Under the leadership of Ataturk, Turkiye began manufacturing aircraft in the 1920s. By the 1940s, Turkiye had a flourishing array of indigenous aircraft designs. Unfortunately, the arrival of the 1950s spelled the end of the Turkish aviation industry. The Marshall Plan and the admission into NATO caused irreparable harm to the progression of local aircraft programs and the Turkish defence industry at the time. All progress was gone. It was only in the 1970s that the Turkish defence industry restarted due to arms embargoes. Since then, each decade has been full of steady progress. In preparation for the hundredth year of the Republic, major Turkish defence projects have been hastened. This includes four jet-powered aircraft, three of which are purpose-built combat platforms.

Turkish Aerospace TFX

The TFX is a 5+ generation twin-engine stealth air superiority fighter that will eventually replace the F-16 as Turkiye’s primary fighter jet. Originally intended to accompany the F-35 in order to make up for the F-35’s drawbacks, the TFX is shaping up to be an F-22 on steroids. Preliminary specifications suggest that it may outperform both the F-22 and F-35, which is not surprising as the TFX will likely serve as the basis for a 6th gen fighter further down the line. The TFX is the largest of all 5th gen fighters, with a length of 21 metres. Its engine nozzles are wide apart in order to accommodate a sizeable rear-facing sensor package. This almost SU-57-like rear end is perhaps the most notable difference between the prototype and the concept mock-up. The TFX’s first flight has been pushed back from 2025 to 2023.

“The first flight was planned for 2025. Instead, it will fly at the end of 2023.”

CEO of Turkish Aerospace, Temel kotil

The TFX has a much larger nose than its rivals, which has led to speculations about its radar. Some have dubbed it a “stealth AWACS” due to the large radar housing, which could host 2000+ GaN T/R modules. Along with side and rear radar and a slew of other sensors, the TFX’s enormous frontal radar will give it an immense advantage in air-to-air combat.

Turkish Aerospace TİSU

The TİSU, codenamed Anka III, is perhaps one of the most elusive programs in the Turkish defence industry. Spotted years ago in an infographic, it was only officially revealed recently. It is an unmanned stealth flying-wing bomber.

Its flying-wing design and roof intakes mean that it is optimised for deep bombing missions. It prioritises stealth and internal payload capacity over manoeuvrability and speed.

With the advent of the KERKES project, Turkish drones can operate in GPS-denied airspace. This is important for the TİSU, as it can fulfil its role even against a force with advanced jamming capabilities. This would include predetermined high-value targets such as bunkers, command centres, hangars, ammunition depots and runways, along with dynamic targets such as tanks and air defence systems, which the AI could autonomously target.

The TİSU is expected to perform its first flight in March-April.

Baykar Kızılelma

Baykar’s Kizilelma is the first of its kind. This sleek aircraft bridges the gap between traditional fixed-wing drones and fighter aircraft. Once ready, it will be a carrier-capable stealth multirole unmanned fighter. Its design is geared towards high maneuverability with its canards, a departure from all other UCAVs. It’s clear that Baykar is betting big on AI with the Kizilelma, and it may just pay off in the end.

Having made its first flight on December 14, the Kizilelma represents not only a milestone for Baykar, but also a giant leap forward for the Turkish defence industry. Its maiden flight represents the dawn of the jet age for the Turkish military aviation industry.

The Kizilelma is expected to enter the inventory before 2025, essentially acting as a stop-gap fighter before the introduction of the TFX. Like the infamous TB2, the Kizilelma is a far cheaper alternative to manned combat aircraft. It offers some 5th gen fighter capabilities at a price lower than most 4th gen fighters. This presents a budget option for smaller militaries. More interestingly, it is a highly economical force multiplier for serious militaries. It can be unleashed upon an enemy airforce and act as a “sky terminator” which relentlessly hunts down enemy fighter jets in contested airspace. Such an attack by a group of Kizilelmas would send enemy fighters into disarray. Alternatively, the Kizilelma could be used for targeting helicopters, AEW&C, cargo planes and drones, allowing manned 5th gen fighters to focus on other fighter jets.

