Turkey Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
I mean we've already seen how small the engine was compared to the engine section of the plane. It is evident that this plane was designed with a larger diameter engine on mind which makes me suspect that instead of a twin engined Al-322f version, they will go for a single TF-6000 with an afterburner.
That remote control and operator is because it will act in a deep strike role initially. I mean c'mon, AI fighting real pilots in an A-A fight won't happen at least till 2030, and Baykar is planning to combine their works with a more capable aircraft, not with a one that only has a single Al-25TLT as the powerplant. This also gives them plenty of time to work on their AI.
The first version (Kızılelma-A) is only going to be deployed as an AAM truck/loyal wingman, a forward deployed sensor or as a deep strike platform.
Kyrgyzstan has bought the TB2, Akinci and Aksungur according to its president:
It would need AI to be efficient... controlled by an operator is pointless in AA role.
This might be where the gun is placed. But I doubt it because I can't see a maintenance door.
Way too small to be a gunport.
Serial production begins on the domestic 4 cilinder engine. It ran between 30.000-40.000 km in testing. Also the 6 cilinder 600hp engine has been further developed into "generation 2". Testing of it will begin soon.
• BMC Power will start mass production of 400 HP engine within 1 month
• Subcontractors completed material production
• Assembly and test work will be carried out in December
• Engines will be in Vuran 4x4 at the beginning of 2023
• BMC Power will start mass production of 400 HP engine within 1 month
• Subcontractors completed material production
• Assembly and test work will be carried out in December
• Engines will be in Vuran 4x4 at the beginning of 2023
Reading about the struggles of developing the WS-10 and Kaveri engines, and seeing how TEI is carefully avoiding all the problems encountered in these two engine programs, I have no doubts anymore abut TEI's capability to develop a suitable engine for the MMU.
Problems during the development of the WS-10:
TAI/TEI being aware of the problems of the Kaveri engine:
"Aviation means materials. For example, India has been trying to make engines for about 45 years. Finally they couldn't, they gave up. They even tried to get help from the French. They redesigned the engine. They said let's give it a billion euros. But they can't. This is because the engines are very heavy. They don't have material technologies, they couldn't make their software. Therefore, this is the plane they developed Tejas, but the engine they call kaveri could never meet that plane, despite the support of the French. Again, they had to go and install GE's 404 engine. That's why the work we do at TEI is very important."
TUSAŞ R&D Procurement Manager Ahmet Özşahin.
STM thinktank 2021, Page 135
Problems during the development of the WS-10:
TAI/TEI being aware of the problems of the Kaveri engine:
"Aviation means materials. For example, India has been trying to make engines for about 45 years. Finally they couldn't, they gave up. They even tried to get help from the French. They redesigned the engine. They said let's give it a billion euros. But they can't. This is because the engines are very heavy. They don't have material technologies, they couldn't make their software. Therefore, this is the plane they developed Tejas, but the engine they call kaveri could never meet that plane, despite the support of the French. Again, they had to go and install GE's 404 engine. That's why the work we do at TEI is very important."
TUSAŞ R&D Procurement Manager Ahmet Özşahin.
STM thinktank 2021, Page 135