Tensions between Washington and Ankara escalated again in March 2019, when NATO Supreme Commander Gen. Curtis Scaparotti warned that if Turkey buys Russian S-400 anti-aircraft systems, the United States will not supply F-35 fighters and will be forced to consider a purchase ban. other military technologies. In addition to the concerns expressed about the joint operation of the S-400 complex in one bundle with American aircraft, Scaparotti also did not ignore the incompatibility of the Russian anti-aircraft complex with NATO systems. In response to the general's statement, Turkish President Erdogan said that the deal on the Russian S-400 complex had nothing to do with the Pentagon and should not in any way affect the purchase of F-35 fighters.
Since the launch of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 1999, Turkey has partnered with Lockheed Martin's Tier 3, resulting in a first plane delivery ceremony held in Texas in June 2018.
Turkey plans to purchase 100 F-35A aircraft (traditional version with conventional takeoff and landing) for its army, with the possibility of Turkish companies participating in their production, in particular, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) expects to receive orders for $ 12 billion. Fuselage components, air intake shrouds and external air-to-ground armament suspension are manufactured by TAI, rear shroud for Pratt & Whitney F135 engines, nickel and titanium discs, chassis, braking system and structural elements are manufactured by Alp Aviation, panoramic display in the cockpit and components missile remote control systems by Ayesa, fuselage and wing parts by Kale Aerospace and various parts for F135 engines by Kale Pratt & Whitney.
However, the sale of the F-35 to Turkey was postponed by the US Congress in August 2018 as part of the National Defense Powers Act, pending a Pentagon report assessing the necessary measures and the full cost of reducing the supply of F-35s to Turkey; the stalemate continues to this day.
Any delay in the acceptance of the F-35A into service would be a major concern for the Turkish Air Force, which is still recovering from the aftermath of a failed military coup in July 2016, which was backed by some Air Force officers while others came to the defense of the government. More than 200 officers, including a former chief of staff, and a large number of pilots were arrested and dismissed from service.
However, TAI, recently renamed Turkish Aerospace, is pursuing a number of ambitious military programs. At the top of this list is the TF-X program, officially known as National Combat Aircraft, which aims to replace F-16 fighters. The fifth generation TF-X fighter will have a maximum take-off weight of 27,215 kg, a length of 19 meters and a wingspan of 12 meters.
It will be equipped with two 90 kN afterburner turbojets. It is expected to have an operational range of over 1,100 km, a service ceiling of over 16,700 meters and a top speed of Mach 2. TAI said the TF-X is planned to be used with F-35A fighters, which were to be purchased by Turkey from the United States, adding that the TF-X is planned to be produced until 2070. According to Ankara's policy on local defense assets, TAI and its industrial partners are targeting the production of gliders with a small effective reflection area, TF-X engines, ammunition, situational awareness components with the function of fusion of signals from different sensors in Turkey.
In November 2018, the Turkish Minister of Defense said that TAI and the Ministry of Defense, in accordance with their commitments, should conduct the first flight tests of the TF-X prototype with a General Electric F110 engine in 2023, noting that this is the "main goal" of the Turkish government.
In January 2015, TAI and the Department of Defense awarded a BAE Systems contract worth over £ 100 million to help design the TF-X. Under a four-year contract, BAE is to provide TAI with 400 man-years of engineering advice and technical support. Upon completion, BAE is expected to receive another contract to support TF-X development in Turkey.
As for the TF-X turboprop engine program, the Turkish Ministry of Defense stressed that its options are still being considered. At the same time, the British government issued an export license to Turkey, allowing Rolls-Royce to cooperate with the private Turkish firm Kale Group, resulting in the creation of the joint venture TAEC Ucak Motor Sanayi AS in May 2017. Rolls-Royce planned to train 350 Turkish engineers and use Turkey's technical capabilities as part of the development process.
However, the Turkish Ministry of Defense has made it clear that Turkey will not depend on one country in the TF-X program, stating that “when you work with one company or when you depend on one country, you may face different problems at different stages of the project. . Turkey has also launched its own TF-X engine development program with the establishment of the TRMotor consortium, which may include foreign companies.
In December 2018, it was reported that Rolls-Royce and its partner Kale Group offered the Turkish government improved terms for the TF-X fighter program, although at the same time the British company confirmed that it was limiting its participation in the project. The disagreement between the two parties arose over issues related to the transfer of intellectual property, and although this was not confirmed by Rolls-Royce, they said that it is still involved in the project and is continuing to explore possibilities with its Turkish partner.
At the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow, TAI unveiled a mockup of its Hurjet single-engine trainer fighter. According to a TAI spokesman, the Hurjet is scheduled to make its maiden flight in 2022, with the first aircraft to enter service with the Turkish Air Force in 2025. In July, TAI, the Defense Procurement Authority and the Turkish Air Force signed an agreement for the Hurjet project to build five prototypes in two different configurations - the AJT (Advanced Jet Trainer) training fighter and the LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) light combat aircraft. TAI intends to create a fighter that develops a speed of Mach 1, 2, which will allow pilots to seamlessly transition from a turboprop fighter to a 5th generation fighter. The new Hurjets will replace the T-38 fleet that TAF renewed in 2011-2016.
