How Turkey Managed to Produce the World's Largest Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft

February 21, 2024 is not only the date of the first flight of the National Combat Aircraft (MMU) Kaan. It is also a date that shows the progress and level reached by the Turkish aerospace industry, and reminds us that an important threshold has been crossed.

How was the decision to develop MMU Kaan taken?

Since 2005, the management of Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TAI), a partnership company of the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation (TAFF), which has been developing indigenous and sovereign air platforms, believed that the engineering know-how in the factory, which had been brewing since 1984, could now develop a fifth generation fighter aircraft. With confidence in the level reached in the aircraft production process, particularly the F-16, and with the belief that TAI could do this, the MMU project was initiated in December 2010 with the decision of the Defense Industry Executive Board (SSİK). As a result of the preliminary evaluations and discussions held in the corridors and meeting halls of the Air Force prior to the SSİK decision, the idea that 'we can build a fifth generation national combat aircraft' began to come to life. On the other hand, the majority of the ranking personnel at the headquarters said, "Our guys have not yet built the Anka. There is no progress on the Hürkuş. How will they build a fifth-generation fighter jet?" was a concern. However, the conviction of military engineers who saw this project as their children and believed that it could be realized, pilots who said, "If this project is to be realized, I will stay in the Air Force and work without pay if necessary, instead of working as a commercial pilot for airline companies, as long as this project is realized", and project officers and non-commissioned officers at the headquarters helped to break many prejudices. Thus, after a series of meetings with TAI and the SSB, this pioneering idea was transformed into a project with the decision of the SSİK. 

Taking the F-35 joint program office as an example, the preliminary assessment, concept development and feasibility studies carried out at TAI Balgat campus under the leadership of the Turkish Air Force took shape over time with the joint efforts of TAI, the Turkish Air Force and SSB personnel, and turned into the MMU project. 

The joint efforts of the personnel working in the MMU project management office enabled the MMU project to move forward faster than usual. On March 13, 2013, a memorandum of understanding was signed with SAAB of Sweden, which included the aspect of 'technology development and design support'. However, it was not possible to achieve the desired output from this partnership model. Nevertheless, as a result of the studies carried out until the end of 2014, three different aircraft design options emerged, and these options were submitted to the SSİK for a decision.

Option One: FX-1, twin-engine, Lockheed Martin-style airframe

Second Option: FX-5, Single-engine, F-16-like airframe

Third option: FX-6, single-engine, Saab JAS-39 Gripen-like fuselage with canards.

At the January 8, 2015 SSİK meeting, it was decided to continue with the FX-1 option. 

What kind of MMU does the Turkish Air Force want?

This decision paved the way for the development of an MMU with a higher payload capacity, higher speed, wider operational radius and higher situational awareness, by focusing on the FX-1 option, despite its higher cost. In order to implement the SSİK decision, a call for proposal document for the MMU engine was published on March 13, 2015.  The aim was to develop the engine infrastructure in Turkey, and to increase the localization rate as much as possible. Within this framework, three companies (General Electric, Snecma and Eurojet) responded positively. However, during the meetings with these companies, it was observed that they were not sufficiently willing to develop the Turkish jet engine infrastructure. 

Meanwhile, in the last month of 2015, BAE Systems, the UK's leading aerospace company, and TAI reached an understanding for 'design development support'. At the same time, British Rolls-Royce offered to produce the EJ200 engine used in Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets in Turkey. As a result, in January 2017, a £100 million 'aircraft development support' agreement was signed between BAE Systems and TAI. I should mention this as a footnote here: South Korea's aerospace company KAI (Korean Aerospace Industries) also found it necessary to sign a special agreement with Lockheed Martin (LM) for the development of the KF-21 fifth generation fighter jet. 

In this context, approximately 200 British engineers were expected to be temporarily assigned to TAI. However, the number of 200 engineers was never reached. The method of providing on-site training to Turkish engineers at BAE Systems facilities in the UK was not utilized efficiently by both sides. There were some rough edges, which were overcome over time, but in my opinion, TAI and BAE Systems could not establish a close relationship similar to the close relationship between KAI and LM. TAI did not reap as great a benefit as it expected.

However, the MMU project made its debut with the mock-up exhibited at the Paris exhibition in 2019. There was no airplane yet, but this pioneering platform made a lot of noise. It became known worldwide that TAI was building a fifth-generation fighter jet. The revelation of what the MMU would be like increased interest in the project, which in turn gave a boost to the engineering work at TAI. Target dates were set, meetings were held on what needed to be done, and the engineers needed for the MMU project were recruited. MMU engineering, development and flight line facilities were built. 

In May 2020, HAVELSAN joined forces with TAI to take part in the project. The two companies decided to work together in areas such as embedded training software, simulation environment, training and maintenance simulators, engineering test environment, software development and cyber security. 

On June 30, 2021, the Air Force Command held a briefing open to the press, entitled 'What does the Air Force expect from the MMU Project? In the briefing, the Air Force Command's MMU requirements were listed as follows in general terms:

High maneuverability

Super navigational ability

Large (long) radius of action

Low visibility (stealth)

Sensor fusion, advanced avionics

Advanced data linking capabilities

Ability to fire ammunition with precision

Having an internal cargo hold.

In fact, all of these were expected requirements for a fifth-generation fighter aircraft, and there was nothing that could be considered a surprise for TAI. This request meant only one thing: "The Air Force stands by TAI!" As a matter of fact, with this briefing, the SSB, the Air Force and TAI closely understood the importance of increasing cooperation. Interest in the project has increased across Turkey. 