Conclusion

Turkish military aviation is advancing at a pace reminiscent of US-USSR aerospace competition in the Cold War. The sanctions, embargoes and removal from the F-35 program have only strengthened Turkiye’s defence industry. Thus it can be said that the Anti-Turkish lobbyists in Washington have shot themselves in the foot.

The post The sudden emergence of Turkiye’s jet-powered combat aircraft first appeared on DefenceHub.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between BDL (Bharat Dynamics Limited) and Dassault on the 20th of October 2022 concerning the integration onto the Rafale fighter aircraft of two significant platforms currently produced and further maturing within India.

The integration pertains to:

1) The Astra BVR (beyond visual range) missile. The current (mark 1) system has a range of 110 kilometres to complement its datalink and high probability kill active radar seeker. Future variants (mark 2 and mark 3) research and development are underway and will improve upon these features significantly.

2) The SAAW (Smart anti airfield weapon) munition. The current system has a circular error probable (CEP) accuracy of less than 7 metres aided by the GAGAN (GPS augmented navigation) network and its Infrared (IIR) seeker. Future variants such as the EO-SAAW are expected to improve these features significantly with CEP of < 3 metres and dual seeker with millimetre wave (MMW) imaging to complement IIR.

This integration (given what this would involve in joint intellectual property sharing and trust) establishes a new phase in Indo-French defence cooperation on the Rafale platform that commenced earlier with the “Indian specific enhancements” originally implemented that have now led to missile and munition integration from Indian defence industry. This was somewhat hazy till this MOU clarified French commitment on this matter.

It is likely that in future and as a result of this development, the ASTRA, SAAW and any other further weapon integrations and enhancements can be marketed to other Rafale users. This bodes well for the Indian government’s current strategic plan of “Make in India” with its goal to increase local defence production and exports. The future integration of the BrahMos-NG on the Rafale is one such possibility opened by this current integration program.

Of added benefit to both India and France would be the real time and new reference developed regarding the performance of these integrated systems with this particular Rafale combination that may hold a unique tactical dimension and its commensurate unique selling point to other Rafale customers.

India as a relatively new entrant with high ambition in the defence export market will likely benefit by leveraging upon the French defence ecosystem in this manner given the latter’s established, matured and proven networking in many markets of friendly countries that India seeks to sell to as well.

The post Integration of the Astra and SAAW on the Rafale first appeared on DefenceHub.

Revealed at SAHA Expo 2022, the RUAV-724 has some surprisingly impressive specifications and innovative features.

Powered by a turbojet engine, the sleek, cruise missile-like RUAV-724 can travel at a maximum speed of 1,000 km/h. This is significantly faster than current autonomous delivery vehicles and slightly faster than most cargo jets. It will have a cargo capacity of 150 kg. This makes it ideal for the rapid delivery of critical components or weapons. Its range is up to 2,500 km, meaning that it would be capable of resupplying missions deep into contested territory.

The RUAV-724 is capable of vertical take-off with an added booster. This enables deliveries to be dispatched from within tight spaces, such as city streets or naval vessels. This is similar to many kamikaze drones, which use a booster to take off before switching to their main engine. Sortie Cargo has emphasised that the RUAV-724 has an advanced braking system which eliminates the need for a long landing strip.

One of the key features of the RUAV-724 is that it can drop cargo with a parachute. This is a game changer for the resupply of special forces units that are deep in enemy territory or troops who need to be resupplied in rugged terrain. Due to the relatively low cost and the fact that there is no risk of losing pilots, this aircraft is perfect for light cargo delivery in dangerous airspace. It also opens up the possibility for new tactics. For instance, infiltration teams can enter hostile territory without weapons or other gear. When the time comes, they can be quickly and safely supplied by airdrops from the RUAV-724.

All in all, the RUAV-724 is an innovative concept. It combines the speed and appearance of a cruise missile with the reusability and autonomous features of a UAV, yet it functions as a small cargo aircraft. Italy has already signed a contract. The smaller Sortie Cargo RUAV-A has been successfully tested. Meanwhile, Turkey plans to host flight tests of the 6-metre RUAV-724 later in the year.

