The new TF-X program will take Turkish aerospace to the next level, with the production of the first stealthy, fifth-generation air superiority fighter from a non-superpower. And it’s not just the airframes. The Turkish industries are capable of supplying a wide variety of munitions, sensors and critically, advanced active electronically scanned array radars. Stealth fighters are very expensive for smaller nations, but if the Turkish program can deliver fifth-generation fighters at something approximating fourth-generation prices, the global market will be enormous.
This may be changing. The surprising performance of Turkish Bayraktar drones used by Ukrainian forces in the current European conflict has caused many Western defense analysts to reconsider Turkish aerospace capabilities.
The Bayraktar TB-2 has been used extensively by Ukraine and is a piston engine pusher design using inverted V-tail in a largely carbon composite blended wing body structure. Operated by a crew of three—a pilot, payload operator and mission commander—the TB-2 uses a triple-redundant computerized flight control system, including an autonomous emergency auto landing system, and an inertial navigation system that is capable of navigation and auto-landing even if GPS signals are lost.
The drone has been used in the Ukrainian conflict for reconnaissance, strike missions and as a decoy as part of a larger strike package. Small and slow by military aircraft standards, TB-2s are vulnerable to modern guided missile air defense systems.
Faster and higher are obvious paths to survivability, and the company’s larger Akinci twin engine turboprop drone is capable of 40,000 foot altitudes with 24-hour loiter time. Eight weapon hard points can carry a total of 1,300 kg of ordinance. It’s a large drone, over five tons at takeoff weight. The unit is in service with the Turkish Armed Forces, carrying a variety of indigenously made munitions.
The Akinci can operate both in visual and beyond visual range and features both auto-land and auto-takeoff capability. This larger, heavier and more capable drone has not been sold to Ukraine, although the company notes that Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan are customers.
Why Turkish drones? For many nations, these UAVs have multiple advantages. Performance is comparable to products made by major Western aerospace companies, and the price is relatively low, approximately $5 million each for a TB-2. Turkey itself, although a NATO member, enjoys good relations with Russia and is considered by many potential customers a nonaligned state, making weapons purchases from Turkey palatable for nations wishing to avoid dependence on a major power.
But perhaps most importantly, the Turkish aerospace industry is capable of sensor integration, airframe development and critically, can deliver packages that include a wide array of munitions, from gravity bombs to guided missiles. The Turkish government has made defense technology a national priority, and the ability to deliver state-of-the-art platforms and integrated weapon systems is a time and cost saver compared to bespoke integration of weapons from one manufacturer with delivery systems from another.
Of course, in military aviation the highest profile measure of advanced technology is stealth. Turkish Aerospace Industries has begun ground tests of a stealthy, fifth-generation air superiority fighter called the TF–X. The capability for fabrication of radar absorbing fuselage structures at TAI was developed for Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program. The indigenous fighter will fly with General Electric F–110 engines initially, with development of a dedicated engine by a combined Turkish/Rolls-Royce team to follow.
It’s believed that a third engine choice from an undisclosed nation will be available, with some observers noting that both Europe and Russia have engine designs usable for fifth-generation air superiority fighters. Digital twins have been used extensively in the development program, and the aircraft is expected to super cruise, meaning it will be capable of sustained supersonic flight without use of the afterburner.
An indigenous active electronically scanned array radar is in development using gallium nitride technology. A full fit of electronic countermeasures, flare and chaff dispensers will be fitted. The aircraft uses an indigenously produced datalink to allow the aircraft to control accompanying drones, with a system that looks similar to the Boeing MQ-28 “loyal wingman” program.
The TF-X is designed for Turkish domestic use and it will likely be the first fifth-generation stealthy air superiority fighter to be available to international arms markets from a non-superpower. While no cost estimates are available at this time, a decade ago the estimated cost of restarting production of the similar Lockheed Martin F-22 resulted in projected flyaway costs of over $200 million per aircraft, resulting in program termination.
