Turkey’s 4.5 generation National Combat Aircraft (TF-X) fighter jet prototype which was rolled out last week, has reportedly started its ground runs.
Prototypes of the TF-X will initially operate with U.S.-made GE F-110 engine.
The TF-X has reportedly started its ground runs. In a video shared on Twitter, the TF-X can be seen powering up and moving under its own power.
The F-110 engine powers the F-16 aircraft and Turkish Engine Industries (TEI) has a contract to perform deep maintenance of the engine found in Turkish F-16s and that of some other Air Forces in West Asia.
TEI has announced the development of an all new engine, the TEI-TF10000 in December 2022. A variant of this engine will power the TF-X, according to TEI.
The TEI-TF10000 engine which was designed for KIZILELMA-class unmanned combat systems, fast assault boats, power plants and can be used in regional passenger planes and a military turbofan engine is one that stands out as an important technological development and demonstration for TEI and Turkey in the way towards the engine of the TF-X. The engine will be able to offer solutions for thrust in heavy class attack helicopters such as ATAK-2 with different configurations produced from its core.