TUSAŞ Engine Industries (TEI) General Manager Prof. Dr. Mahmut F. Akşit provided significant updates on the engine that will power the National Combat Aircraft KAAN. Akşit announced that TEI’s design was chosen in the conceptual design competition for the engine.
Prof. Dr. Mahmut F. Akşit shared detailed information about the engine powering KAAN. Speaking at the “Meeting with the Youth” event held in May at Istanbul Technical University, Akşit’s conference recording was uploaded to YouTube by the university administration.
Conceptual Design Competition: TEI’s Success
Akşit noted that in the conceptual design phase competition for the KAAN engine, a panel of 13 judges selected TEI’s design. He mentioned that one of the engines in the competition was a foreign design, speculated to be from Ukraine.
5th Generation Aircraft Engine: A Challenging Task
Prof. Akşit emphasized that creating a 5th generation aircraft engine is more challenging than making an atomic bomb, stating, “Even China has not yet been able to produce its own national engine.” He reminded that developing engines takes years, citing the 17-year development period of the Eurojet engines for Tornado fighter jets.
KAAN Engine: The Cutting Edge of Technology
Akşit highlighted that the KAAN engine represents the pinnacle of technology, stating, “There are only two or three engines in the world with this technology. One is with the Americans, the F-22 Raptor’s engine, and the other is with the Russians, the Sukhoi’s engine.” He emphasized that 5th generation aircraft engines can fly supersonically without afterburners, providing a significant advantage.
Long-Term Projects and Government Support
Akşit stressed that such large projects cannot be completed quickly and require long-term government support and stability. “In the 1980s, governments changed frequently, and such an environment could not support long-term projects,” he said.
Domestic Production and Technology
Akşit noted that Turkey’s investments in domestic software systems and satellite projects have minimized the impact of cyber attacks, underscoring the importance of producing domestic aircraft engines. He also mentioned that stainless steel was produced in Turkey for the first time.
Challenges and Costs of 5th Generation Aircraft Engines
Discussing the challenges of developing a 5th generation aircraft engine, Akşit stated that developing such an engine costs billions of dollars and that very few countries in the world can develop this technology. He mentioned that developing prototype engines is very costly and requires many test engines.
Support and Encouragement for Youth
Prof. Akşit praised the significant achievements of young engineers and stated that TEI encourages young people in their master’s and doctoral studies. “Our young people are very talented and intelligent, solving problems quickly,” he said.
TEI’s Achievement
Akşit highlighted that TEI’s design was selected as the winner in the competition for the KAAN engine. “A panel of 13 technical experts conducted a rigorous evaluation and selected our engine as the first place. We can do this, and we are doing it. But will it be quick? No,” he said.
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