Stealth fighters are very expensive for smaller nations, but if the Turkish program can deliver fifth-generation fighters at something approximating fourth-generation prices, the global market will be enormous.
The Turkish aerospace industry is on a roll.
Access all episodes of This Week in Engineering on engineering.com TV along with all of our other series.
* * *
Episode Transcript:
This may be changing. The surprising performance of Turkish Bayraktar drones used by Ukrainian forces in the current European conflict has caused many Western defense analysts to reconsider Turkish aerospace capabilities.
The Bayraktar TB-2 has been used extensively by Ukraine and is a piston engine pusher design using inverted V-tail in a largely carbon composite blended wing body structure. Operated by a crew of three—a pilot, payload operator and mission commander—the TB-2 uses a triple-redundant computerized flight control system, including an autonomous emergency auto landing system, and an inertial navigation system that is capable of navigation and auto-landing even if GPS signals are lost.
The drone has been used in the Ukrainian conflict for reconnaissance, strike missions and as a decoy as part of a larger strike package. Small and slow by military aircraft standards, TB-2s are vulnerable to modern guided missile air defense systems.
Faster and higher are obvious paths to survivability, and the company’s larger Akinci twin engine turboprop drone is capable of 40,000 foot altitudes with 24-hour loiter time. Eight weapon hard points can carry a total of 1,300 kg of ordinance. It’s a large drone, over five tons at takeoff weight. The unit is in service with the Turkish Armed Forces, carrying a variety of indigenously made munitions.
The Akinci can operate both in visual and beyond visual range and features both auto-land and auto-takeoff capability. This larger, heavier and more capable drone has not been sold to Ukraine, although the company notes that Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan are customers.
Why Turkish drones? For many nations, these UAVs have multiple advantages. Performance is comparable to products made by major Western aerospace companies, and the price is relatively low, approximately $5 million each for a TB-2. Turkey itself, although a NATO member, enjoys good relations with Russia and is considered by many potential customers a nonaligned state, making weapons purchases from Turkey palatable for nations wishing to avoid dependence on a major power.
But perhaps most importantly, the Turkish aerospace industry is capable of sensor integration, airframe development and critically, can deliver packages that include a wide array of munitions, from gravity bombs to guided missiles. The Turkish government has made defense technology a national priority, and the ability to deliver state-of-the-art platforms and integrated weapon systems is a time and cost saver compared to bespoke integration of weapons from one manufacturer with delivery systems from another.
Of course, in military aviation the highest profile measure of advanced technology is stealth. Turkish Aerospace Industries has begun ground tests of a stealthy, fifth-generation air superiority fighter called the TF–X. The capability for fabrication of radar absorbing fuselage structures at TAI was developed for Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program. The indigenous fighter will fly with General Electric F–110 engines initially, with development of a dedicated engine by a combined Turkish/Rolls-Royce team to follow.
It’s believed that a third engine choice from an undisclosed nation will be available, with some observers noting that both Europe and Russia have engine designs usable for fifth-generation air superiority fighters. Digital twins have been used extensively in the development program, and the aircraft is expected to super cruise, meaning it will be capable of sustained supersonic flight without use of the afterburner.
An indigenous active electronically scanned array radar is in development using gallium nitride technology. A full fit of electronic countermeasures, flare and chaff dispensers will be fitted. The aircraft uses an indigenously produced datalink to allow the aircraft to control accompanying drones, with a system that looks similar to the Boeing MQ-28 “loyal wingman” program.
The TF-X is designed for Turkish domestic use and it will likely be the first fifth-generation stealthy air superiority fighter to be available to international arms markets from a non-superpower. While no cost estimates are available at this time, a decade ago the estimated cost of restarting production of the similar Lockheed Martin F-22 resulted in projected flyaway costs of over $200 million per aircraft, resulting in program termination.
Stealth fighters are very expensive for smaller nations, but if the Turkish program can deliver fifth-generation fighters at something approximating fourth-generation prices, the global market will be enormous.
The Turkish aerospace industry is on a roll.