First Prototype of MMU TF-X Enters Final Assembly Line

The first prototype aircraft of MMU TF-X entered the final assembly line. An important milestone has been passed in the MMU TF-X Project, and we wish it all the best. We have seen the artistic images of our national fighter jet before, we saw its mock-up a few years ago, but now, when you look at its prototype, you can physically see and feel the aircraft. The front and rear fuselages and wings of the aircraft are in front of your eyes, you can feel the wings, spars and other structural elements. In fact, I can say that it looks more imposing and at the same time more "sleek" than the pictures and the mock-up. Obviously, the aerodynamic design of the MMU TF-X is at a level that will make airplane enthusiasts happy.

MMU TF-X will have a total of 3 prototypes, the first of which will be completed shortly, with a possible factory rollout date of March 2023. The factory rollout ceremonies of almost every aircraft will be very spectacular, probably the same for our national aircraft. Afterwards, this prototype will move on to the long, arduous, yet critical and important phase of "Test and Evaluation". Other prototypes will follow this first prototype.

TO ELABORATE A BIT ON THE PROJECT SCHEDULE OF MMU TF-X:

According to the open source information of the Turkish Air Force, which is the Final Customer; if we review the MMU TF-X Project in outline;

2018-2040 Project Period. 

In other words, the project will be completed in the 22-year period from the design phase to the completion of serial production. Of course, until the system is taken out of service, which is estimated to be until 2070, the "Technical Coordination Group" will be established between the Turkish Air Force and TAI within the scope of Maintenance and Sustainment; 

"Technical Coordination Group", 

"Field Engineering Support" agreements are necessary and will be signed. The technical personnel of both the Air Force and TAI working together in this process will bring tremendous knowledge and experience to our country's aircraft sustainment and maintenance culture.

2018:

"T0" (Time Zero, Time Zero, i.e. the start of the project), the Initial Conditions Period. In short, we can consider 2018 as the start of the project.

2018-2022, Phase-1 Phase-1 Period:

2018 is the date when the initial conditions called T0 of MMU TF-X were fulfilled. In fact, in 2018, the Phase-0 Phase was switched to the Phase-1 Phase, and within the scope of Phase-1 Phase-1, the preliminary design activities of the TF-X will be carried out between 2018 and 2022. So within this scope;

A. Pre-Program

Determining the design that meets the requirements of the fourth++ and fifth generation jet fighter

Preparation and execution of Technology research programs and Technology work programs

Restructuring of programs

The follow-up and evaluation and assessment phases were completed in 2018.

B. System Requirements

Air Force requirements

Purchase plan

Requirements or system characteristics/operational concepts/threats

System capability requirements/capability gap

Feasibility study/project scope

Project description/tender or request for information

Budget

C. Research and Design

Research, demonstration and verification

Procurement strategy

Develop conceptual performance targets

Project analysis

System/technology integration plan

Risk assessment

Completion, acceptance and approval of the contract

Award of the contract to TAI

Delivery projection

Life cycle costs

Technology development phases are being carried out.

To summarize, system requirements review (SRR, System Requirements Review) is currently being carried out within the scope of preliminary design activities. Following the SRR, it is aimed to complete the system functionality review (SFR, System Functionality Review) and the preliminary design review activities in 2022. Thus, preliminary design activities will be completed this year.

The production of the first three prototype aircraft, which are among the important and critical activities within this scope, started in September 2022, and the first prototype entered the final assembly line in December 2022. Factory exit is planned for March 2023.

Phase-1 in Phase-1;

Development and Demonstration

Systems integration

Front and final design

Model simulation

Development of prototypes and pilot models

Prototype testing and evaluation

Design modifications

Design changes

Performance criteria

Final approval and validation

Low rate/initial production

Studies will be carried out.

2022-2029, Phase-1 Phase-2 Period:

Within the scope of Phase-1 Phase-2, the detailed design and qualification activities of MMU TF-X will be carried out in the 2022-2029 period. Accordingly, TF-X will leave the hangar in 2023, critical design review (CDR, Critical Design Review) activities will be carried out in 2024, the production of the first Block-0 aircraft will be completed in 2025, and the first flight will take place in 2026. By this date, it is aimed to produce three prototypes.