The post The RUAV-724 is a fascinating fast autonomous cargo concept first appeared on DefenceHub.

A tweet by Alex Hollings highlights the disparity between the F-35 and Su-57 production lines. In the top image, a single Su-57 can be seen in what appears to be a much slower production line. This indicates issues with parts supplies or funding. It also suggests that Russia may find the Su-57’s stealth capabilities unsatisfactory, thus making mass production risky. In comparison, the F-35 production line appears to be in full swing.

Russia may be giving up on the Su-57, instead focusing on its other 5th gen fighter, the Su-75 ‘Checkmate’. The Su-57, though more agile than the single-engine F-35, has a much higher radar cross-section and significantly less advanced electronics. It was essentially Russia’s attempt at making a competitor to the F-22. Meanwhile, the upcoming Su-75 is a single-engine fighter that is almost certainly a response to the F-35.

Russia seeks to emulate the F-35’s mass production with the introduction of the Su-75. Though the F-35 program had a range of hiccups, the United States is content with its “flying computer”. As the replacement for not only the F-16, but F/A-18, A-10 and others, the F-35 is the jack of all trades. Part of the reason for this is cost reduction. It is far cheaper to design a single aircraft capable of all missions rather than designing multiple specialised aircraft. As aircraft rely increasingly on their electronics, beyond-visual range weapons and stealth, the importance of other factors such as speed and agility have decreased.

Russia’s archic electronics won’t be sufficient in order to make the Su-75 a true competitor to the F-35. Despite declarations that local parts will be used, it is likely that Russia will pursue Chinese technology instead. As Russia will probably secure a deal for Chinese components, stealth would be the primary focus for Sukhoi.

Russia’s “artisinal” Su-57 lacks the stealth characteristics and advanced electronics typical of 5th gen fighters. Its low production numbers are a clear indication that Russia is aware of its weaknesses. Coupled with the fact that it is a twin-engine, therefore more expensive to produce and maintain, Russia will presumably double down on making the single-engine Su-75 the ‘saving grace’ of Russian military aviation.

The post What the F-35 and SU-57 production lines can tell us first appeared on DefenceHub.

Washington has long been reluctant to export its bleeding edge aircraft. The F-22 stealth air superiority fighter has an export ban placed on it. Similarly, strategic bombers such as the B-52, B-1 and B-2 have never been exported. Things then changed. Wanting to arm its allies for the next evolution of warfare, the US launched the Joint Strike Fighter program, which resulted in the F-35. By offering what was supposed to be an affordable stealth fighter, the United States not only expected to give their close allies 5th gen capabilities but also bring buyers further into the influence of Washington.

As a replacement for not only the F-16, but also the F-18, Harrier and others, the F-35 is the jack of all trades. Its range of features is impressive. It provides capabilities light years ahead of its predecessors. However, despite its versatility, it has its limitations. Limitations that Australia can’t ignore.

Without aerial refuelling, the F-35A has a reported combat radius of just over 1,090 kilometers (677 miles). This is more than enough for use in overseas coalition operations. However, it isn’t enough for a confrontation with China. Even when taking off from RAAF Base Darwin, the F-35 barely approaches one-quarter of the distance to China’s coastline before needing to turn back to base. Meaning aerial refuelling would be necessary to truly project power. Whether that’s north in support of regional allies, or out in the Pacific, where China is looking to expand its influence. Currently, there are no stealth tanker aircraft. This means a confrontation beyond the combat radius of the F-35 would be unnecessarily risky. Australia must be wary of the combat radius limitations and how it could effectively tie the hands of the RAAF in the worst-case scenario.

The B-21 makes up for the shortfalls of the F-35. It’s expected to have a combat radius of 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles). This is nearly five times that of the F-35A. To put things into perspective this is enough to reach the Chinese mainland and return back to Australia. This is also enough range to cover a significant portion of the Pacific. Furthermore, it can take advantage of Australia’s land size. In other words, it can cash in on strategic depth if the need arises.

