Korean KF-21 Boramae & Turkish KAAN Fighter Developments

All of them have or will have four not more than that.
f-35 for sure is going to have this adapter called sidekick allowing six amraams in IWB, not sure of korean one, but that tweet suggests IWB version of it will carry 6 amraams.
 
f-35 for sure is going to have this adapter called sidekick allowing six amraams in IWB, not sure of korean one, but that tweet suggests IWB version of it will carry 6 amraams.
Okay, I didn't know this existed. It could be possible in the future with the under-development BVR missile.

AMCA or KF-21 won't have this capability with the current missiles. The airframe is smaller overall.
 
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f-35 for sure is going to have this adapter called sidekick allowing six amraams in IWB, not sure of korean one, but that tweet suggests IWB version of it will carry 6 amraams.
@Parthu what do you think of it, those six holes in the bulkhead do they mean six weapon station inside IWB for KF-21?
 
@Parthu what do you think of it, those six holes in the bulkhead do they mean six weapon station inside IWB for KF-21?

What six holes? There's only four - right now they are just for recessed carriage, but you can see some space has already been created in the bulkhead for weapon bays, though it still looks like it's only enough for four:

KF-21 bulkhead weapons.jpg
 
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in this pic from this tweet, red circle

Maybe, something like sidekick adapter of F-35 from start will be used?

I don't know what that guy is on about but those holes he's circled in red aren't for weapons storage, they are above the inlet ducts and are likely for cable passthroughs.

There is a space for weapons bay, but that is below the inlets. From what I can tell, it's for 4 missiles.

Also, that tweet is from 2020. Weapons bay integration has now been differed till Block 3.
 
I don't know what that guy is on about but those holes he's circled in red aren't for weapons storage, they are above the inlet ducts and are likely for cable passthroughs.

There is a space for weapons bay, but that is below the inlets. From what I can tell, it's for 4 missiles.

Also, that tweet is from 2020. Weapons bay integration has now been differed till Block 3.
yeah, that guy is kind of weird, he downplays japanese, chinese and turkish defense industry as they are competitors to ROK in that market, but I think he is saying 6 holes equals to 6 cables for each weapon station not sure how that works.

Interesting that IWB will be from block-3, I didn't know that before.

If KF-21 can carry 6 BVRs in its IWB then I would be impressed as even the F-35 can only carry 4 for now.

yeah it is impressive if KF-21 can carry 6 amraam sized missles in IWB version of that plane. But I feel AMCA should look into the sidekick upgrade and try to build 6 BVR IWB from the start and also keep in mind for future integration CUDA AAMs kind of smaller AA missiles.
 
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As TAAC Aerospace Technologies, we excel in developing motion and flight control systems, including both primary and secondary flight control systems, with our superior capabilities in the aviation field.Our company's primary goal is to provide the most advanced systems for leading aerospace companies such as Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. Within this scope, we conduct special design, development, and production activities for various aircraft in the aviation industry.Our motion control systems are meticulously designed in accordance with internationally recognized aviation standards to optimize the flight performance, ensure safety, and provide high-performance maneuverability for aircraft. Our innovative engineering solutions offer reliable, precise, and fully automated systems integrated with the latest technologies.Compliant with superior quality standards and full adherence to international aviation regulations, our motion and flight control systems combine the latest industry developments to deliver excellent performance and reliability. Furthermore, all of our products undergo extensive testing and verification processes with rigorous quality control.At TAAC Aerospace Technologies, we provide flexibility to our customers in the aviation sector by offering customizable solutions. By developing systems tailored to our customers' specific needs, we equip them with excellent performance, safety, and efficiency.As pioneers of innovative technologies in the aerospace industry, we closely follow the latest advancements and continuously invest in research and development. This enables us to provide our customers with cutting-edge technologies and develop solutions that meet the future requirements of the industry.TAAC Aerospace Technologies takes pride in being recognized as a specialized, innovative, and reliable solution provider in the field of motion and flight control systems in the aviation sector. We are here to support our customers' achievements in the aerospace industry with our optimized systems tailored to their needs.