The basic Hurkus-B turboprop trainer aircraft of TAI is equipped with a lightweight projection flight indicator LiteHUD from BAE Systems in the forward cockpit, multifunctional computer displays and Martin-Baker Mk T16N ejection seats. The Air Force ordered 15 of these. Turkish Aerospace is also developing a light assault / reconnaissance variant of the Hurkus-C, which is equipped with seven attachment points (three under each wing and one on the fuselage) capable of carrying an external load weighing up to 1500 kg. The aircraft can carry a 318 liter fuel tank with an external suspension. The armament complex includes Roketsan UMTAS / LUMTAS anti-tank missiles, Roketsan Cirit laser-guided 70-mm air-to-surface missiles, GBU-12 laser-guided bombs, MK.81 and MK.82 unguided bombs, BDU-33 training bombs and MK-106 and guidance kits HGK-3 INS / GPS and KGK-82 for universal bombs. The aircraft can also be armed with a 12.7mm machine gun and a 20mm machine gun.
Turkish Aerospace is actively involved in the design and manufacture of rotorcraft, including the T129 ATAK twin-engine twin-engine attack helicopter based on the AgustaWestland AW129 Mangusta. A total of 59 T129 aircraft were delivered, and in June 2018, Pakistan signed a $ 1.5 billion contract with TAI for the supply of 30 T129 ATAK attack helicopters. However, after the deterioration of relations between the United States and Turkey, the American Department of Defense refused the export license required for the T800-4A turboshaft engines for the T129, manufactured by LHTEC, a joint venture between Honeywell and Rolls-Royce.
In search of future export opportunities, Turkish Aerospace launched its T129 ATAK Brazil Roadshow at the largest defense exhibition in Latin America, LAAD 2019.
In February 2019, the Turkish Defense Procurement Authority signed a contract with Turkish Aerospace for the Heavy Class Attack Helicopter project. The Heavy Class Attack helicopter, designated T130 ATAK-2, will have two engines driving a five-bladed main rotor and an armored tandem cockpit for the pilot and gunner. It will be equipped with a modular avionics kit, which includes a four-axis autopilot and helmet-mounted displays for the crew. Turkish Aerospace will design and build an advanced attack helicopter capable of carrying a large target load, resistant to external factors and equipped with modern tracking and visualization systems, electronic countermeasures, navigation, communications and weapons. The Heavy Class Attack Helicopter, scheduled to take off in 2024, will be another project designed to play an important role in reducing the external dependence of the Turkish defense industry.
Tusa Engine Industries (TEI), a subsidiary of Turkish Aerospace, is spearheading the development of a 1400 hp turboshaft engine. for the ATAK-2 Heavy Class Attack Helicopter and the T-625 multipurpose helicopter, which made its first flight in September 2013. The new generation T625 helicopter weighing 6 tons with two engines, accommodating two crew members and 12 passengers, is designed for military, paramilitary and civilian missions. Its modern avionics, new transmission and propeller system allow the helicopter to excel in hot climates and high altitudes.
A 10-ton multi-role helicopter will also be developed in a military configuration with advanced avionics and functional systems, suitable for search and rescue and coastal operations. The helicopter is designed to meet wide operational requirements, it will have a large and high cockpit, aft ramp and retractable landing gear. The helicopter with a maximum speed of 170 knots and a flight range of 1000 km will be able to carry more than 20 people.
Turkish Aerospace is also actively developing unmanned aerial systems. Medium-altitude UAV ANKA with a long flight duration made its first flight in December 2004. The UAV is 8 meters long and has a wingspan of 17.3 meters and is equipped with a 155 hp engine. An initial order for 10 ANKA Block-B drones and 12 ground control stations has been delivered to the Turkish Air Force. In October 2013, Turkish Aerospace began a new project to create the next model, designated ANKA-S.
The ANKA-S drone is equipped with subsystems developed in the country, for example, the Aselsan CATS optoelectronic camera in addition to the ASELFUR 300T and SARPER systems. If the ANKA Block-B UAV, due to the Link Relay system, can have a flight range of more than 200 km, then the new ANKA-S version has satellite equipment that allows you to fly autonomously out of line of sight. Ground control station ANKA-S can control up to six UAVs simultaneously via Ku-band satellite communication channels with a bandwidth of 10 Mbit / s. Turkey's positioning system, national friend-or-foe system, MILSEC-3 radio communication with data encryption and radio relay communication have been integrated into the ANKA-S drone. Technical and flight training on the system supplied by the Turkish Air Force began in October 2017 and was successfully completed.
Despite political turmoil tearing the country apart, Turkey is preparing to significantly increase its defense budget for 2020, and one of the main beneficiaries will be Turkish Aerospace, which seeks to build on its success in the Turkish defense industry through the competent use of global and national experience.
