Ukrainian manufacturers are participating in tenders for the supply of engines for the Turkish fighter KAAN. This information was provided by Vasyl Bodnar, the Ukrainian ambassador to Turkey, during an interview with Ukrinform. Engines manufactured in Ukraine are currently being used in many unmanned aerial vehicle projects in Turkey, including the Kızılelma, combat drones Akıncı and Anka III, and the helicopter Atak II.
“In general, we are interested in everything related to the defence industry. Our companies are participating in tenders for the supply of engines for the Turkish fighter KAAN. Our engines are used in unmanned aerial vehicle projects such as Kızılelma, combat drones Akıncı and Anka III, and the helicopter Atak II,” said Vasyl Bodnar.
After the completion of ground tests and the trials of the KAAN’s steering system, it is anticipated that the first flight of the fighter KAAN, which was made in Turkey, will take place in the near future.
What We know about the engine tender
A tender for developing a new jet engine for the Turkish fifth-generation fighter KAAN is now being conducted, and the Ukrainian business “Ivchenko-Progress” is one of the parties involved. The British powerhouse Rolls-Royce will be the company that the Ukrainian company will be competing with.
At this time, the Turkish Ministry of Defence is working towards the acquisition of two engines for the aircraft. The company, “Ivchenko Progress,” will work with the Turkish company Tusas Engine Industries (TEI). In contrast, Rolls-Royce will collaborate with the Kale Group to achieve its goals. The entire transfer of rights to the power plant to Turkey is one of the most important prerequisites that must be met.
It is important to remember that Turkey launched a tender for developing an engine for the fighter aircraft manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) approximately ten years ago. Several companies were competing for the contract. These companies included “Rosoboronexport” from Russia, Snecma from France, Eurojet from Europe, Pratt & Whitney and General Electric from the United States. However, the tender was cancelled.
The US F110 engine is installed in the prototype of the KAAN fighter aircraft. This particular power plant is going to be fitted to the first twenty aircraft. The first flight of KAAN is anticipated to take place in 2024, while the production of KAAN is projected to begin in 2028. The cost of the fighter may exceed $100 million.
