEI-TS1400 (Turboshaft engine to be used in Gökbey helicopter), TEI-PD180ST, TEI-PD222ST (We will see in Anka-S, Akıncı, TB3, and Aksungur), TEI-TJ300 (Medium-range anti-ship missile engine), TEI-TJ90, TEI-PG50, TEI-PG50S, TEI-TP38 and TEI-TJ35 There are 10 projects in total. You can click here to review the related engines. In addition, let’s add the information that the KTJ-3200 turbojet engine developed by Kale will also be used in Atmaca and SOM missiles.
Some of these projects have been implemented and are now being used effectively in aircraft in the field. Some of them have come to the testing stage and are waiting for the assembly process. But apart from these, there are those who have not yet found resources or whose projects have been laid.
For example, TEI General Manager Prof. Dr. Mahmut Faruk Akşit said that they are at a level to develop an engine for the National Combat Aircraft that can produce the same power as the Pratt & Whitney F119 (F119-PW-100 variant) engine used in the F-22, that is, with a thrust of 35,000 pounds.
Of course, these types of projects can be done in at least 5 to 15 years rather than a year or two. Therefore, as expected, if the MMU leaves the hangar in 2023-24 and makes its first flight in 2025 and enters service between 2028-30, foreign engines will have to be used here.
Because no source has been given for the engine specified by Akşit and the team has not been established yet. In any case, this resource we are talking about is not something that can be transferred overnight. So much so that even US companies, which have been doing this for 50 years, sacrifice at least 2-3 billion dollars when they try to develop a new engine.
If we look at the Turkish case, we can clearly see that public and private companies can and do make engines. However, as we have mentioned, making an engine on a special order for a possible aircraft requires 5-10 years and billions of dollars in resources.
For this reason, we can say that the reason why there is no domestic engine in every project currently being developed, cannot be met in terms of both time (TSK’s urgent needs) and cost (Turkey’s economic situation). For this reason, it is much faster and more affordable to buy the engine from outside by producing non-engine parts with its production ready and established industry. However, as everyone knows, there is always a possible embargo as a result of this election.
What do you think about this subject? Don’t forget to share your views with us in the comments!