[URL='https://m.youtube.com/@taachavacilik']TAAC Aerospace Technologies (TAAC), established in 2019 as a partnership between Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and ALTINAY Defense Technologies

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TAAC Aerospace Technologies (TAAC), established in 2019 as a partnership between Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and ALTINAY Defense Technologies, continues its development activities for motion control systems, landing gears, and test systems in compliance with aviation standards for critical projects such as the National Combat Aircraft and HÜRJET.

TAAC conducts research and development, design, and production activities for critical subsystems of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The company develops projects in the field of aviation technologies. In this context, TAAC is continuously working on the development of the flight control system, landing gear, and weapon bay door opening/closing mechanisms for the National Combat Aircraft, which will take off from hangars in 2023. Additionally, TAAC is involved in the design and installation of the Iron Bird Test System, where numerous tests and verifications for HÜRJET will be conducted within the facilities of Turkish Aerospace Industries.

TAAC aims to reduce dependence on foreign sources in the national aviation ecosystem and contributes to localization and indigenous substitution system studies with its qualified engineering staff. The company continues its projects towards the indigenous development of all motion control systems required for an aircraft and aims to accelerate efforts for the export of these critical systems in the aviation sector in the coming years.

Prof. Dr. Temel Kotil, the President of Turkish Aerospace Industries, stated, "We continue our efforts for local and national technologies in the field of aviation. TAAC Aerospace Technologies, our joint venture with Altınay Defense, is undertaking important projects to provide the country with national capabilities in critical systems needed by the sector. These systems, which will also be present on the National Combat Aircraft, which will take off from hangars in 2023, will contribute to our country's local, original, and independent aviation ecosystem. I would like to thank all our colleagues who have contributed to these projects."

Hakan Altınay, Chairman of ALTINAY Technology Group, stated, "We have been working for many years to break the dependence on foreign sources in the Defense and Aerospace sector and to strengthen our country in this field. With our joint venture TAAC Aerospace Technologies, established in partnership with TAI, we are advancing these efforts further, especially in critical aviation components. We will realize projects that have not been developed within the borders of Turkey so far, starting with our national strategic project, the National Combat Aircraft. I would like to thank all our colleagues who have worked hard for the development and strengthening of our country."
 
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Turkish Aerospace Advancing Additional Kaan Prototypes

In articles published in the company’s in-house journal at the beginning of May to mark the first flight of the Kaan prototype earlier this year, the company says production of the second prototype, referred to as P1, is “proceeding according to schedule.” It is scheduled to move into final assembly later this year and be placed onto its landing gear in 2025, before flying later that year, the documents state.

TAI says it will produce 29 Kaan prototypes, but these likely will include the first 20 pre-production standard aircraft. The OEM hopes to begin delivering them to the Turkish Air Force beginning in 2028.

The first prototype, which has made two flights—on Feb. 21 & May 6—is referred to as P0. According to the TAI articles, P0 was produced in just nine months to meet three needs: as a “demonstration to government officials, to perform a hangar rollout and display aircraft engine starting.”

It appears P0 then was adapted for flight using “newly developed strengthening systems,” writes the Kaan program assembly manager, Celal Onur Alkas. A series of structural checks was conducted to ensure the prototype could deal with “anticipated flight loads,” reports Ugur Zengin, the TAI executive vice president for the Turkish fighter program. The aircraft also was fitted with a new canopy for bird-strike testing, while the landing gear was rigorously tested, he notes.

The aircraft originally was due to make its first flight on Feb.20, but “minor deviations” from the simulation were noted in the flight control system so the flight was delayed.

The OEM says the Kaan is 90% indigenous, with 100 Turkish companies supporting the program. Some 24 of the 30 subsystems used on P0 were supplied by domestic companies and work is continuing to localize parts sourced from foreign entities.

Among the foreign components are the General Electric F110engine from the Lockheed Martin F-16, two of which power the prototype Kaan. The other is the Martin-Baker ejection seat. TAI owned TUSAS Engine Industries (TEI) and TR Motor are leading development of an indigenous engine to replace the F110 for later blocks of the fighter.

