KF-X/IF-X & TF-X for Europe?

Read the forum code of contact

Member for

13 years 5 months

Posts: 3,381

If all these new aircraft end up looking like F-22 and/or F-35 mashups I'm going to be seriously pissed off. If the Russians and Chinese can design something new to fire the imagination, why not others?

Member for

18 years 9 months

Posts: 13,432

yes, what happened to starstreak?

I'd also like to know that.

Member for

8 years

Posts: 1,168

If all these new aircraft end up looking like F-22 and/or F-35 mashups I'm going to be seriously pissed off. If the Russians and Chinese can design something new to fire the imagination, why not others?

I agree. So far the Korean, Japanese and the Turkish entries and been boringly similar to Lockheed products.

Member for

9 years 4 months

Posts: 375

If all these new aircraft end up looking like F-22 and/or F-35 mashups I'm going to be seriously pissed off. If the Russians and Chinese can design something new to fire the imagination, why not others?

It is about aerodynamics not aesthetics. Also the West (Europe) has a finite number of aerospace engineers with experience in combat aircraft design. Hence, why you get similar designs. However, I am more interested in the sub-systems of an aircraft and the TF-X is the only one out of the (ATX, K-FX/I-FX) that seems to offer new technologies. The idea of the TF-X having 2 UAV escorts with A2A missiles is very interesting. TAI moving away from the radio frequency spectrum to laser data-links will also be a move in the right direction.

Member for

10 years 11 months

Posts: 2,040

The rendition provided by me above is directly from Turkish Aerospace Industries: its magazine called "TAI's Voice" December 2016 Issue.

Additionally, the Turkish Air Force stated during the TF-X convention that it was looking for an F-22 type new generation Air Superiority Fighter to replace its F-16's with. Below is a photograph from that symposium.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251276[/ATTACH]

and the render in that picture looks totally different than the f-22 clone above.
it suggests they still havent decided on a planform.

Member for

17 years 7 months

Posts: 4,951

Looks like early T-10 layout
https://i0.wp.com/su-27flanker.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/images.jpg

Member for

17 years 11 months

Posts: 1,010

I would venture a guess all those graphics are more of artists renderings based on rough requirements (number of engines, rough planform) than actual engineering solutions.

Member for

9 years 4 months

Posts: 375

I would venture a guess all those graphics are more of artists renderings based on rough requirements (number of engines, rough planform) than actual engineering solutions.

Some leaks show that some of the designs are mature pre-conceptual design phase designs.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251299[/ATTACH]

Attachments

Member for

9 years 4 months

Posts: 375

and the render in that picture looks totally different than the f-22 clone above.
it suggests they still havent decided on a planform.

The render at the TF-X symposium was prior to Turkish Aerospace Industries releasing the more mature render showing F-22 clone with IRST in December 2016.

Member for

13 years 5 months

Posts: 506

If all these new aircraft end up looking like F-22 and/or F-35 mashups I'm going to be seriously pissed off. If the Russians and Chinese can design something new to fire the imagination, why not others?

For KFX/IFX...the involvement of LM is there. It's safe design..the KAI and it's Junior Partner DI did not want to invent something entirely new. Afterall they are going to used technology that already available in the market as much as possible.

Member for

9 years 4 months

Posts: 375

For KFX/IFX...the involvement of LM is there. It's safe design..the KAI and it's Junior Partner DI did not want to invent something entirely new. Afterall they are going to used technology that already available in the market as much as possible.

Hence why the KFX/IFX is 4.5 Generation.

The Brits/Turks on the other hand have a strategic vision: the development of a new generation air superiority fighter akin to a European equivalent to the US F-22. BAE Systems brings a lot of expertise in this regard from its previous research into LO aircraft. The British Aeronautical Society article also implies this.

News coming out of Ankara indicates that there may be more European partners who join the TF-X program in future after completion of the pre-design phase. Germany stands out in this regard.

Member for

13 years 5 months

Posts: 506

Hence why the KFX/IFX is 4.5 Generation.

The Brits/Turks on the other hand have a strategic vision: the development of a new generation air superiority fighter akin to a European equivalent to the US F-22. BAE Systems brings a lot of expertise in this regard from its previous research into LO aircraft. The British Aeronautical Society article also implies this.