In other words, in Phase-1 Stage-2;

Production

Production approval

Production strategy

Determination of production rates

Full-scale mass production

Acceptance tests

Final production

Delivery/field mission activities will be carried out.

The Block-1 configuration to be delivered to the Turkish Air Force is planned to be developed until 2029. The 10 TF-X Block-1 fighter jets to be produced under Phase-2 will be delivered to the Turkish Air Force between 2030-2033.

2030-2033, Block-1 Phase-2 scope:

Delivery of the aircraft to be produced within this scope to the Turkish Air Force.

Phase-3 scope between 2034-2040:

Development of the configurations of all MMU TF-X blocks, serial production activities will be realized and delivered to the Turkish Air Force.

Within the scope of Phase-3 between 2034-2040; the development and serial production activities of other MMU TF-X blocks will be carried out.

So it is in the final phase;

Operation and maintenance

Service acceptance

Maintenance plans

Technology gaps

Changes/upgrades will be implemented.

Will there be a LRIP (Low Rate Initial Production) Period?

Some aircraft may undergo a "Low Rate Initial Production" (LRIP) period called "Low Rate Initial Production" before starting mass production at full capacity. During this period, for example, production starts by producing only one aircraft every two months. These aircraft are delivered to the user. Depending on the feedback and requests made by the user, the development of the aircraft continues. Both software and minor physical changes are made to perfect the aircraft. At the same time, while the first productions are more expensive because production has just started, prices decrease as the mass production model is approached. After this period, the serial production phase begins. If there will be a LRIP period in the MMU TF-X project, this will be decided by the Turkish Air Force, the Presidency of Defense Industry and TAI.

Building a jet fighter requires advanced studies and efforts in aircraft engineering, electrical-electronics engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, metallurgical and materials engineering, and industrial engineering. Aircraft design and manufacturing also requires intensive use of physics, mathematics, geometry, chemistry, electronics, computer and software sciences. For this reason, aircraft projects spend many years on paper, prototypes and simulations. While 2029, when the MMU TF-X will enter mass production, may seem far away to most of us, it is not. 

According to an analysis of the development milestones of selected fourth and four-and-a-half or 4++ generation fighter programs, the United States and Russia's fourth generation systems took 12 years from design to delivery of the first prototype. The Eurofighter joint development program took about 17 years from the start of the program to the delivery of the systems to the respective air forces. China's design and development of the J-10 aircraft took a much longer period of around 25 years. Moreover, the MMU TF-X will be a 5th generation fighter aircraft.

Today, Turkey is laying the foundations of jet fighter aviation, and on these foundations, our need for jet fighter aircraft will be largely met until the 2070s. Once these aircraft enter production, we can make modifications as we wish, and we can create and develop Air-Land or Air-Air configurations in just a few years. 

To summarize, if we take the subject with a bit of academic knowledge;

It takes many years to develop an airplane, or any aircraft for that matter. If you are developing a civilian airplane, you need to conduct very robust safety and emergency tests, because this airplane will carry hundreds of lives. If you are building a military fighter jet, you must also conduct very good performance and technology tests, because these two elements are very important on the battlefield. Let us now briefly summarize the development stages of our MMU TF-X aircraft.

A. Conceptual Design

When aircraft are built, they first undergo conceptual design. At this stage, very basic issues such as the approximate speed of the aircraft, how many seats it will have, how many engines it will have, what its range will be, and what mission it will be used for are determined.

B. Preliminary Design Phase

Following the conceptual design, wind tunnel tests and basic structural analysis are carried out at this stage. Aerodynamic defects and structural instabilities are corrected. The final design is then drawn and a decision is made whether to proceed to the next "detailed design" phase.

C. Detailed Design Phase

In the detailed design phase, every component, large and small, will be designed and tested. It is one of the most critical and long-lasting phases. Because in this part, you need to put your math, physics, chemistry, materials, geometry and aircraft engineering to work. After the detailed design phase is completed, or simultaneously, a mock-up of the aircraft can be developed.

