Turkey's jet engine production has been a great success!
Currently the most complex and sensitive technology in the aviation sector is jet engine design and manufacturing. Currently, around 12 to 15 countries around the world design and manufacture military and civilian aircraft, helicopters, missiles, combat and non-combat drones, but in reality, only 6 countries are able to produce jet engines of their own technology. Which includes the names of countries like USA, UK, France, Russia, China and Ukraine.
Although rich in technology, countries like Japan and Germany have not yet come forward in designing and manufacturing highly advanced jet engines. However, Germany invented or built the first fighter aircraft powered by a jet engine during World War II. But this time, Türkiye has written its own name in jet engine production by surprising the whole world. And the country has shown remarkable success in this important technology recently.
Türkiye has been trying to reduce its dependence on the Western world for its jet engines for almost a decade, and to develop dedicated engines of its own technology. As a result of which, this time they have been able to produce engines suitable for use in several series of warplanes and helicopters of their own technology. It is believed that in the age of modern technology, it is a much more difficult task to develop a jet engine that is better than rockets and atomic bombs.
In fact, a few years ago, when Russia wanted to hand over jet engine manufacturing technology to Turkey, Türkiye refused to do so. They continued to conduct extensive research into developing their own technology for turbofan and turboshaft jet engines, largely in silence, with the help of the UK and Ukraine. However, despite success in making engines suitable for drones, missiles and helicopters, the country is still at the very initial stage of development in designing jet engines suitable for use in fighter aircraft.
On the other hand, since the last two decades, China has been able to produce its own low-quality or series of WS-10/13/15 series engines, even though it has copied the jet engine clones of Russia and Ukraine or grabbed the technology. And China is still spending billions of dollars designing and modernizing high-tech jet engines. Meanwhile, India has been trying hard to develop jet engines of its own technology for several decades, but they have not yet seen the light of day.
After coming to power, Turkey's Erdogan government began to systematically develop its own defense industry over the past two decades. As a result, the country began to develop a series of dedicated engines suitable for use in military vehicles, tanks and helicopters, and they have already achieved great success in this work. In addition to this, the country is currently conducting experimental development and research with several other models of high-tech engines. Which may have to wait a few more years to come into service.
Currently, one of the engines produced at Turkey's Defense Industrial Hub is the 400 horsepower Tuna engine manufactured by BMC Power. This type of engine is commonly used in military armored vehicles. In addition to this, currently the PD-170 light engine manufactured by Tarkis Aerospace Company is used in the Anka, Aksungur and Bayraktar TB-3 highly advanced combat drones. Again, the PG-50 series small engine made by the same company is used in the 'Kargu' autonomous suicidal drone.
The TS-1400 series highly advanced turboshaft engine of Turkis Aerospace Company's own design has recently been successfully used in Turkey's 'Gokbe' helicopter. Moreover, the country got great success by using the same turboshaft engine made by them in attack helicopters. And the country is now researching 2 series of TF-6000 and TF-10000 after turbofan (prototype) engines suitable for use in warplanes made of its own technology. Although it is currently in the experimental stage, it may come into service around 2026.
Another engine manufacturing company in Turkey, Kale Arge, designs and manufactures the KTG-3200/3700 series of engines suitable for use in cruise missiles of its own technology. Which is used in 'Atmaka' and Stand Off Cruise Missile (SOM). Again, the KTG-1750 series jet engine made by the same company is being used in short range 'Chakir' missiles. The maximum range of 275 kg 'Chakir' cruise missile made by Rocketsun company is 150 km.
Sources: The Daily Sabah, The Eurasian Times, Wikipedia.
Sherazur Rahman, teacher and writer, Singra, Natore, Bangladesh. sherazbd@gmail.com
