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TF-X Turkish Fighter & Trainer Aircraft Projects

In parallel with the hardware works for the National Combat Aircraft, one of the most important projects of the Turkish defense industry, a series of software studies are carried out under the leadership of HAVELSAN.

HAVELSAN has been supporting the project since the conceptual design studies started in 2011.

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For the MMU Development Project, the first National Combat Aircraft Directorate was established in HAVELSAN in 2020. In the same year, a cooperation protocol was signed with the project's executive Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ). This was followed by the General Conditions Agreement for the areas to be given engineering support. Then, HAVELSAN personnel began to be assigned to the MMU working groups created within the scope of the project.

HAVELSAN's role in the project increased with the MMU Engineering Simulator Visual System Contract and MMU STS Support Contract signed with TUSAŞ last year. HAVELSAN started to provide support in the preliminary design of Training and Simulation Systems, Logistics Information System, Ground Mission Planning System, Propulsion Integration, CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) Threat Detection, Platform Cyber Security technologies within the scope of these contracts.

The works to be carried out by HAVELSAN; It is expected to contribute positively to the project in terms of cost, schedule and performance in the fields of embedded training, engineering, pilot and aircraft maintenance simulator, software technologies, platform cyber security and informatics, logistics support infrastructure.

Software will fly first
5th generation and later aircraft and subsystem manufacturers use engineering simulators in the analysis, design and testing phases to make the right product cost-effectively. With these simulators, basic design decisions are made more accurately before ground and flight tests in the maturation of all flight critical systems. This makes the platform and system cost-effective.

Thanks to HAVELSAN Tactical Environment Simulation, it is possible for the pilot to conduct a simulated exercise in the air. Thanks to the engineering simulator, possible errors or requirements changes in the aircraft flight control and avionic mission systems to be developed can be detected at an early stage and necessary changes can be made.

Contract studies for the development, design and prototype unit production of functions for HAVELSAN's capabilities in the Integrated Communications Navigation Identification System Project within the scope of the MMU Program continue.

Cyber solutions to protect the "flying computer"
Another important need in the MMU Program will be to ensure the cyber security of the aircraft, which is described as a "flying computer". In this context, studies will be carried out to identify, analyze and prioritize security threats throughout the life cycle of the systems to be developed, to put forward the necessary measures to reduce the identified risks and to carry out the necessary activities.

For this purpose, besides determining the test, verification, analysis and simulation needs, cyber security needs will be met by taking into account the security of the software, hardware and communication environment to be used in the operational, maintenance and maintenance processes of the aircraft and its critical subsystems.

There will be no "back door" with the national system
Development studies continue for the use of the Real-Time Operating System, which was developed nationally for the reliable operation of critical technologies, in MMU.

Developed with the cooperation of HAVELSAN and TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, the system will allow minimizing external dependency in safety critical systems, preventing infiltration and interventions, establishing full control over the system, and preventing unauthorized use of system information with unknown "back doors".

 
550 major parts of the MMU are currently in the manufacturing process. Manufacturing of about 100 parts has been completed.


Some important details are remarkable,

As with Hürjet, there is a digital twin plan for MMU. Digital twin applications are very new in the world. Digital Twin, DEMİRKUŞ(Iron bird) infrastructure, which started with Hurjet, is one of the are that TAI is working on. Digital twin mean: It is an environment where the aircraft is directly on its hydraulic system, the flight control systems and computer are located, the electrical system is emulated, the landing gear works, and the critical systems of the aircraft are implemented on the ground tests with real equipment, before the real aircraft emerges."

Also, Deputy General Manager of MMU Dr. Uğur Zengin said: "In the F-35, we served a package solution including not only the body assembly but also the integration of the systems. We are actively using this team from F-35 at both Hurjet and MMU. There is a serious human resource trained within the scope of the F-35 project. Especially the experience of planning there we acquired is very beneficial. We think that, we were able to eliminate the many possibly future problems thanks to the experience gained from this project."

