Turkey and Ukraine have had extensive cooperation in the defense industry for a long time. Many defense industry companies from TAI to Aselsan and Baykar have agreements with companies in Ukraine.
Let us recall that in the recent past, TAI General Manager Temel Kotil stated that engineers from Ukraine are already in Turkey.
Needless to say, an influx of Ukrainian engineers and experts in the Turkish defense industry would give another breath to Erdogan, for the construction of many plans, to make his country a regional power in a huge area, and many risks for Greece.
Also, the Turkish company Baykar plans to build in Ukraine not only a factory for the production of Bayraktar TB2 attack drones, but in the future the company also plans to create Bayraktar Akıncı and Bayraktar Kizilelma in Ukraine.
In a new development, Ukraine's Ivchenko-Progress has entered a tender to develop a new jet engine for Turkey's fifth-generation KAAN fighter jet, also known as the TF-X. The Ukrainian company will compete with the British giant Rolls-Royce.
Ivchenko Progress, a company based in Ukraine, was among the participants in the tender to develop an engine for the Turkish KAAN fighter. This event took place within the framework of the "Peliminary Design Phase Project", the purpose of which is to create a Turkish national turbofan engine for this particular fighter.
Turkey's Ministry of Defense wants two engines for the aircraft. Ivchenko-Progress will work with the Turkish company Tusas Engine Industries (TEI). Rolls-Royce's partner will be the Kale Group. One of the key requirements is the full transfer of rights for the propulsion system to Turkey.
It is worth noting that, almost 10 years ago, Turkey tried to make a tender for the development of an engine for the fighter from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). Russia's Rosoboronexport, French company Snecma, European company Eurojet as well as American duo Pratt & Whitney and General Electric battled for the contract. However, the contest was aborted.
It should also be noted that Ukrainian-made engines are used in many Turkish unmanned aerial vehicles. Specifically, in Bayraktar Kizilelma, ANKA-3 and Bayraktar Akinci. In addition, the Ukrainian propulsion system will be installed on the promising T929 ATAK II helicopter.
The T929 heavy attack helicopter, also known as ATAK-II, is scheduled to make its maiden flight this year.
According to SavunmaSanayiST.com, the engines are model TV3-117VMA-SBM1V-01T, which will be used in the first ATAK-II prototype named T0. The first prototype of the T929 heavy-class attack helicopter, which is under assembly, is expected to incorporate engines and begin ground testing soon.
Together with Ivchenko Progress, TEI also submitted a bid to the tender, with TRMotor acting as the general contractor for this project. It is more than obvious that, in case of victory of the Ukrainian manufacturer, Turkey can supply weapons to Kiev for the announced funds.
According to Ismail Demir, head of the defense industry, developing a custom turbofan engine for the KAAN fighter jet could take an average of 8 to 10 years.
However, given the current competition, the situation may change in the future, and the new KAAN fighter will be equipped with a domestic turbofan engine, which will be created by one of the participants in this competition.