On February 21, 2024, MMU Kaan made its first flight

As the work gained momentum, TAI management foresaw that the first flight could take place on October 29, 2023, and gave full support to the MMU. In the MMU building, the Air Force and SSB personnel were also provided with an environment where they could work. Thus, certain bureaucratic processes were shelved, and the instant 'solution (kick-off)' meetings at the MMU building were adopted and implemented by all stakeholders as a working culture. 

This synergy triggered the production of the first part of the MMU (the famous heater core) on November 4, 2021. The aircraft was fitted with landing gear in December 2022. In the meantime, the engine development process had fallen far behind the desired level. As an interim solution, it was decided to continue with the American-made F-16 engine (F110-GE-129), which was well known to the Turkish defense industry and the Turkish Air Force. As a result of the negotiations with General Electric (GE), the necessary support was obtained. Therefore, the engine procurement was carried out in parallel with the part production processes, and the first engine start-up test was successfully passed on February 12, 2023 with the F-110 engines integrated into the aircraft.

On March 16, 2023, the 'hangar exit', which is a traditional practice in such projects, was held as a very uninspiring activity for some reason. Nevertheless, when the aircraft performed its first taxi test on the runway on March 17, the images leaked to the media suddenly turned the spotlight back on the MMU project. The prototype named P0, which was originally produced for the hangar exit ceremony, was to be transformed into a 'flyable' platform in line with the decision taken on January 7, 2023. For this purpose, some parts of the aircraft had to be changed and necessary reinforcements had to be made before the first flight. The MMU project office and engineers started working day and night to prepare the first prototype, now named 'P0 Star' instead of P0, for the first flight test. 

During taxi and ground tests, it became clear that there were no obstacles to flying the aircraft. However, it became clear that the aircraft would not be ready in time for the 100th anniversary celebration of the Republic on October 29, 2023. Later, December 27, 2023 was set as the new target date. It was aimed to make the first flight on the anniversary of the date of the Great Atatürk's arrival in Ankara, who said "The Future is in the Skies!". However, when various problems arose, the goal of making the first flight on this date was abandoned. Thus, the MMU, which left the year 2023 behind without making a flight, started its first take-off run on the main runway of Mürted on February 21, 2024, when it said "I am ready to fly!". Although the 'anomalous' movement of the horizontal stabilizer (elevator) at the moment of grounding made those watching the aircraft take off a little uneasy, the movement in the elevator was over when the take-off took place. The 13-minute test flight was successfully carried out in the company of an F-16 aircraft. 

With the February 21 flight, an important threshold was crossed in the MMU Kaan Development Calendar

This flight was a flight worthy of a 'golden strike'. In addition to those who believed in the project wholeheartedly, even those who did not believe in the project and 'turned their noses up' shared a great pride. Turkish aircraft engineering had achieved a great success. TAI, the SSB and the Turkish Air Force, with the support of the political will behind them and by utilizing the financial resources provided, had successfully passed the most important phase of this major project. This success, which made everyone who truly says "I am a Turk" say "Happy to be a Turk!", elevated Turkey to the league of Fifth Generation Aircraft Manufacturers (USA, Russia, China, South Korea). I extend my congratulations and appreciation to all those who contributed.

The next goal for the MMU team is the one set by President Erdoğan: 'To produce and deliver 20 MMUs to the Turkish Air Force by 2028, which will have better features and capabilities than the F-16 aircraft'.

I believe that this is an achievable goal for TAI. In fact, no one expects a fifth-generation Turkish-made jet engine to be developed by this date. It is also known that the goal of a fifth generation aircraft cannot be realized with the current F-16 engines. Therefore, this interim target should be seen as an important stage for the fifth-generation MMU Kaan in every aspect. As a matter of fact, the General Manager of TAI has stated that 20 aircraft can be produced until 2028, and that TAI will do what is necessary.

In order to achieve this intermediate target and the ultimate goal of producing the fifth generation aircraft, TAI must first produce seven more prototypes in addition to the current prototype. In addition, structural and fatigue tests on the ground are expected to be completed with three static test aircraft. Initially, all of the 35 integration laboratories envisaged will need to operate 24/7. An estimated 6-7,000 flight test sorties need to be flown, around 100,000 test points need to be verified with these flights, some additional tests need to be conducted with flying test laboratories or platforms, and flight tests of many sensors and systems to be integrated into the aircraft, such as the AESA radar and EOTS, need to be completed. There is no doubt that a flight test package of this magnitude will not be completed in time for 2028. However, the 20 early-entry MMU Kaan, which is envisaged to be produced, must be able to undergo military qualification and certification processes sufficient to meet the limited requirements of the Air Force. 

Conclusion

As of February 21, 2024, Turkey has been eligible to join the club of countries producing fifth generation fighter jets. In terms of its size, Turkey is now the world's largest fifth-generation fighter aircraft producer. What we now expect from TAI and its stakeholders (ASELSAN; HAVELSAN; ROKETSAN; Alp Aviation; Altinay; ANDAR; ANOVA; Aspilsan; BOTEK; C2TECH; EMGE; KIM Technologies; KOLT; Masterdefence; Milpower Defence Systems; PAVELSIS; PAVOTEK; Petlas; STG; STM; Udea; TÜBİTAK; VOLO; VOLT; UDEA; TRM TRMOTOR; TAAC; TASECS; etc.) is closer cooperation. ), we expect them to work in closer cooperation, focusing on achieving the 2028 target, while at the same time channeling all their efforts towards the final solution, the development and production of the MMU Kaan, which meets the requirements of the fifth generation fighter jet in every aspect. For me, the indication that they will succeed is the first flight they performed on February 21. This will be the biggest reference point.