"A new computer with 50,000 cores will be installed to be used in CFT analysis."

MMU project facilities which construction activities are about to be completed include: Europe's second largest wind tunnel, lightning test facility, anechoic chambers for fully anti-reflective electromagnetic effect testing, new test facility for radar cross-sectional area analysis, and Turkey's largest structural test facility.

"MMU simulator will become active in the Engineering Center building in a few weeks. Our pilots will start flights in the simulator environment with real avionic screens in the real cockpit."

"MMU DEMİRKUS (Digital Twin), which will include all function tests including internal weapon stations, will become operational. While the pilots will perform a real flight in the simulation environment, real systems will be running in the background. We will be able to use the datas used in real telemetry stations."

"There will be about 50 test lines and laboratories of all sizes. All this infrastructure will be completed in a year or two. There will be too many units together, some of which are very rare in the world, such as the bird strike test facility, the fuel facility, which we have not mentioned here. There is no similar complex in the world where all these facilities and infrastructure are together."



@JamD @Bilal Khan (Quwa)
 
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According to the latest figures, there are 68 T-38s in the inventory. 55 of them took part in the ARI modernization program. 15 NF-5A/B 2000 are using by the Aerobatic Squadron. So only as an advanced trainer variant, a minimum order of around 80 seems certain in the long run.
 

Time: Near 15:30

Famaus "Iron Bird" test facilitiy. (For helicopters) The one for TFX is being built larger and more complex. Images of that facility will probably never be released.
 
550 major parts of the MMU are currently in the manufacturing process. Manufacturing of about 100 parts has been completed.


Some important details are remarkable,

As with Hürjet, there is a digital twin plan for MMU. Digital twin applications are very new in the world. Digital Twin, DEMİRKUŞ(Iron bird) infrastructure, which started with Hurjet, is one of the are that TAI is working on. Digital twin mean: It is an environment where the aircraft is directly on its hydraulic system, the flight control systems and computer are located, the electrical system is emulated, the landing gear works, and the critical systems of the aircraft are implemented on the ground tests with real equipment, before the real aircraft emerges."

Also, Deputy General Manager of MMU Dr. Uğur Zengin said: "In the F-35, we served a package solution including not only the body assembly but also the integration of the systems. We are actively using this team from F-35 at both Hurjet and MMU. There is a serious human resource trained within the scope of the F-35 project. Especially the experience of planning there we acquired is very beneficial. We think that, we were able to eliminate the many possibly future problems thanks to the experience gained from this project."

"A new computer with 50,000 cores will be installed to be used in CFT analysis."

MMU project facilities which construction activities are about to be completed include: Europe's second largest wind tunnel, lightning test facility, anechoic chambers for fully anti-reflective electromagnetic effect testing, new test facility for radar cross-sectional area analysis, and Turkey's largest structural test facility.

"MMU simulator will become active in the Engineering Center building in a few weeks. Our pilots will start flights in the simulator environment with real avionic screens in the real cockpit."

"MMU DEMİRKUS (Digital Twin), which will include all function tests including internal weapon stations, will become operational. While the pilots will perform a real flight in the simulation environment, real systems will be running in the background. We will be able to use the datas used in real telemetry stations."

"There will be about 50 test lines and laboratories of all sizes. All this infrastructure will be completed in a year or two. There will be too many units together, some of which are very rare in the world, such as the bird strike test facility, the fuel facility, which we have not mentioned here. There is no similar complex in the world where all these facilities and infrastructure are together."



@JamD @Bilal Khan (Quwa)
Gotta love the turkish brothers. You guys have done some tremendous advances past 20 years.

Turkey will have a home built stealth plane. Its just matter of time. America and Europe will also warm up relations with Turkey becos of the geopolitical situation today and coming years. It will benefit the MMU project.

Cant wait to see the first aircraft rolling out from hangar.
 
