Aviation

Ukraine enters a tender for the engine development for Turkey’s KAAN Fighter.

Türkiye's indigenous fighter jet KAAN to take to the skies in December

In the competition to create the initial engine for the KAAN fighter plane, the Ukrainian business Ivchenko Progress also took part. The National Combat Aircraft (MMU) Project will include the development of a national turbofan engine for the KAAN warplane by the Presidency of Defence Industries. The “Preliminary Design Phase Project” was recently initiated in this area.

According to data gathered by SavunmaSanayiST.com from defence sources, TRMotor’s principal contractor submitted the tender for the preliminary design phase project, which was started by the SSB as part of the MMU Original Engine Development Programme, under the cooperation model of TEI and Ivchenko Progress.

Engines from Ukraine are utilised in aircraft and ammunition such as the AKINCI T? HA, KIZILELMA, ANKA-3, KEMANKES, and Super??M? EK, which was developed by the Turkish defence industry. The T929 Heavy Class Attack Helicopter, however, also makes use of a Ukrainian-supplied engine.

On the other side, the Turkish Kale Group company and the British Rolls-Royce company had partnered to develop the engine for the National Combat Aircraft. In the same tender, TAEC is a competitor. With Kale Holding A., Rolls Royce Overseas Holdings Limited, and TAEC Aircraft Engine Industry Inc., the company was founded in 2017. The company is 51% owned by Kale Group.

The Kale Group company, Kale Arge, is renowned for creating the first turbojet missile engines in Turkey.

The SOM and ATMACA missiles will be powered by the Kale Arge KTJ-3200 and KTJ-1750 turbojet engines; AKIR. In contrast, the business provides the KTJ-3700 for the LAND SHOOTER and GEZG? N is working on the Cruise Missile’s engines as part of the ARAT Project. The Roketsan AKIR Cruise Missile’s first fire test with the KTJ-1750 Turbojet Engine just ended successfully.

According to Prof. Dr. Ismail Demir, president of the defence industry, the creation of a national turbofan engine for the KAAN fighter aircraft could take somewhere between 8 and 10 years. Currently, the KAAN fighter aircraft uses the US-made F110 Turbofan Engine. An F110 engine will power the first 20 KAAN aeroplanes, which are anticipated to fly for the first time in 2023 or 2024.

The Turkish Air Force is expected to receive the first KAAN from TAI in 2028.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

British Airways Unveils Its Brand-New First Class Cabin for the Airbus A380

This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

Etihad Airways Unveils 10 Exciting New Routes for 2025

In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.