As part of the development of the pre-production aircraft that will form Block 0, system architectural design has been completed and during 2024, engineers will work on “establishing test procedures.” Also, during 2024, two system integration laboratories will be commissioned.

System critical-design review meetings with subcontractors are expected in the second quarter of 2024, followed by critical-design review meetings for Block 10 aircraft systems in the third quarter, the articles state.

Work also is ongoing on qualifying materials for low observability, as well as wind-tunnel and flight-control system testing. A roadmap is being developed for the software to equip the aircraft entering Turkish Air Force service in 2028, as well as the ground software that will assist maintainers.

TAI also is continuing construction of infrastructure to support development efforts at its Ankara campus. Projects include test facilities for lightning strikes, near-field radar cross-section trials, and structural test and verification. The articles also mention development of a flying-test laboratory that is expected to make use of a second-hand business jet, as first reported by Aviation Week.

“The facilities and infrastructures that Kaan has brought to our country and our company during the development process will play a significant role in realizing numerous projects as the hub of the Turkish aviation,” TAI Chairman Rafet Bozdogan writes.

TAI officials also are working on “cooperation models” with foreign companies as the company looks to expand the Kaan program beyond Turkey, explains Osman Eldar Donmez, the Kaan program’s subcontracts manager. Agreements on the program have been signed with Azerbaijan.

“We are currently collaborating closely with the Presidency of Defense Industry Agency to advance these efforts,” Donmez adds.

The articles also say TAI already is looking beyond the Kaan and is “actively engaged in developing sixth-generation [combat]aircraft. However, no details have yet emerged about potential concepts.

 
Turkish Aerospace Advancing Additional Kaan Prototypes

In articles published in the company’s in-house journal at the beginning of May to mark the first flight of the Kaan prototype earlier this year, the company says production of the second prototype, referred to as P1, is “proceeding according to schedule.” It is scheduled to move into final assembly later this year and be placed onto its landing gear in 2025, before flying later that year, the documents state.

TAI says it will produce 29 Kaan prototypes, but these likely will include the first 20 pre-production standard aircraft. The OEM hopes to begin delivering them to the Turkish Air Force beginning in 2028.

The first prototype, which has made two flights—on Feb. 21 & May 6—is referred to as P0. According to the TAI articles, P0 was produced in just nine months to meet three needs: as a “demonstration to government officials, to perform a hangar rollout and display aircraft engine starting.”

It appears P0 then was adapted for flight using “newly developed strengthening systems,” writes the Kaan program assembly manager, Celal Onur Alkas. A series of structural checks was conducted to ensure the prototype could deal with “anticipated flight loads,” reports Ugur Zengin, the TAI executive vice president for the Turkish fighter program. The aircraft also was fitted with a new canopy for bird-strike testing, while the landing gear was rigorously tested, he notes.

The aircraft originally was due to make its first flight on Feb.20, but “minor deviations” from the simulation were noted in the flight control system so the flight was delayed.

The OEM says the Kaan is 90% indigenous, with 100 Turkish companies supporting the program. Some 24 of the 30 subsystems used on P0 were supplied by domestic companies and work is continuing to localize parts sourced from foreign entities.

Among the foreign components are the General Electric F110engine from the Lockheed Martin F-16, two of which power the prototype Kaan. The other is the Martin-Baker ejection seat. TAI owned TUSAS Engine Industries (TEI) and TR Motor are leading development of an indigenous engine to replace the F110 for later blocks of the fighter.

As part of the development of the pre-production aircraft that will form Block 0, system architectural design has been completed and during 2024, engineers will work on “establishing test procedures.” Also, during 2024, two system integration laboratories will be commissioned.

System critical-design review meetings with subcontractors are expected in the second quarter of 2024, followed by critical-design review meetings for Block 10 aircraft systems in the third quarter, the articles state.

Work also is ongoing on qualifying materials for low observability, as well as wind-tunnel and flight-control system testing. A roadmap is being developed for the software to equip the aircraft entering Turkish Air Force service in 2028, as well as the ground software that will assist maintainers.

