Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TUSAŞ) General Manager Temel Kotil, in his statement at the 3rd Efficiency and Technology Fair, stated that the MMU Project is progressing and that on March 18, 2023, the prototype with avionics, control and hydraulic systems will start the engine for the first time. and said that ground tests will begin.
Stating that they made a “very strict” schedule for the project and that they followed it, Kotil stated that they carried out a process that they both learned and taught within the scope of the project.
Noting that the number of engineers involved in the project has reached 1000, Kotil noted that the total number of engineers in the company has exceeded 4 thousand.
“A private hangar as it is a secret project”
Expressing that the hangar prepared for MMU will be completed this year, Kotil said:
“Because it is a secret project, it is a special hangar. It will be intertwined with the engineering building. It will be a structure isolated from the outside, with its own communication infrastructure and high-computational computers. Our wind tunnel will be operational by the end of 2022. For us, for Turkey, for the survival of the country, the most important project 5 “The ‘th generation fighter jet. That is why we work meticulously. Our workload ‘kills’ us, but the synergy we produce due to workload relieves all problems.”
Projects support each other
Pointing out that Hürjet will also fly by the end of 2022, Kotil stated that the system, where ground tests of this aircraft will be carried out, will facilitate MMU tests, and that the full-scale fatigue test infrastructure of the Gökbey helicopter will be used first for Hürjet and then for MMU.
Temel Kotil said, “All of our projects support each other. The flight control system obtained in Aksungur, our flight experience we learned in the F-16 will be used in MMU. Even if each project brings difficulties, it also provides convenience because it supports each other.” made its assessment.
“We will show the plane in 2022”
Stating that the production of MMU’s parts will be completed by the end of 2022, Kotil said:
“We will show the plane in 2022. Now the production of parts has started. The most important part of the MMU is the 5 meter by 3 meter titanium parts holding the engines. This is the most difficult part to manufacture. We are very good at manufacturing. We are making the middle fuselage of the F-35, manufacturing “It is not an easy project for us. We think we will not have any problems in production. Despite this, we are taking extra precautions. It is very valuable for us to achieve the target of 18 March 2023 in engine starting.”
Task distribution for 20 thousand pieces
Temel Kotil pointed out that the MMU consists of 20 thousand parts and stated that a ready-made engine will be used at the beginning, and then the engine to be developed by TRMotor will be integrated into the aircraft.
Stating that they formed a partnership to develop and produce landing gear that will carry a load of 60 tons with the force emerging during the landing, Kotil said, “We have a partnership with Altınay, TUSAŞ and an Italian company. The Italian company also makes the landing gear for Hürjet together with Altınay. Turkey is here to make landing gear. The team has gained the talent.” said.
“We give work to anyone who wants to do”
Emphasizing that a joint company was established with Turkish companies for the air conditioning system and that this need will be met with domestic resources, Kotil said:
“We have ASELSAN for avionics and computer hardware, we have HAVELSAN for software, TUSAŞ has its own software team. The actuators that provide the movements of the wings and control surfaces in warplanes are a partnership established by TUSAŞ, Altınay and a Ukrainian company. The transparent canopy surrounding the cockpit is We are working to produce it locally. There is a very effective radar in the nose of the plane. We have given this task to ASELSAN, it is doing it.
There are sensors and sensors on the aircraft, we gave them to ASELSAN, HAVELSAN. Central computers are made by TÜBİTAK BİLGEM. Pavotek is developing the power distribution system. We have activated all the capabilities in Turkey on this aircraft. Building a fighter jet means engaging all the elements that can contribute. We give work to anyone who wants to do. TAI’s main role here is design, finishing geometry.
The outer geometry is finished, the control surfaces are finished, now we do the structural skeleton, the shaping. No one else can do this but us. All the equipment we put in it is made by others. They must be local and national. Combat aircraft means domestic and national. Everything from A to Z, including the engine, will be local and national when the time comes. For this reason, we include Turkish companies in the project as much as possible and give contracts. We say, ‘Let anyone who can do it come’.”
“With this plane, Turkey becomes one of the countries that can produce fighter jets”
Temel Kotil said that they will continue to increase the human resources in the project and that they plan to employ 3,000 engineers for MMU. Kotil said, “This is a marathon, with this plane, Turkey is among the countries that can produce fighter jets. We want young people to share in this excitement. Come, work with us, touch one side.” he said.
