Türkiye, Pakistan deepen defense ties with KAAN jet export, joint helicopter project

[mulj]

Pakistan does not have the industrial base to even manufacture the airframe for KAAN.

It can manage the JF-17 as that is a much lower level of tech as it is mostly metal alloys, whereas KAAN uses carbon fibre composites.

I don't think a production line is really realistic and at the most assembly from kit-form would be possible.

Turks can assist with that too, they can open facility in Pakistan for production of carbon fibers, both for civil and military purposes.

 

[Fatman17]

Indian source.

A new challenge for Indian Air Force? Pakistan eyes Turkey's TAI Kaan fifth-generation stealth fighter jets

Pakistan is in advanced talks with Turkey to produce TAI Kaan fifth-generation stealth jets, aiming to diversify from Chinese equipment, posing new challenges to India’s air power and defense strategy

Pakistan's aerial power is likely to have a major boost as the country is in the advanced stage of discussions with Turkey on setting up a production facility for a fifth-generation stealth aircraft, TAI Kaan, in the country.

The facility is expected to focus on producing the local variant of the cutting-edge, next-generation stealth jet.

The report comes even as there have been talks of Pakistan procuring 40 fifth-generation stealth Shenyang J-35 fighter jets from China. These fighter jets are expected to replace the ageing fourth-generation F-16s and French Mirage fighters of Pakistan.

Developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), and featuring automatic target recognition, multi-target tracking, ground mapping, AI-assisted target limiting, electronic warfare capacities, and enhanced missile guidance, Kaan—officially known as the TAI Kaan or TF-X—boasts of superior situational awareness and formidable deterrent capabilities.

"Discussions on the export of the Kaan fighter jet and plans for joint development of helicopters highlight shared ambitions to advance defense technology collaboration and industrial partnerships,” according to a Turkish media report.

According to media reports, the discussions may be focused on the technical and logistical aspects of setting up the unit in Pakistan.

“Pakistan might have officially joined the Kaan stealth aircraft project. Multiple subsystems would be manufactured in Pakistan. A joint production line is likely being established. This will reduce the financial burden considerably and provide jobs for Pakistanis,” EurAsian Times quoted a source as saying.

Nonetheless, according to Indian Air Force veteran Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), Kaan is not going to be ready for induction before 2030.

He noted that a cash-strapped Pakistan may not be able to purchase two different stealth fighters, and the talks with Turkey are on because Pakistan realizes its military cannot depend on Chinese equipment alone and needs to diversify. "Through Kaan, they strengthen their defense cooperation with a trusted and reliable partner, Turkey,” EurAsian Times quoted him as saying.

The reports of Pakistan's fifth-generation fighter jets ambitions come even as Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh recently expressed concerns over the northern as well as the western adversaries increasing their air forces at a "very rapid pace" while IAF is awaiting the delivery of Tejas aircraft.

Meanwhile, India's fifth-generation fighter program, primarily focused on the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), is expected to be ready only by 2028.

A new challenge for Indian Air Force? Pakistan eyes Turkey's TAI Kaan fifth-generation stealth fighter jets

Pakistan is in advanced talks with Turkey to produce TAI Kaan fifth-generation stealth jets, aiming to diversify from Chinese equipment, posing new challenges to India’s air power and defense strategy

www.theweek.in

The Indians are hoping that Pakistan is unable to acquire the KAAN platform due to monetary constraints.

Turkey doesn't offer loans like China. Cash only.

 

[FHN]

You didn't care to read my post properly ....I said by the time kaan comes into production , that maybe , give and take couple of years , 10 years ....I believe it's enough time for turkey to come up with a better coating than what China has right now ( disregarding Chinese future technologies ) ...

The problem with your thinking is that China is just gonna sit still and not innovate lol but that's not the reality we live in.
https://www.business-standard.com/e...ls-new-stealth-technology-124112500464_1.html
China currently represents roughly half of the global output in materials science research lol

 

[mulj]

Like? China’s WS-15 jet engine started development in 2006 and began mass deployment earlier last year. It's not easy at all.

Turks produced jet engines before China.

 

[FHN]

Turks produced jet engines before China.

Then where's the domestic engine?Even the Hurjet is currently powered by F404 engines from GE Aerospace

 

[mulj]

Then where's the domestic engine?

In process, prototype for Kaan fighter should be ready by the end of this year or beginning of next one.
They used their cooperation with USA at maximum and domestificated needed segments for engine development in best possible way.

 

[zhanlong]

Most likely China will require Stealth aircraft for the impending conflict with the US and NATO and China will be requiring and reserving more aircraft. China wouldn't be able to supply sufficient number of aircraft to Pakistan. So Pakistan is looking for an alternate source. Pakistan and China are iron clad brothers it is not a question of not being able to depend on China.

What do you mean: Türkiye can provide Pakistan with enough fighters? Are you sure?

 

[zhanlong]

Turkey doesn't offer loans like China. Cash only.

This is necessary. Türkiye needs Pakistan to share the cost of buying American engines.

 

[nahtanbob]

Diversification is highly beneficial. It's particularly beneficial when your adversary is uncertain. I'm particularly interested in the JFX. Even if it doesn't materialise like the Azm, it won't significantly impact the overall situation. Pakistan is making progress with the J-35 and KAAN.

with a $10 billion military budget and $2 billion for air force it will be fun getting the numbers to work

 

[nahtanbob]

What do you mean: Türkiye can provide Pakistan with enough fighters? Are you sure?

they are trying to play turkey versus china

 

[mythbuster]

The problem with your thinking is that China is just gonna sit still and not innovate lol but that's not the reality we live in.
https://www.business-standard.com/e...ls-new-stealth-technology-124112500464_1.html
China currently represents roughly half of the global output in materials science research lol

Most of my Chinese Bros have comprehension problem besides being ubber nationalist and jingoistic ....I have faith in Chinese future technological advancements as much you have .

 

[mythbuster]

they are trying to play turkey versus china

That's very deep , your two cents are worth millions .

 

[nahtanbob]

That's very deep , your two cents are worth millions .

It is obvious they are trying to play. there is no real promise Chinese will deliver J-35s to Pakistan

 

[FHN]

In process, prototype for Kaan fighter should be ready by the end of this year or beginning of next one.
They used their cooperation with USA at maximum and domestificated needed segments for engine development in best possible way.

I do not doubt turkey ability to produce a fighter jets engine but TEI's has just started test firing TF-6000 just this year , after it's success it plans to add afterburner to it and make TF-10000 engine, & only after that TEI will go for higher thrust engine for kaan. I'm questioning the timeline when it will be ready for service.

 

[mulj]

I do not doubt turkey ability to produce a fighter jets engine but TEI's has just started test firing TF-6000 just this year , after it's success it plans to add afterburner to it and make TF-10000 engine, & only after that TEI will go for higher thrust engine for kaan. I'm questioning the timeline when it will be ready for service.

I suppose they are working around the clock for it and commiting all available human and material resources to it, so it should take less time then in comparation with some other countries where conditions are more leisured then in countries with established jet engines infrastructure.