News coming out of Ankara indicates that there may be more European partners who join the TF-X program in future after completion of the pre-design phase. Germany stands out in this regard.

Basically if I read this right..are you saying TFX will become some kind successor to Eurojet Typhoon, as a Euro project?

Then if that to happen TFX will not become Turkey drive project, cause I don't think UK or Germany will want to commit themselves on large scale project if the project still Turkey drive and not Euro drive..
Bit difference on individual companies frm UK involved with TFX then to UK as a political entity commit themselves to TFX.

Member for

9 years 4 months

Posts: 375

Basically if I read this right..are you saying TFX will become some kind successor to Eurojet Typhoon, as a Euro project?

Then if that to happen TFX will not become Turkey drive project, cause I don't think UK or Germany will want to commit themselves on large scale project if the project still Turkey drive and not Euro drive..
Bit difference on individual companies frm UK involved with TFX then to UK as a political entity commit themselves to TFX.

(1) The Eurofighter Typhoon is a 4.5 Gen multi-role fighter whereas the TF-X is an air-superiority fighter program.

(2) Europe does not have the funds to finance another combat aircraft platform in addition to the Typhoon but requires an air superiority fighter in its inventories in light of the threats faced. It is highly unlikely the US will sell the F-22 abroad. This is where Turkish Aerospace Industries comes in. The TF-X is directly funded by the Turkish Government. A Government which won its entire election campaign on the development of an indigenous fighter and development of the Turkish Aerospace sector. $44 billion has been allocated for this program. TAI would basically be funding the R&D for a European Air-Superiority Fighter.

(3) Turkey can use the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation as project manager of the program. OCCAR is a European intergovernmental organisation which facilitates and manages collaborative armament programmes through their lifecycle between the nations of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Other States can participate in OCCAR programmes without becoming a Member State. Currently the EU and/or NATO members Turkey, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania and Poland participate in one or more OCCAR programmes without being a formal member. Turkey was a OCCAR member in the A-400M military program.

Member for

14 years 2 months

Posts: 4,619

If we are thinking of a company with LO experience that doesnt produce boring designs then BAE has to come top

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251327[/ATTACH]...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251328[/ATTACH]

and that is from nearly 30 years ago

Attachments

Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 3,765

(2) Europe does not have the funds to finance another combat aircraft platform in addition to the Typhoon but requires an air superiority fighter in its inventories in light of the threats faced. It is highly unlikely the US will sell the F-22 abroad. This is where Turkish Aerospace Industries comes in. The TF-X is directly funded by the Turkish Government. A Government which won its entire election campaign on the development of an indigenous fighter and development of the Turkish Aerospace sector. $44 billion has been allocated for this program. TAI would basically be funding the R&D for a European Air-Superiority Fighter.

"Europe" does not have the funds to finance another aircraft besides the Typhoon, nevermind that the development and acquisition costs of that particular bird are already payed, but Turkey with a defense budget half of the French or the British ones is going to finance "Europe" into a new multi national program?
Right now, no one in Europe outside of the TAF is considering the TFX, there are severall Air Forces buying "Dave", the French and the British are into UCAV´s and "ze Germans" are looking around, but no one is giving much of a thought to the TFX, wich is entirely normal. Turkey wants to go from the Hurkus directly into a "Raptor Lite", and most of the outsider´s are... well lets say... "dubious" about the chances of that particular bird getting into sqn´s, nevermind the "On time, on cost and on spec" bits, it will be quite a feat if TAI pulls something that ends in combat sqn´s, but the chances of the rest of Europe adopting it has a replacement for the Phoon (IMO) are almost nil.

ps - The Raptor line is closed for six years now.

Cheers

Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 3,765

If we are thinking of a company with LO experience that doesnt produce boring designs then BAE has to come top

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251327[/ATTACH]...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251328[/ATTACH]

and that is from nearly 30 years ago

Northrop

Cheers

Member for

9 years 4 months

Posts: 375

"Europe" does not have the funds to finance another aircraft besides the Typhoon, nevermind that the development and acquisition costs of that particular bird are already payed, but Turkey with a defense budget half of the French or the British ones is going to finance "Europe" into a new multi national program?
Right now, no one in Europe outside of the TAF is considering the TFX, there are severall Air Forces buying "Dave", the French and the British are into UCAV´s and "ze Germans" are looking around, but no one is giving much of a thought to the TFX, wich is entirely normal. Turkey wants to go from the Hurkus directly into a "Raptor Lite", and most of the outsider´s are... well lets say... "dubious" about the chances of that particular bird getting into sqn´s, nevermind the "On time, on cost and on spec" bits, it will be quite a feat if TAI pulls something that ends in combat sqn´s, but the chances of the rest of Europe adopting it has a replacement for the Phoon (IMO) are almost nil.

ps - The Raptor line is closed for six years now.

