The TAI TF-X (“Turkish Fighter–Experimental”, is a proposed stealth twin-engine all-weather air superiority fighter being developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in collaboration with BAE Systems. The aircraft is planned to replace F-16 Fighting Falcons of the Turkish Air Force and to be exported to foreign air forces. TAI CEO Temel Kotil claimed that the TF-X would make its first flight by 2025. However president of Undersecretariat for Defence Industries Ismail Demir stated that they expect the first flight by 2026. It will enter in service in 2030s.
| Role | Stealth multirole air superiority fighter |
|---|---|
| National origin | Turkey |
| Manufacturer | Turkish Aerospace Industries |
| First flight | 2025 or 2026 (planned) |
| Status | Preliminary design studies |
| Primary user | Turkish Air Force (intended) |
Preliminary specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: One pilot
- Length: 21 m (68 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 14 m (45 ft 11 in)
- Height: 6 m (19 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 60 m2 (670 sq ft)
- Max takeoff weight: 27,215 kg (60,000 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × General Electric F110 (for test flights, until indigenous ones are manufactured by TRMotor) , 120 kN (27,000 lbf) thrust each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 2,222 km/h (1,381 mph, 1,200 kn)
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.8
- Combat range: 1,100 km (690 mi, 600 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 17,000 m (55,000 ft)
- g limits: +9.0 g & -3.5 g
Armament
- Missiles:
- Air-to-air missiles:
- GÖKTUĞ missile program:
- Gökdoğan (Peregrine) BVR active radar homing
- Bozdoğan (Merlin) short-range infrared homing
- MBDA Meteor (BVRAAM)
- GÖKTUĞ missile program:
- Air-to-surface missiles:
- SOM Cruise Missile (B1, B2, and J variants)
- Air-to-air missiles:
- Bombs:
- HGK-82 (Mark 82 bomb w/ TUBITAK-SAGE Precision Guidance Kit)
- KGK-82 (Mark 82 bomb w/ TUBITAK-SAGE Wing Assisted Guidance Kit)
- Teber-82 (Mark 82 bomb w/ ROKETSAN Laser Guidance Kit)
- KGK-83 (Mark 83 bomb w/ TUBITAK-SAGE Wing Assisted Guidance Kit)
- HGK-84 (Mark 84 bomb w/ TUBITAK-SAGE Precision Guidance Kit)
Avionics
- IRFS (AESA Radar, Electronic Warfare (EW))
- Advanced Navigation Features (ICNI)
- Integrated Electro-Optical Systems (IEOS) (Infrared Search and Track (IRST), Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) etc.)
- Advanced Cockpit / Human Machine Interface
Photos Rob Vogelaar