D. Prototype Production

After detailed design and mock-ups, prototypes are produced for actual testing. The tests performed on prototypes are basically divided into two: Ground Tests and Flight Tests. Ground tests are divided into sections such as electronic tests, cold-hot tests and taxi tests.

E. Cold-Hot and Electronic Tests

At high altitudes in the sky, airplanes are exposed to very cold temperatures. They also spend long periods on the ground under the summer sun. In modern airplanes, electronics are everything. And the degree to which these systems are resistant to heat is very important. To measure the aircraft's resistance to heat and cold, it is put into very hot and very cold test environments. Here, the effects of freezing conditions and scorching heat are observed and necessary adjustments are made. The condition of the aircraft's flaps and movements are also checked.

F. Full Scale Testing/Full Scale Testing

Full-scale tests of aircraft structural elements in as-built condition are applied. These are very critical and important tests in terms of monitoring the aircraft structural integrity program (ASIP-Aircraft Structural Integrity Program).

G. Taxi/Rule Check:

Taxi/rule check and subsequent wheel cut checks are important phases where newly designed and manufactured aircraft are tested for important aerodynamic, flight mechanics and structural systems before the first flight.

H. First Flight

The first flight usually lasts between 5-20 minutes and involves very basic air tests. Air handling, stable flight performance, basic turning/maneuvering capabilities, etc. are checked. The landing gear of the aircraft is left open. They are not taken inside the fuselage for safety reasons. It is an effective flight and an important milestone in the life cycle of the relevant aircraft.

I. Certification and Security Enhancements

After the first flight, various flight and safety certifications are obtained from both national and international aviation institutions. Especially for civil aircraft, this part is more challenging. In fact, since there is no institution for this purpose in Turkey, TAI has taken this issue into its own hands and established its subsidiary "TR Airworthiness Certification Services" in recent months. The company will operate in compliance with the standards of international civil aviation authorities such as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

I. Ammunition Integration and Firing Tests

At the end of the flight tests, the software and physical integration processes required for the munitions to be used in the developed fighter aircraft to be compatible with the aircraft are carried out. At the same time, the effect of these munitions on the aerodynamics of the aircraft is examined (as they will create additional air friction on the fuselage).

Updated Latest Prototypes

Once all these stages are completed, the airplane is flown by air force pilots, and prototypes are modified and improved according to the wishes of the pilots and the military. And finally the aircraft is ready for production.

Note: Of course, aircrafts undergo many minor tests and certifications other than those mentioned here, the situation in MMU TF-X depends on the performance requirements of the Turkish Air Force and the fulfillment of these requirements by TAI, and there will of course be detailed plans and programs that cannot be accessed from open sources of information regarding all these studies. What we have expressed are our assessments of the content and execution of the MMU TF-X project within the scope of general academic knowledge.

MMU TF-X System Requirements of the Turkish Air Force and Highlights:

In order to meet the system requirements of the Turkish Air Force, general system and project information on the MMU TF-X fighter jet, developed under the main contractorship of TAI within the scope of the National Combat Aircraft (MMU) initiated by the Presidency of the Presidency of Defense Industries:

MMU TF-X GENERAL SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS:

The main features of the aircraft planned to be developed and produced within the scope of the TF-X project will be as follows:

Ability to carry ammunition inside and outside the fuselage

Supercruise capability

Sensor fusion

High maneuverability

Independent Operation capability

The TF-X, which is also expected to meet the needs of the future battlefield, is expected to be compatible with the threat perception and operational concept of the future and to be prone to network-centric warfare technologies. The operational environments of the future are envisioned to be space technologies and cyber technologies. In addition, technological concepts such as big data, artificial intelligence and laser weapons are expected to enter our lives in the future.

In order to successfully operate in all these environments, TF-X must have the following features

High maneuverability and a powerful propulsion system

Supersonic capability

Long radius of action

Advanced avionics systems

Low visibility on radar

Sensor fusion

Advanced data linking capabilities

The capability to fire high-precision munitions is defined as the capability to fire high-precision munitions.

