Ukraine joins tender for KAAN fighter engine

The Ukrainian company Ivchenko Progress has joined a tender for the development of the original KAAN fighter engine.

The [Ukrainian] Defence Industry Administration plans to develop a national turbofan engine for the KAAN fighter, as part of the National Combat Aircraft (MMU) project. In this context, the "Draft of the Preliminary Design stage" was launched, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Twitter page of SavunmaSanayiST.com.

The engines supplied by Ukraine are used in aircraft and ammunition developed by the Turkish Defence Industry, such as AKINCI UAV, KIZILELMA unmanned combat aircraft, ANKA-3, and KEMANKS and Super ŞIMŞEK cruise missiles. Also, the T929 heavy-class attack helicopter uses an engine supplied by Ukraine.

On the other hand, for the engine of the national combat aircraft, the British company Rolls-Royce has established a partnership with the Kale Group company from Turkey.

The Kale Arge company, part of the Kale Group, is known for the development of Turkey's first turbojet rocket engines.

Kale Arge KTJ-3200 and KTJ-1750 turbojet engines are installed on ÇAKIR, SOM and ATMACA rockets.

Defence Industry Presidency Head Ismail Demir said that the development of a national turbofan engine for the KAAN fighter could take an average of eight to 10 years.

Currently, the KAAN fighter uses an American-made F110 turbofan engine. The first 20 KAAN combat aircraft, which are scheduled to fly in 2023 or 2024, will be equipped with an F110 engine.

Turkish Aerospace Industries plans to deliver the first KAAN to the Turkish Air Force in 2028.

Ukrayna KAAN savaş uçağının motor ihalesine girdi!https://t.co/5KKQtrJ9l7

— SavunmaSanayiST.com (@SavunmaSanayiST) May 29, 2023