Here’s how much one future TF-X fighter jet will cost Turkey March 16 A crowd of people gather around a full-scale model of Turkish Aerospace Industries TF-X at the Paris Air Show on June 17, 2019. (Valerie Insinna/Staff) ANKARA, Turkey A Ukrainian engine will power Turkey’s new Atak II-class T929 helicopter, the head of Turkish Aerospace Industries announced Monday in a TV interview, during which he also identified the price of the future TF-X fighter jet as $100 million per unit. Temel Kotil said the 11-ton T929, a heavier version of the T129, will be powered by a twin turboshaft 2,500-horsepower engine made in Ukraine. He did not give any further details on the engine, but said the T929 will make its maiden flight in 2023.
TF-X: Turkey Wants to Build Its Very Own F-35 Stealth Fighter
The TF-X was developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in collaboration with BEA Systems and was designed to replace the F-16 Fighting Falcons currently in service with the Turkish Air Force. Additionally, Ankara has announced that the still-to-be-built aircraft would be offered for export.
Ankara may have hoped that President Joe Biden might reverse course on sanctions imposed on Turkey, and even allow the NATO nation to rejoin the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. However, during his confirmation hearings with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested a review of the sanctions was in order.
Turkey hopes new engine deal will power future TF-X fighter jet (Emrah Gurel/AP) ANKARA, Turkey Turkey’s procurement agency has commissioned a local company to develop critical technologies for an engine that the government hopes will power its first indigenous fighter jet. A contract was signed Feb. 14 between two state-controlled companies for the development program. Under the deal, TRMotor, an engine maker, will develop an auxiliary power unit and an air turbine start system for what Turkey hopes will be critical components of an indigenous engine to power the TF-X aircraft. TRMotor signed the deal with the prime contractor of the TF-X program, Turkish Aerospace Industries, another state-controlled defense company.