Will F-35 Technology Finds Its Way Into Turkey’s TF-X Fighter ? Turkish manufacturers are involved in building some 937 parts for the F-35, according to Pentagon. About 400 of those parts are sole-sourced in Turkey. Understanding F-35 technological production puts Turkish military industries on the fast track for their TF-X Fighter.
Within the scope of TF-X Program, Turkey will become one of the few countries to possess the necessary technologies, engineering infrastructure and production capabilities. Once the engineering activities on all the critical technologies are accomplished (e.g. increased situational awareness, sensor fusion, low observability, weapon bay, …etc), which are needed by a 5th generation (or beyond) jet fighter aircraft.
Pentagon spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell said Wednesday that the U.S. will continue working with Turkish companies producing some parts of F-35 jets until 2022.
Maxwell was quoted by Anadolu Agency (AA) as saying the companies would keep producing 139 components of the jets until 2022. “Our industry partners will carry out the continuing contracts,” she said, adding that the Pentagon was still looking for alternatives to Turkey.
A Defense Department spokesman, Lt. Col. Mike Andrews, was cited by Bloomberg on Tuesday as saying in a statement that a decision was made late last year “to honor existing contractual arrangements and accept delivery of parts that were already on contract.”
The goal is to “avoid costly, disruptive and wasteful contract terminations,” Andrews said.
Washington announced last July, when the first Russian S-400 defense system units arrived in Turkey, that it was suspending Ankara from the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth jet program and expected to “wind-down” Turkey’s involvement by March 2020.
The F-35 is an international program, with the aircraft itself being produced by multiple countries, including Turkey.
The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, under the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, earlier this month authorized the U.S. Air Force to utilize, modify and operate six Turkish F-35s that were manufactured but never delivered.
Despite the fact that Turkey has been emphasizing that the S-400 would not be integrated into NATO systems and therefore does not pose any threat to the alliance or its armaments, the U.S. has insisted that the Russian system is not compatible with weapons serving as part of NATO’s air-and-missile defense system.
Turkish companies manufacture over 900 parts for F-35
Ankara had planned to eventually acquire over 100 of the fifth-generation fighter jets and Turkish defense companies were heavily involved in the construction of the system, manufacturing critical components.
Turkish firms have been manufacturing hundreds of components of the jet, from its center fuselage and engine propulsion system to parts for cockpit display systems and landing gear.
Turkish manufacturers are involved in building some 937 parts for the F-35, according to Pentagon. About 400 of those parts are sole-sourced in Turkey – meaning there is no other partner manufacturing those parts. The Pentagon had said the contracts would have been worth around $9 billion over the course of the program.
Andrews was cited as saying that Turkish-made parts for the jet’s engine propulsion system included electronic wiring harnesses, compressor rotor hubs, bracket assemblies for harnesses, as well as seals for an air turbine.
Alternate sources “have been identified for all Turkish-made parts and will be utilized as the Turkish contracts lapse and material is delivered,” Andrews said.
The Bloomberg report also cited Lockheed Martin spokesman Brett Ashworth as saying that in line with the Department of Defense guidance, the company “continues moving away from Turkish suppliers” as “their existing contracts expire and fully qualified alternatives are identified.”
In its latest annual report, announced in May, the U.S. congressional watchdog, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), said the decision to expel Turkey from the program would be likely to compound already beleaguered supply chain issues.
The GAO said some suppliers had been struggling to meet increased production demands in 2019, and as a result, the program witnessed increased rates of late deliveries of parts due to shortages.
The watchdog said about 7,000 of its more than 10,000 airframe contractors’ “key processes” did not “meet predefined design standards for ensuring product quality,” and that it continued to face supply shortages that are likely to be exacerbated by Turkey’s removal.
The number of F-35 parts delivered late skyrocketed from less than 2,000 in August 2017 to upward of 10,000 in July 2019, according to GAO. The number of parts shortages per month also climbed from 875 in July 2018 to more than 8,000 in July 2019. It said over 60% of the shortages are caused by 20 suppliers.
Will F-35 Technology Finds Its Way Into Turkey’s 5th Generation TF-X Fighter ?
Turkish manufacturers are involved in building some 937 parts for the F-35, according to Pentagon. About 400 of those parts are sole-sourced in Turkey. Understanding F-35 technological production puts Turkish military industries on the fast track for their TF-X Fighter.
Within the scope of TF-X Program, Turkey will become one of the few countries to possess the necessary technologies, engineering infrastructure and production capabilities. Once the engineering activities on all the critical technologies are accomplished (e.g. increased situational awareness, sensor fusion, low observability, weapon bay, …etc), which are needed by a 5th generation (or beyond) jet fighter aircraft.
The TF-X indigenous design and development program prime contract between Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) of Ministry of Turkish National Defense and Turkish Aerospace.
Turkish Aerospace Industries is developing Turkey’s first fifth-generation fighter, The TAI TF-X (Turkish Fighter – Experimental) is set to combine the best of a stealth air-superiority fighter, with additional ground attack capabilities and an impressive array of sensors, cutting-edge radar, networked drone control and hypersonic missile capacity.
The full-scale mock-up of the aircraft was on display at the Paris Airshow in June 2019. The fifth-generation fighter jet will possess superior stealth and attack capabilities.
Potential partners or buyers for the fighter jet include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Kazakhstan, perhaps Iran ?
TAI TF-X design and features
The TF-X fifth-generation aircraft will integrate a stealth fuselage made of advanced carbon composites. Its aerodynamic design will further enhance the high-speed abilities of the aircraft.
TF-X is primarily designed to serve air-to-air combat requirements. Its sleek design and unique features will enable it to be used for air-to-surface roles too.
The 19m-long aircraft will have a wing span of 12m and wing area of 60m². Its maximum take-off weight (MTOW) will be 27,215kg.
The aircraft will offer high degree of situational awareness, advanced weapon systems, sensor fusion techniques and low observability. Interoperable capability with other fighter jets such as the F-35A will make it suitable for joint operations.
The preliminary design phase of the aircraft was concluded in December 2017.
Avionics on board fifth-generation Turkish fighter
The advanced avionics suite on board the aircraft will feature multiple displays, graphic interfaces, environmental data systems, digital maps and high-end interconnectivity devices.
Other features such as voice recognition, high-quality audio systems and synthetic vision will also be installed in the smart cockpit of TF-X.
The aircraft will feature an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar supplied by ASELSAN. The AESA radar in combination with the stealth fuselage will ensure superior stealth capability.
TAI TF-X fighter engines and performance
A joint venture was formed by Rolls-Royce and Kale Group to provide a domestically developed engine for the TF-X fighter jet programme. However, the deal was suspended due to uncertainties over technology transfer.
The aircraft will feature two engines with a thrust rating of more than 20,000lb each. The power-plant will enable the fighter jet to fly at a maximum altitude of 55,000ft.
The aircraft will have a maximum speed of Mach 2 and a combat radius of 600nmi.
Russia Offers Crucial Parts For Future Turkish TF-X Fighter Jet
Russia offered to supply critical parts of the TF-X, the future Turkish fighter jet while denying that an offer for the fifth-generation Su-57 was standing.
Discussing the potential procurement of another set of S-400 missile systems to equip a second regiment, Dmitry Shugayev, Director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, revealed that Moscow made an offer to supply several critical parts in the TF-X program, including the engines, avionics, onboard systems, and the airframe. “There are potentially interesting areas where we could provide technical assistance given our experience in the design and production of modern aircraft,” Shugayev announced on Turkish television channel Ekoturk.