TAI also is continuing construction of infrastructure to support development efforts at its Ankara campus. Projects include test facilities for lightning strikes, near-field radar cross-section trials, and structural test and verification. The articles also mention development of a flying-test laboratory that is expected to make use of a second-hand business jet, as first reported by Aviation Week.

“The facilities and infrastructures that Kaan has brought to our country and our company during the development process will play a significant role in realizing numerous projects as the hub of the Turkish aviation,” TAI Chairman Rafet Bozdogan writes.

TAI officials also are working on “cooperation models” with foreign companies as the company looks to expand the Kaan program beyond Turkey, explains Osman Eldar Donmez, the Kaan program’s subcontracts manager. Agreements on the program have been signed with Azerbaijan.

“We are currently collaborating closely with the Presidency of Defense Industry Agency to advance these efforts,” Donmez adds.

The articles also say TAI already is looking beyond the Kaan and is “actively engaged in developing sixth-generation [combat]aircraft. However, no details have yet emerged about potential concepts.

I wonder who will do CDR for Kaan?
Stirling Dynamics (UK based) or TAI themselves?
 
Turkish Aerospace Advancing Additional Kaan Prototypes

In articles published in the company’s in-house journal at the beginning of May to mark the first flight of the Kaan prototype earlier this year, the company says production of the second prototype, referred to as P1, is “proceeding according to schedule.” It is scheduled to move into final assembly later this year and be placed onto its landing gear in 2025, before flying later that year, the documents state.

TAI says it will produce 29 Kaan prototypes, but these likely will include the first 20 pre-production standard aircraft. The OEM hopes to begin delivering them to the Turkish Air Force beginning in 2028.

The first prototype, which has made two flights—on Feb. 21 & May 6—is referred to as P0. According to the TAI articles, P0 was produced in just nine months to meet three needs: as a “demonstration to government officials, to perform a hangar rollout and display aircraft engine starting.”

It appears P0 then was adapted for flight using “newly developed strengthening systems,” writes the Kaan program assembly manager, Celal Onur Alkas. A series of structural checks was conducted to ensure the prototype could deal with “anticipated flight loads,” reports Ugur Zengin, the TAI executive vice president for the Turkish fighter program. The aircraft also was fitted with a new canopy for bird-strike testing, while the landing gear was rigorously tested, he notes.

The aircraft originally was due to make its first flight on Feb.20, but “minor deviations” from the simulation were noted in the flight control system so the flight was delayed.

The OEM says the Kaan is 90% indigenous, with 100 Turkish companies supporting the program. Some 24 of the 30 subsystems used on P0 were supplied by domestic companies and work is continuing to localize parts sourced from foreign entities.

Among the foreign components are the General Electric F110engine from the Lockheed Martin F-16, two of which power the prototype Kaan. The other is the Martin-Baker ejection seat. TAI owned TUSAS Engine Industries (TEI) and TR Motor are leading development of an indigenous engine to replace the F110 for later blocks of the fighter.

As part of the development of the pre-production aircraft that will form Block 0, system architectural design has been completed and during 2024, engineers will work on “establishing test procedures.” Also, during 2024, two system integration laboratories will be commissioned.

System critical-design review meetings with subcontractors are expected in the second quarter of 2024, followed by critical-design review meetings for Block 10 aircraft systems in the third quarter, the articles state.

Work also is ongoing on qualifying materials for low observability, as well as wind-tunnel and flight-control system testing. A roadmap is being developed for the software to equip the aircraft entering Turkish Air Force service in 2028, as well as the ground software that will assist maintainers.

TAI also is continuing construction of infrastructure to support development efforts at its Ankara campus. Projects include test facilities for lightning strikes, near-field radar cross-section trials, and structural test and verification. The articles also mention development of a flying-test laboratory that is expected to make use of a second-hand business jet, as first reported by Aviation Week.

“The facilities and infrastructures that Kaan has brought to our country and our company during the development process will play a significant role in realizing numerous projects as the hub of the Turkish aviation,” TAI Chairman Rafet Bozdogan writes.

