They Built a Jet Fighter Jet but Why they Failed to Create a World-Class Automobile Brand
The only countries with indigenous jet fighter aircraft and jet engine designs and productions are the USA, Russia and France. Chinese jet fighters and especially jet engines are based on Russian systems. They have very few original designs.
Which countries have both indigenous jet fighter aircraft and indigenous jet engine designs and production?
The only countries in the world that can produce both the jet fighter jet and its jet engine on their own are the USA, Russia, France and China.
The only countries with indigenous jet fighter aircraft and jet engine designs and productions are the USA, Russia and France. Chinese jet fighters and especially jet engines are based on Russian systems. They have very few original designs.
The countries that have both original jet fighter aircraft and jet fighter aircraft engines, as well as automobile brands that are recognized and purchased worldwide are the USA and France;
USA and France. In the era of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation jet fighters, we can include the UK among the countries that also produced and sold automobiles to the world (e.g. British Electric/BAC Lightning, Hawker Siddeley Harrier V/STOL, Hawker Siddeley/BAE Hawk projects). However, in the following years, the UK abandoned the indigenous jet fighter design and preferred to form a consortium with several European participating countries in this field (e.g. Sepecat Jaguar, Tornado, Eurofighter projects). It continues to design its own jet engine with Rolls Royce.
So what are the world's automotive giants and their vehicle brands?
The Criteria Determined for the Phenomenon Meant by the Automobile Brand are as follows:
The brand will have high worldwide recognition.
The brand will be known and used not only in the country of creation but also in other countries. In other words, it will be exported.
The company that designs and produces the Brand will be among the top 10 in the world in terms of annual revenue.
In this context, the largest automotive group in the world is the VW Group. The brands that have been included in this group from the beginning or later are JETTA, VW, Audi, Skoda, SEAT, Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Skoda/VW, Scania (TRATON), Scania (TRATON)-Peter, MAN (TRATON), MAN/Scania (TRATON), Neoplan, ERF.
Some of the brands in this group, such as Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti, were much higher prestige, recognition, appeal, ergonomic, luxury, high price than Volkswagen in performance cars, but they had to come under the roof of VW in order to survive.
Similarly, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, Stellantis, GM Group, Ford Group have gathered many world-renowned European, North American and Japanese automobile brands under their roofs, aiming to strengthen their positions in global competition.
So which countries have designed and produced both jet fighter jets and jet engines as well as globally recognized automobile brands?
Today, only the USA and France fall into this category. In the era of 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation jet fighters, we can also include the UK.
What Systems Determine the Configuration of an Aircraft?
An airplane is a complex machine that utilizes the application of multidisciplinary engineering sciences. The major engineering groups can be represented as follows:
a. Aerodynamics and flight mechanics, which determine the shape, configuration and control method/system of the aircraft
b. Fuselage structure (fuselage, wings, vertical and horizontal tail planes and control surfaces)
c. Mechanical system (hydraulic, pneumatic, landing gear, fuel and flight control systems)
d. Engine/drive (power) system
e. Electrical system (electric power generation, distribution and emergency power)
f. Avionics (communications, navigation, weapon aiming, displays and warnings, and auxiliary systems management) and instrumentation
g. Environmental systems (air conditioning, life support and cabin pressurization systems)
h. Weapon system (for military aircraft)
i. Air outlet (ejection) system/Canopy-chair launching system
j. Software (embedded and operational software)
What are the Basic Capabilities Expected from a Jet Fighter?
A. Performance
- Speed
- Maneuverability
- Cargo (fuel, ammunition)
- Range
B. Operational supportability
- Fuel consumption
- Sustainability
- Durability
- Reliability
- Maintainability, repairability
- Maintainability
C. Survival
- Ballistic impact resistance
- Explosion resistance
- Damage tolerance
- Observability
Do most of the scientific disciplines and required capabilities used above for airplanes and jet fighters also apply to automobiles?