Gotta love the turkish brothers. You guys have done some tremendous advances past 20 years.

Turkey will have a home built stealth plane. Its just matter of time. America and Europe will also warm up relations with Turkey becos of the geopolitical situation today and coming years. It will benefit the MMU project.

Cant wait to see the first aircraft rolling out from hangar.
The main thing that excites us about the MMU project is not the jet itself; Infrastructure and capabilities being gained with this vision. A great revolution is taking place in Turkish aerospace. As long as this will can be preserve, sooner or later we will reach the goal. The target is the ability to conceptualize, design, verify and produce state-of-art jets that can compete with the aviation giants of the world, and Turkiye is also open to sharing this experience to its allies much more than all these traditional market leaders.
 
The main thing that excites us about the MMU project is not the jet itself; Infrastructure and capabilities being gained with this vision. A great revolution is taking place in Turkish aerospace.

I absolutly agree with you. It's not TFX that matters here. The important thing is to gain a high-tech business development culture, infrastructure and trained manpower.

Due to the cultural structure of the Turkish people, we carry out this through a defense industry product such as TFX. It's easier to motivate people that way.
 
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Turkish Aerospace to showcase a mockup of its fifth-generation fighter in Singapore​


Turkish Aerospace will attend Asia's biggest aviation event, the Singapore Airshow between February 15-18, 2022 and will display a life size model of its 5th generation fighter jet in Singapore for the first time.
Turkish Aerospace President and CEO Temel Kotil said: “We are excited to be part of the Singapore Airshow. It's important to be part of the Asian market in defence industry. We are making strategic decisions on a global scale to increase our business marketing activities both in the academic field and in production. We are working on new business models to develop relationships in the region. I believe it will strengthen us. In this scope, we will hold critical meetings in Singapore with military and civil area for further corporation.”
To recap, In 2021 Turkish Aerospace had a sales agreement of its ANKA UAV in the Asian market. In addition to the UAV sale, Turkish Aerospace‘s Advanced Jet Trainer and Light Attack Aircraft HÜRJET was also offered to Malaysia. Turkish Aerospace is expected to produce and manufacture 15 of them in Malaysia.
 
It looks like Kotil is going to sell Hurjet to Malaysia no matter what. Probably his 4th or 5th visit. I wouldn't be surprised if the jet's rollout ceremony is held in Malaysia.
tbh I suspect Kotil might be trying to enter Malaysia's semiconductor industry. The Hurjet could open up an offset vehicle that can allow Turkey to invest in some of those fab plants and, in turn, enable Aselsan, Havelsan, etc to build more expertise in those areas. @JamD
 
tbh I suspect Kotil might be trying to enter Malaysia's semiconductor industry. The Hurjet could open up an offset vehicle that can allow Turkey to invest in some of those fab plants and, in turn, enable Aselsan, Havelsan, etc to build more expertise in those areas. @JamD
Companies and aircraft that entered the tender:

1. Kemalak Systems in partnership with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI): FA 50
2. China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corp (CATIC): L-15
3. Leonardo: M-346
4. Hindustan Aeronautics: Tejas
5. Aerospace Technology Systems Corp. (Rosoboronexport): MiG-35
6. TAI: Hurjet
(Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder fighter jet was touted as the favorite for the LCA contract in Malaysia but did not participate in the tender)

Although the details were not fully disclosed, it was stated that the contract for a fleet of light fighter jets (18 aircraft) was worth approximately RM 4 billion (approximately 950-960 million dollars).

This tender is a real challenge for TAI/Hurjet, both in terms of cost control and the reputation and capacity of its competitors. If Hurjet is the winner of this tender, it will be born with a great success. And this reason alone has a more important strategic value than any of the other causes and possibilities.
 
Hurjet assembly line (12 February)
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I think some arrangements have been made to open source information management in projects. While they entered the production phase, authorities began to give more careful statements on project details and less footage sharing from inside the facilities.
 
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