There is also the aspect of payload. The B-21’s payload is unknown, though it would be close to that of the B-2. The B-2 has a payload limit of 18,000 kilograms (40,000 pounds). In contrast, the F-35A has an internal payload capacity of 2,600 kilograms (5,700 pounds). Though the F-35 can carry over 8,000 kilograms (18,000 pounds) when external hardpoints are used, it must be understood that this will significantly increase its radar cross-section. Even if the B-21 were to have half the payload capacity of the B-2, this would still be substantially higher than the F-35.

Australia recently ordered 200 AGM-158C LRASM stealthy long-range anti-ship cruise missiles as part of an extensive $270 billion overhaul. However, according to Lockheed Martin, these missiles cannot be carried internally by F-35s. On the other hand, the current B-2 can carry 16 LRASMs in its internal weapon bay. Meaning that a single B-2 is a threat to an entire carrier strike group. The HALO,  (Hypersonic Air-Launched Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare Missile), is Washington’s answer to Chinese and Russian hypersonic anti-ship missiles. It is expected to be ready by 2028. Like the LRASM, it’s highly unlikely that the F-35 will be able to carry it internally. Therefore, if the Royal Australian Air Force wants a platform that is a true deterrent over the oceans, the B-21 is a logical choice.

With the addition of B-21s, the RAAF’s F-35s will have less of a burden placed on them. F-35s will be better prepared for air superiority. That’s not to say that F-35s will be relegated purely to air-to-air missions, but B-21s would replace the F-35 for long-range, heavy strike or bombardment operations. This would ensure that F-35s don’t get overstretched.

In USAF Secretary Frank Kendall’s recent visit to Canberra, The Strategist enquired about the possibility of Australia joining the B-21 program. The response by Kendall was positive.

“I don’t think that there’s any fundamental limitation on the areas in which we can cooperate, if Australia had a requirement for long-range strike… then we’d be willing to have a conversation with them about that.”

USAF Secretary Frank Kendall to The Strategist

Overall, the B-21 would be an excellent addition to the RAAF. The cost of 12 B-21s would be less than $10 billion USD (not including bases, training and maintenance). The capabilities these aircraft would grant to the Australian Defence Force would far outweigh their cost, which is a small dent in the $270 billion defence overhaul budget. Critics must understand the B-21 is the best possible long-term investment for the ADF. The deployment of 4 USAF B-2s to Australia just weeks ago suggests just how crucial strategic bombers are for the defence of Australia. Australia’s unique geographical position coupled with the incoming storm to the north means Australia can no longer ignore long-range strike options.

This article was submitted to DefenceHub by an author who wishes to remain anonymous

The post Why Australia Needs The B-21 first appeared on DefenceHub.

More specifically, the lack of them. The ambitions of Turkey’s defence industry have been dashed because of engines. For instance, the Altay tank was supposed to be in service years ago. But due to an embargo by Germany, MTU was banned from selling its 1,500 horsepower engines to Turkey. With no other options, the Altay tank programme has been in limbo for years, now awaiting production with a South Korean engine. There is also a domestic engine in development.

The Altay situation has been the bane of Turkish defence enthusiasts. It raises concerns about the future of critical projects such as the TFX (Turkish 5th gen Fighter).

Meet the TEI-TF6000

The TEI-TF6000 is a turbofan engine with 6000 lbf of dry thrust. Meanwhile, a variant of it called the TEI-TF10000-A/B, will produce 10000 lbf of wet thrust with the aid of afterburners. The afterburner variant was quietly introduced on TEI’s website today. TEI has suggested that these engines and their derivatives could power a variety of platforms.

“The TEI-TF6000 Turbofan Engine and its derivatives to be developed from its core engine are available to be employed on various national platforms such as manned-unmanned warplanes, business jets, regional passenger planes, civil-military helicopters with 10-ton take-off weight, gunboats, and power plants.”

TEI Website

Indeed, the afterburner version could come in handy for Turkey’s fighter shortage. The Baykar Kizilelma is set to receive Ukrainian engines. The AI-25TLT for the subsonic MIUS-A, and the AI-322F for the supersonic MIUS-B. However, the situation in Ukraine raises doubt about this. Especially when considering that Russia targeted the Motor Sich factory. TEI’s afterburner version of the TEI-TF6000 could be used instead of the Motor Sich AI-322F, as it provides a similar amount of wet thrust. Meaning that it can power the supersonic MIUS-B.

