TAI: We Are Working On Unmanned Fighter Aircraft

[T-SaGe]

TUSAŞ General Manager Kotil stated that they are working on unmanned aircraft technologies in addition to MMU(T-F), where artificial intelligence acts as a second pilot.

Temel Kotil, General Manager of Turkish Aviation and Space Industry Inc. (TUSAŞ), made statements about the ongoing projects they carried out in the Management Development Program (SAHA MBA) prepared by SAHA Istanbul for companies operating in the defense, aviation, and space sector.

Kotil stated that the company is carrying out 3 aircraft, 6 helicopters, 2 unmanned aerial vehicles, and 1 target aircraft project and that they are continuing their satellite projects. Kotil pointed out that their most important project is MMU and stated that besides 3000 TAI personnel for the project, 3000 personnel will be needed in other companies that will contribute to the project.

Explaining that there is only one pilot in the 5th generation aircraft and the artificial intelligence acts as the second pilot, Kotil emphasized that the MMU is a "more intelligent aircraft" with this feature. Kotil said that the plane will start the engine in 2023 and begin ground tests. He also added that he will fly in 2025, and deliveries to the Air Force will begin in 2028.

Pointing out that the engine of MMU will be developed by TR Motor, Kotil noted that they received the support of other companies in the development of the sub and side components of the engine. Kotil said, "Landing gear will be made by Italian and Turkish companies collaboration but the industrial rights will belong to Turkey. Air conditioning solutions will be developed and manufactured in Turkey. For the aircraft to become an MMU, It should belong to us."

Kotil stating that Turkey should bring quality, speed, and cost advantages together; and added, " our competitors are well aware that TAI has become a strong player in aviation."

Kotil made the following assessment: "If they give the license of the F-35, We can easily make 2 per month as TAI. The important thing is to have license and IP (intellectual property) rights. Otherwise, I can build the F-35 right now.

"We are trying to make MMU as local as possible from the very beginning. Because what you could originally buy, you may not be able to get it later. First, they say 'I give', then 'I don't'. We are trying to make MMU as local as possible from the very beginning. Everything must be local and national for it to be sold to friendly countries. We have no choice but to spread this over time, including the engine. " said.

Regional passenger plane

Pointing out that there is a need for a civil aircraft with a capacity of 60 passengers and low cost in the world, Kotil said, “TAI does not have the situation to do such a thing, because our workload is heavy enough.

We are working on the MMU, an aircraft between F-22 and F-35. We are making Hürjet, and Hürkuş also. We have helicopters and UAVs. Since we have such a load, nobody could say "Make a passenger plane" but such a plane is needed. You can leap with a plane like this in Turkey and other countries. "A composite 60-seat passenger plane which made of thermoplastic and new generation engines can easily disrupt the current market."

Unmanned Fighter Aircraft

Asked about whether they have an agenda to fly F-16s without a pilot, Kotil said, "We are not working primarily on flying F-16s without a pilot, but we are working this concept on other aircraft. F-16 jets are the backbone of the Turkish Air Force and our pilots are also among the most talented pilots in the world. "

Explaining that there will be no clear distinction between manned and unmanned aircraft, the two applications will be used together, Kotil said, “5. generation fighter jet will be an important instrument for the defense of the country."

Considerable size of physical infrastructure will be gained with the project and the training of 6000 aircraft engineers in the project will also be an important advantage. We want to make the MMU as a state-of-art fighter jet. The fact that it will be manned or unmanned is a very secondary issue. It already has artificial intelligence in it. When the pilot faints, the plane can return to its base with AI, for example."

Temel Kotil emphasized that they can give everything, outside the concept design of the aircraft, and that they expect the partner countries and companies that take responsibility to focus on this and continue this in a long-term manner.

Kotil also evaluated the growth in the Company and said, "Turkey is playing to the great targets in the defense industry, and TAI also transforming parallel to it," he said.

TUSAŞ İnsansız Savaş Uçağı üzerinde çalışıyor

TUSAŞ Genel Müdürü Kotil, yapay zekanın ikinci bir pilot gibi görev yaptığı MMU yanında insansız uçak teknolojileri konusunda çalışmalar yaptıklarını belirtti.

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