Ammunition Load and Operational Radius:

The TF-X will be a stealth aircraft with low visibility on radar. In this context, it has the capability to carry ammunition inside the fuselage. However, in cases where low radar visibility is not required, it is possible to install ammunition or various pods under the wing and fuselage.

TF-X's Air-Air Ammunition

RamJet-powered beyond visual range (BVR) missiles of the METEOR missile type

AIM-120 AMRAAM/MICA/GÖKDOĞAN type beyond-line-of-sight missiles

AIM-9 Sidewinder/ASRAAM/BOZDOĞAN type WVR missiles

Built-in machine cannon

TF-X's Air-Ground Munition

SOM-B1/B2/J

KGK-82/83

HGK-82/83/84

LGK-82/84

TEBER-82/83

AKBABA Anti-Radiation Missile (The name was first officially mentioned by the Turkish Air Force)

Miniature Bomb

SPEAR

NEB

GBU-10/12/31/38/54

MK-82/84

Munitions that MMU TF-X will carry inside the airframe

MMU TF-X's in-fuselage ammunition capability is 1000 pounds.

Internal weapon stations can carry air-to-air missiles as well as air-ground munitions. In this context, KGK-82, HGK-82/83, LGK-82, TEBER-82, Miniature Bomb and foreign equivalents of these munitions can be carried in the hull. The remaining munitions are expected to be carried under the fuselage/wing.

In addition to these, reconnaissance and surveillance pods, 600 gallon and 370 gallon external fuel tanks can also be carried in the required scenarios.

With all these loads, TF-X's operational radius is planned to be longer than the average of Generation 4 and 4.5 aircraft, and slightly shorter than the average operational radius of Generation 5 aircraft.

MMU TF-X's Super Cruise and Speed information:

Supercruise, or Supersonic capability in Turkish, allows a fighter to fly at supersonic speeds without the use of afterburners. TF-X's Supercruise speed is expected to be slightly lower than the average of 5th Generation aircraft. Its maximum speed is expected to be close to the average of air-air mission aircraft, higher than the average of air-ground mission aircraft, and lower than the average of 5th Generation air superiority aircraft.

In addition, its acceleration capability is planned to be higher than the average of 4.5 generation aircraft. In other words, the aircraft will be able to reach high speeds in a much shorter time.

Radar Cross Section Information:

The TF-X is a low-visibility aircraft, which means that the radar cross-sectional area should be low. In this context, if we consider the average values of fighter jets, bombers and the radar cross-sectional areas of ships as an example, TF-X is planned to have a radar cross-sectional area close to insects such as flies or insects.

Sensor and Avionics Capabilities:

TF-X, which is expected to have a large number and variety of sensor technologies, is also expected to have a sensor fusion capability and thus a very high situational awareness capability. In addition, MMU TF-X:

Infrared search and track (IRST) Sensor

Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS)

360° situational awareness

Tactical Data Link

High sensitivity AESA radar

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

Electronic support and electronic jamming (ESM/ECM) capability

It will have simultaneous Air-Ground and Air-Air tracking capabilities.

Mission Scenarios:

With all these capabilities, MMU TF-X will be able to adapt to many different types of missions. With new generation avionics and sensors, sensor fusion and network-centric warfare capability, MMU TF-X will have extremely high situational awareness. Thanks to its low visibility in terms of both RF and IR, it will have the ability to detect, identify and track enemy elements without being detected.

MMU TF-X will have a long operational radius with its supersonic and highly maneuverable capability and will be able to perform air superiority missions as well as deep strike and elimination of enemy air defenses.

Conclusion:

The first prototype aircraft of the MMU TF-X has entered the final assembly line. This was preceded by a long design and design evaluation process, and will be followed by a longer phase of testing and evaluation, flight and configuration development, with an emphasis on physical models. The Turkish military aviation industry is focused on a serious goal and will complete this goal in a way that will set an example for the world military aviation.