Though there is no timeframe for its completion, it is known that it has been in development for at least two years. It is rumoured that TEI developed the TEI-TF6000 for its own drone (TEI is part of Turkish Aerospace), which is only known to the public from a single infographic. Though pure speculation, the lack of suitable applications for this engine (in its standard form) in Turkish Aerospace’s catalogue of vehicles suggests that this rumour could be true. Regardless, the TEI-TF6000 is the key to key to all gates for Turkey’s defence industry.

The post TEI-TF6000 Presents New Opportunities For Turkish Defence Industry first appeared on DefenceHub.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has hurt Russia’s ability to sell weapons, both due to questionable performance and the threat of US sanctions towards buyers.

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Among the most elusive projects of the Turkish defence industry, the Akbaba has been shrouded in mystery for years. Though little is known about it, more information has surfaced since the news of the firing tests. . According to İbrahim Sünnetci it will feature both a wideband passive radio frequency (RF) seeker and an active mechanically scanned RF seeker. Firing test footage exists, yet it is unavailable to the public.

Earlier this year the Kargi anti-radiation loitering munition was fully unveiled. Though both the Kargi and Akbaba serve a similar purpose, they are vastly different. The Kargi is a slow, truck-launched loitering munition with an extremely long range. Whereas the Akbaba is a supersonic anti-radiation air-to-ground missile. Both are designed to seek and destroy enemy radar but do so in distinct ways. Together with modified Simsek target drones, Cakir LIR (electronic warfare variant) and the JEMSAH supersonic decoy drone, the Akbaba and the Kargi will provide immense SEAD capabilities to the Turkish Armed Forces.

The post Turkey Test Fires Akbaba Ramjet-Powered Anti-Radiation Missile first appeared on DefenceHub.

The footage appears to show the Akinci-B, a more powerful model with two 750 hp engines. These are the first Akinci-Bs to enter the inventory. An even more powerful variant, with two 950 hp engines will be introduced further down the track.

Unlike the famed TB2, the Akinci has much bigger targets in mind. The Akinci is capable of carrying large bombs such as precision-guided variants of Mk-84, Mk-83 and Mk-82s, including SARB-83 and NEB-84 bunker busters. Furthermore, it is the first drone configured to launch cruise missiles. This essentially means that it is the first drone that poses a serious threat to naval ships. Akinci’s heavy attack capabilities mean that F-16 strikes will no longer be necessary for Turkey’s fight against PKK terrorism. It also means that Azerbaijan will not need to risk its SU-25s if fighting breaks out again, as Akinci drones can target bunkers which TB2s can’t.

Baykar has two more major UCAV projects already in the pipeline. The TB3, which often goes under the radar, will be a carrier-capable evolution of the TB2, with a higher payload and collapsable wings. It is overshadowed by the Kizilelma (golden apple in Old Turkic). The Kizilelma is a carrier-capable, high-subsonic/supersonic, highly maneuverable, low-observable UCAV that is being built from the ground up to be a capable air-to-air fighter. The Kizilelma, will not only propel the Turkish Air Force into the 5th gen fighter realm, but it will be the first drone of its type in the entire world.

The post Three More Akinci UCAVs Enter Turkish Air Force Inventory first appeared on DefenceHub.

The QFAB-250 LG is a guided bomb jointly developed by Azerbaijan and Turkey. A collaboration between the Scientific Research Institute of the Ministry of Defence Industry and Aselsan, the QFAB-250 LG is laser-guided and has a range of 12km. It was designed for use with Azerbaijan’s Su-25s. These bombs will hand heavy precision strike capabilities to Ukraine’s remaining fleet of SU-25s, eight of which have been confirmed to be destroyed.

Russia has been supplying Azerbaijan’s adversary Armenia for years, often free of charge. Together with recent ceasefire violations, it’s easy to see how Azerbaijan has been spurred to retaliate.

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