TAI officials also are working on “cooperation models” with foreign companies as the company looks to expand the Kaan program beyond Turkey, explains Osman Eldar Donmez, the Kaan program’s subcontracts manager. Agreements on the program have been signed with Azerbaijan.

“We are currently collaborating closely with the Presidency of Defense Industry Agency to advance these efforts,” Donmez adds.

The articles also say TAI already is looking beyond the Kaan and is “actively engaged in developing sixth-generation [combat]aircraft. However, no details have yet emerged about potential concepts.


Their schedule is really tight, appears extremely unrealistic. Good luck to them though.
 

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporters Kim Gwi-geun and Kim Jun-tae = The domestically produced supersonic fighter KF-21 'Boramae' successfully completed its first live fire of the air-to-air missiles 'Meteor' and ' AIM-2000 ' on the 8th.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced today that the KF-21 air-to-air guided launch test conducted over the West Sea was successful.
According to the defense industry , the KF-21, equipped with the mid-range air-to-air missile Meteor, took off from Sacheon Airport at 11:45 a.m. on this day, waited in the air, and successfully launched at 12:20 p.m. before returning at 12:47. With this, the Boramae became the world's fourth fighter jet to successfully conduct a Meteor live-fire, following the Eurofighter, Rafale, and Gripen. Boramae successfully conducted an armament separation test for the Meteor test projectile last year. The live fire was carried out by tracking the drone from 87km away with the AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar mounted on the aircraft and firing a Meteor to pass by within 1m next to the drone.
With the successful live-fire of the Meteor, the KF-21 proved its long-distance detection and shoot-down capabilities. Meteor flies at a speed of more than Mach 4 (four times the speed of sound) and is rated as the best air-to-air missile in existence, having the precision to shoot down enemy fighters floating in the sky more than 200 km away. Each KF-21 can be equipped with four rounds, and introduction will begin next month.
 
What six holes? There's only four - right now they are just for recessed carriage, but you can see some space has already been created in the bulkhead for weapon bays, though it still looks like it's only enough for four:

View attachment 33249
It will be interestng to see if they are able to remove the 'old style' external missiles structure and adapt bays in the same frame...
In the mean time, what will fill the empty space? fuel tanks?
 
Their schedule is really tight, appears extremely unrealistic. Good luck to them though.
To create a UCAV is one thing, a multi role fighter another.
Absolutely not the same level of technology, the same requirements.
Even if they built off the shelf some equipements (engines, electronic counter measures ? FBW system ? (as Gripen) ) it's far from beeing a reality.

Their shedule is unrealistic, probably because Erdogan is pushing to see some progress. Just see the first flight : no manoeuver, undercarriage out.... a screw up first attempt.
 
To create a UCAV is one thing, a multi role fighter another.
Absolutely not the same level of technology, the same requirements.
Even if they built off the shelf some equipements (engines, electronic counter measures ? FBW system ? (as Gripen) ) it's far from beeing a reality.

Their shedule is unrealistic, probably because Erdogan is pushing to see some progress. Just see the first flight : no manoeuver, undercarriage out.... a screw up first attempt.

Unless someone's handing them tech, they will need years of flight testing, particularly, as you pointed out, the FBW. Plus it's a stealth design, so that presents its own challenges.

Unlike Korea and India, they are jumping right into 5th gen. And Korea and India have all the necessary tech already developed.
 
Unless someone's handing them tech, they will need years of flight testing, particularly, as you pointed out, the FBW. Plus it's a stealth design, so that presents its own challenges.

Unlike Korea and India, they are jumping right into 5th gen. And Korea and India have all the necessary tech already developed.
Lack an indigenous engine for all the birds.

And about the turkish jet, when I see how they struggle with their BATU MBT engine, I'm not confident.
 
Lack an indigenous engine for all the birds.

And about the turkish jet, when I see how they struggle with their BATU MBT engine, I'm not confident.

In Korea's and India's case, France or America will provide engines. But yeah, the Turkish engine can become problematic. They are looking for a British solution. They are in the same boat as India is, with India at an advantage.