Yes, they do. Moreover, many additional science and social science criteria such as system ergonomics, artistic appearance, brand recognition, the purchasing power it appeals to, the prestige it provides, the driving pleasure it provides, etc. come into play.
Moreover, not only in airplanes and automobiles, but also in every platform that flies, swims and walks in the air, land and sea, both robustness and lightness are the leading and most important features. If your airplane is light, it will be fast, carry a lot of cargo, carry many passengers, be economical, and have high maneuverability. Similar features are also sought in automobiles. Since the mid-90s, Ferrari performance cars have been manufactured with over 90% aluminum and composite materials.
What about the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, known as the "plastic airplane", which consists of 50% polymer matrix composites and 20% aluminum? The same is true for the Airbus A350-900.
As can be seen, the following materials are generally prominent in civilian or military jet fighters:
Aluminum alloys
Carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP-Carbon fiber reinforced polymer)
Glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP-Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer)
Titanium alloys
Steel alloys
Niobium and tantalum alloys
Iron-nickel-chromium alloys
Iron alloys
Nickel alloys
Chrome alloys
Molybdenum, found mainly in titanium, iron-nickel-chromium and steel alloys, has the highest impact and therefore the lowest long-term availability compared to the other sources of the aircraft.
What about the Jet Engine (Gas Turbine/Response Engine), which is considered to be even more difficult to manufacture than the Jet Fighter, if not to design?
In general, the engine is the structure with the most materials facing challenges (high temperature, stress, corrosion, resistance, etc.). In its construction, it also requires materials that are resistant to these challenges. The main materials used extensively in the manufacture of jet engines are listed below.
Aluminum alloys
Carbon fiber composites (CFRP)
Glass fiber composites (GFRP)
Titanium alloys
Steel alloys
Niobium and tantalum alloys
Iron-nickel-chromium alloys
Iron alloys
Nickel alloys
Chrome alloys
Among these materials, Tantalum (Ta) is a rare metal with unique properties. When alloyed with some other metals, it produces superalloys, high-performance alloys that allow engines to operate at higher temperatures, making them more efficient and helping to reduce both fuel costs and emissions. Superalloys have unique properties that make them essential for the hot section of gas turbine engines in commercial and military aircraft: very high melting temperatures, high strength and significant resistance to wear in corrosive and oxidizing environments.
Materials science and industry are of high importance in jet engines. Almost all of them are composed of alloy materials. Therefore, they all have a unique formulation. They are not standard materials. It requires intensive, deep-rooted and continuous materials knowledge and experience.
Conclusion
Why did they build jet fighters and jet engines, but why couldn't they create world-class automobile brands?
The most accurate address to this question is Russia. Lada cannot be considered a world-class brand with the characteristics listed above. Nor can we say that it is only because of Russia's competitors with high economic and strategic power, and we cannot even consider France as Russia's rival in this category. The question is actually this? Why hasn't Russia succeeded where the US has failed?
Okay, during the Cold War, Russia focused all its efforts on armament. But both its own population and the population of the Soviet geography could have made Lada a brand that at least offered Hummer-style robustness, durability but also artistic aesthetics. It would have been much more economical than its competitors and would have been in demand around the world.
Moreover, the materials used in automobiles and the materials used in aircraft and jet engines belong to the same range. Russia had deep-rooted industrial knowledge, skills and capabilities, perhaps not in polymers and composites, but in metallurgy. However, Russia realized too late that neglecting the automobile was also holding it back in the aircraft and especially civilian aircraft sector, and that it was lagging behind the United States in building robust yet efficient jet fighters and jet engines. Electronics and software should be added to this, but it is difficult to understand how a country that can design and build land-air-sea radar systems and aircraft electronics (avionics) can fall behind in electronics and software.
Countries such as Germany, the UK and Italy, which have created great automobile brands and automobiles and derived macro-level economic gains and worldwide prestige from this product line, could have built both airplanes and jet engines on their own, but they preferred to establish project partnerships and reduce both design and production and lifetime maintenance costs.
