The Turkish TF-X stealth fighter – a good idea? We ask a former British technical liaison
A full-size mock-up of TF-X at the 2019 Paris Air Show. In some ways the TF-X is analogous to the Shenyang J-31.
At the Paris Air Show, Turkish Aerospace displayed a model of the TF–X fighter. Turkey has never designed an advanced combat aircraft before, and the aircraft is symbolic of the nation’s new confidence in breaking its dependence on the US. Looking every inch a Lockheed Martin model, could the TF-X become the air superiority ‘F-35’ that Turkey, and other air forces, are crying out for?
The TF-X is at first sight a twin-engine F-35 look-alike. Turkey projects this aircraft as a replacement for the F-16, and might operate it alongside the F-35, although this currently looks a bit uncertain for Turkey due to the deterioration in its relationship with the Trump administration. Either Turkey is seeking a more agile, air-to-air aircraft to complement F-35, which might then be used mainly for air strike, or perhaps TF-X can be seen as a move to develop both Turkey’s Industrial capability and its Defence self-sufficiency.
I would expect the aircraft to focus on the Air Defence role, because this would provide an opportunity to supplement rather than simply duplicate F-35 capability. A secondary strike role for the aircraft is likely.
The TF-X has been the subject of a technical agreement with BAE Systems, and initially, two EJ200 engines were to be used. However, the technical dialogue with Rolls-Royce has apparently been broken off. The configuration recently shown at the Paris AirShow is unchanged from previous illustrations. Claimed characteristics include 2 x20,000 lb thrust engines, Max Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 60,000 lb +, Max speed of Mach 2 and a ceiling of 55,000 ft+.
A stealthy Typhoon?
Broadly, then, Turkey appears to be, seeking to build a stealthy Typhoon. Is this achievable? I think it is doubtful that Turkey could achieve such an outcome without significant design and manufacturing assistance.
From a configuration viewpoint, the quoted Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) appears pretty high. It is about 10,000lb greater than the max overload Take-Off Weigh of the comprehensively equipped Typhoon. The claimed Mach 2 maximum speed and ceiling of 55,000 ft match those of Typhoon, but the MTOW seems high. I cannot comment with confidence onTurkey’s ability to design and build such an aircraft, and make it stealthy as well, but it does seem questionable.
Top fighters of the 2030s here
Otherwise, if the aircraft is to accommodate fuel and weapons internally, it is likely that wave drag will become an issue, although the additional internal fuel may increase combat persistence.. Similarly, the simple intakes shown lack the variable area and boundary layer management of the Typhoon to reduce signature. From these aspects, I would suggest that Mach 2.0 is an optimistic figure.
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All-in-all, the TF-X is much more like a twin-engined F-35 than a Typhoon. I doubt speeds greater than M 1.8 are achievable. From a manoeuvre perspective, I’d expect reasonable manoeuvrability in an air combat configuration, but I would be concerned that the relatively tall fins might be subject to significant buffet loads at high incidence.
Airbus/Dassault reveal full-size model of New Generation Fighter here.
Could Turkey deliver the TF-X as an F-35-clone, but optimised for air defence? It’s a nice concept, but a huge step forward from their current Industrial capability.
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Some factual errors with the above article:
The Engine requirements for the TF-X have since been revised. The description board released at the Paris Air Show also shows that the TF-X will use 2 x 27,000 lbf engines as opposed to the previously envisioned 2 x 20,000 lbf EJ200 engines which has been erroneously reported above.
The fuselage will be made of an Advance Composite.
Turkey has received support from Saab Aerospace (for the conceptual design phase), Dassault Systemes of France (Software Support) and BAE Systems (Detailed Engineering Phase Support). These companies are Aerospace giants.
Turkish Aerospace Industries is using a similar project model to South Korea’s KAI T-50 Golden Eagle Jet Trainer, which was supported by Lockheed Martin Corporation. A large portion of the technology know-how for the TF-X is coming from BAE’s defunct Replica program. Turkish Aerospace is merely building on this technology in line with technological advancements that have occurred since. Many Turkish companies are also providing the sub-systems to be used in the TF-X. These Turkish companies already supply sub-systems for the F-35.