Cheers

Thats correct. Right now no one in Europe is considering the TF-X. But I didn't assert this. I said once BAE Systems and TAI complete the pre-design phase European nations may decide to join the TF-X program.

Yes the French and British are into the UCAV's but so too is Turkey under its MITUP program- the TFX is a prelude to this program. In fact all Western airforces will commence studies into UCAV's. BAE Systems has Taranis, the US has the Boeing X-45 and Northrop Grumman X-47B, the Indian DRDO AURA, and the Russian MiG Skat. BUT all of these platforms will not replace the role of traditional combat aircraft until at least 2035 onwards. The TFX is intended to be commissioned between 2023-25.

Turkish Aerospace Industries is also not going from Hurkus to the TFX. It is going from licensed production of 300 F-16's, indigenous modernisation of entire F-16's (Ozgur program), industrial input in the JSF program to design and development of the SNC/TAI Freedom Trainer to developing a new combat aircraft TOGETHER in conjunction with a British defence giant.

If Europeans purchase Gripen's and Mirage then they will most definitely consider the TF-X.

Member for

15 years 8 months

Posts: 2,626

Thats correct. Right now no one in Europe is considering the TF-X. But I didn't assert this. I said once BAE Systems and TAI complete the pre-design phase European nations may decide to join the TF-X program.

Yes, that is possible. Many would see that as risky, too, due to Turkey being somewhat unstable (got a civil war going on; recent attempted coup d'état; head of state altering constitution to something more like dictatorship). And what if the Islamic fundamentalists (no freedom except what Sharia allows) gain power in Turkey? Will agreements with infidels continue?

[QUOTE=Bayar;2374008]Thats correct. Right now no one in Europe is considering the TF-X. But I didn't assert this. I said once BAE Systems and TAI complete the pre-design phase European nations may decide to join the TF-X program.

Member for

14 years 2 months

Posts: 4,619

Northrop

Cheers

Hmmm, yes ok I will give the YF-23 a nod, but no more:eagerness:

Member for

9 years 4 months

Posts: 375

[QUOTE=Spitfire9;2374065]Yes, that is possible. Many would see that as risky, too, due to Turkey being somewhat unstable (got a civil war going on; recent attempted coup d'état; head of state altering constitution to something more like dictatorship). And what if the Islamic fundamentalists (no freedom except what Sharia allows) gain power in Turkey? Will agreements with infidels continue?

Thats correct. Right now no one in Europe is considering the TF-X. But I didn't assert this. I said once BAE Systems and TAI complete the pre-design phase European nations may decide to join the TF-X program.

There is zero geopolitical risk in Turkey

No civil war in Turkey- just a war on communist terrorist groups seeking to carve out communist territories.
Coup- product of Turkey shifting to Russia and China due to Obama's incompetence vis-a-vis Syria. Western Intelligence agencies will not make another attempt at overthrowing Erdogan as this would then solidify Turkey's exit from NATO. He is too powerful as he enjoys popular support at home. The Trump Administration also has good relations with the current Turkish Government. Trump also has business ties with Erdogan's business associates.
Islamic fundamentalism- Turkey is the last country to succumb to Islamic fundamentalism. The Turks hate the British created Wahhabism. They blame it for the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire (Laurence of Arabia). The Turks also practice a different form of Islam to the majority of the Islamic world. They were also an Islamic Caliphate for in excess of 700 years just only 100 years ago. Their Ottoman caliphate gave refuge to Sephardi Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition and were one of the first countries in the world to legalise homosexuality. Even well before the Western world.
Constitutional changes- Turkey is holding a referendum on whether Turkey should become a Presidential Republic like the USA and France or remain a Parliamentary democracy. The proposed Constitutional changes are identical word for word with the US Constitution. Hardly, akin to a dictatorship unless one asserts that the US Presidential system is also undemocratic.