Sweden, which designed and built the Saab 35 Draken, Volvo Flygmotor RM 6C turbojet, Saab 37 Viggen, Volvo RM8 Turbofan, both jet aircraft and jet engines, also achieved export success with these aircraft. Moreover, they created the Volvo and Scania brands, which are famous and popular worldwide for their durability. But for some reason, they preferred the American GE F414-GE-39E Turbofan engine in the 4th generation jet fighter aircraft, the Saab JAS 39 Gripen. They also achieved some export success, but the country, which designed and produced its own jet fighter and jet engine during the third jet fighter jet generation, tied itself to the USA in terms of engines in the fourth jet fighter jet generation. Moreover, it sold the Volvo automobile brand first to the American Ford Group and then to the Chinese Geely Group. The Scania automobile and heavy vehicle brand was also sold to the VW Group.
Japan could have achieved the same success, but they too chose to bow to the pressures imposed on them by the US and waited for the appropriate conjuncture.
China now has very strong automotive companies, but has not yet been able to create world-class brand(s).
Industries with strong automotive design and production infrastructure also have a great advantage in building air, land and naval platforms and their engines. Countries with a strong automotive industry can also lay the groundwork for a strong aircraft industry.
Additional Readings
Which Countries Produce Jet Fighters and Engines?
1. USA - F-16, F/A-18, F-15, F-35, F-22; Jet engines are also produced by the USA.
Russia - MiG-29, Su-27, Su-30, Su-30, Su-35, Su-57; Russia also produces jet engines.
3. China - J-10, J-11, J-15, J-16, J-31, J-20; Jet engines are produced by China. However, they are developed based on Russian engines.
4. European Consortium (United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain) - Eurofighter Typhoon; Germany produces the jet engines.
5. France - Dassault Rafale; France produces the jet engines.
6. Sweden - Saab Gripen; jet engines are produced by the USA.
7. India - HAL Tejas, Su-30MKI (under license); jet engines are produced by the US and Russia.
8. Pakistan (together with China) - PAC JF-17 Thunder/CAC FC-1 Xiaolong; Jet engines manufactured by Russia.
9. South Korea - KAI T-50 Golden Eagle, KAI KF-21 Boramae; Jet engines are manufactured by the US.
Taiwan - AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo, Jet engines are manufactured by the US.
11. Israel - IAI Kfir (based on the French Dassault Mirage 5); Jet engines are produced by the USA.
12. Japan - Mitsubishi F-2 (based on the F-16); Jet engines are produced by the USA.
13. Iran - Some jets derived from old US-made jets
14. South Africa - Atlas Cheetah (based on IAI Kfir); Jet engine manufactured by France.
15. Czech Republic - Aero L-159; Jet engine manufactured by the USA.
The world's automotive giants and their vehicle brands:
Criteria
1. The brand will have high global recognition.
2. The brand will be known and used not only in the country of creation but also in other countries. In other words, it will be exported.
3. The company that designs and produces the brand will be among the top 10 in the world in terms of annual revenue.
According to MARKLINES Automotive Industrial Portal, the world's 20 automotive companies that meet the above criteria and the brands belonging to these companies are listed below.
https://www.marklines.com/en/vehicle_production/search?mode=1
Brands
1. VW Group
JETTA, VW, Audi, Skoda, SEAT, Porsche (2013-), Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Skoda/VW, Scania (TRATON), Scania (TRATON)-Peter, MAN (TRATON), MAN/Scania (TRATON), Neoplan, ERF
2nd Toyota Group
Toyota, Daihatsu, Lexus, Hino, Scion, Toyota/Hino
3. Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi 2030 Alliance
The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, originally known as the Renault-Nissan Alliance, is a Franco-Japanese strategic alliance between automakers Renault (based in Boulogne-Billancourt, France), Nissan (based in Yokohama, Japan) and Mitsubishi Motors (based in Tokyo, Japan), together selling more than 1 in 9 vehicles worldwide.
Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi-Fuso (2003), Renault, Dacia, LADA (2015-), Venucia, Renault Samsung (-2021), Renault Korea, Datsun, Avtoframos, UD Trucks (-2007), Alpine, Izh-Avto
4. Stellantis
It was formed by the merger of the French Groupe PSA and the Italian-American Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
Fiat (2021-), Jeep (2021-), Dodge (2021-),Ram (2021-),Chrysler (2021-),Alfa Romeo (2021-),Lancia (2021-) Maserati (2021-), Peugeot (2021-), Citroen (2021-), Opel (2021-), DS (2021-)
5. GM Group
Chevrolet, Buick, BrightDrop, Opel (-2017), GMC, Baojun, Vauxhall (-2017), Cadillac, Holden, Alpheon, Chevrolet/Daewoo, Daewoo, Daewoo-FSO, Damas, GM, Holden, Hummer, IBC, Labo, Oldsmobile, Opel/Chevrolet (-2017), Opel/Vauxhall (-2017), Pontiac, Saab (-2009), Saturn, Cruise, Wuling
6. Hyundai Kia Automotive Group
Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Hyundai-Kia, Dongfeng Yueda Kia Motors, Horki, Shouwang
7. Ford Group
Ford, Lincoln, Aston Martin (-2007), Jaguar (-2007), Land Rover (-2007), Mercury, Volvo Cars (-2010), Troller
8. Honda
Honda, Acura, Everus, CIIMO
9. Tesla
Tesla
10. FCA
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
Italian-American automotive company.
Fiat (-2020), Jeep (2009-20), Dodge (2009-20), Ram (-2020), Chrysler (2009-20), Alfa Romeo (-2020), Ferrari (-2020), Lancia (-2020), Maserati (-2020)
11. PSA Group
PSA is the 2nd largest car manufacturer in Europe. Its name stands for Peugeot Société Anonyme. It also includes Panhard et Levassor, which produces military vehicles.
Fiat (-2020), Jeep (2009-20), Dodge (2009-20), Ram (-2020), Chrysler (2009-20), Alfa Romeo (-2020), Ferrari (-2020), Lancia (-2020), Maserati (-2020)
12. Suzuki
Suzuki
13. Mercedes-Benz Group
Mercedes-Benz (2022-) smart (2022-) Denza (2022-)
14. Daimler Group (-2021)
Mercedes-Benz (-2021), Freightliner (-2021), Smart (-2021), Mitsubishi Fuso (2004-21), Evobus (-2021), Freightliner/Sterling/Western Star Maybach (-2021), Sterling Trucks Western Star (-2021), Denza (-2021)
15. Daimler Truck Group (2022-)
Daimler Truck (2022-), Mitsubishi Fuso (2022-)
16. BMW Group
BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, Zinoro
17. Mazda
Mazda
18. Geely Holding Group
Volvo Cars (2011-), Geely, Geometry, Emgrand, Gleagle, KANDI, Englon, Geely/Emgrand, Geely/Englon, Geely/Englon/Emgrand, Geely Sichuan Commercial Vehicle, Livan Automotive, Maple, ZD, ZEEKR, Jiangxi Geely New Energy Commercial Vehicles, LTI, LYNK & CO, Lotus (2017-)
19th Mitsubishi (3rd was Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance)
20. Subaru
Subaru
References:
1. Jet Fighter Development/Jet Fighter Generations, STRASAM, Center for Strategic Studies
2. According to MARKLINES Automotive Industrial Portal, the world's 20 automotive companies and their brands that meet the above criteria.
https://www.marklines.com/en/vehicle_production/search?mode=1
3. Assessment of Critical Resource Use in Aircraft Manufacturing, Published on: March 1, 2022
4. Aircraft Design, Ajoy Kumar Kundu, Cambridge Aerospace Series
5. National Research Council 1993. Materials Research Agenda for the Automobile and Aircraft Industries. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
