Aviation

Türkiye’s homegrown 5th-generation fighter jet named KAAN

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

The name “KAAN” will be given to Turkey’s homegrown fifth-generation fighter aircraft, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Monday.

The aircraft’s designation was revealed on May 1st in a grand celebration at TAI facilities in the Turkish capital Ankara, which included flyovers by Air Force aircraft, sizable crowds, and the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

? KAAN Savaş Uçağı ! pic.twitter.com/QYdY1JQ7ze— Conflict (@ConflictTR) May 1, 2023

Adı KAAN, kılıcı keskin olsun! ??✈️#İstikbalinYüzyılı pic.twitter.com/q5326nws9R— Türk Havacılık Uzay Sanayii (@TUSAS_TR) May 1, 2023

After the TF-X, also known as the National Combat Aircraft (MMU), successfully completed its first taxi test and made its runway debut in mid-March after its engines were started for the first time, Erdogan made his comments. “Türkiye is now in every field, on land, in the sea and submarine, in the air and space,” Erdogan said at the “Century of the Future” event in the Turkish capital Ankara.

The twin engines of the 21-meter jet, which can each produce 29,000 pounds (13,000 kilograms) of power, enable it to travel at a top speed of 1.8 Mach.

All the technologies and characteristics seen in fifth-generation airplanes are present in KAAN. It will give the chance to strategically strike air-to-air and air-to-ground targets. Its infrastructure for safe data exchange and the use of smart weapons is entirely domestic.

It will improve combat power with accurate and precise firing from internal weapon slots at high/supersonic speed with its high-performance radar, electronic warfare, electro-optics, communication, navigation, and identification capability. Additionally, it has automatic target recognition and detection, multiple data fusion, and artificial intelligence capabilities.

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Aviation

Boeing Faces New Setbacks as 777X Delays Extend and scraps B767-300F

Boeing’s challenges continue as employees halted production due to a strike, creating new obstacles for delivering aircraft to customers. The company now faces financial losses from delays in the delivery of its boeing 777x aircraft.

Boeing recently announced that the new delivery date for the 777-9 will be in 2026, with the freighter variant scheduled for 2028. This news has been frustrating for airlines that have committed to and are waiting for the aircraft.

Mega Comparison of Boeing 777x vs A350-1000 Aircraft

The Boeing 777X program, which began in early 2019, was initially delayed to 2021 due to COVID-19 disruptions. Subsequent issues, including defects found during testing, have placed the program under scrutiny by the FAA, which insists on the aircraft meeting all safety standards before entering service. Boeing is now facing pressure from both airlines and investors.

Boeing 777x Delay

New Commercial Airplanes expects to incur pre-tax charges of $3.0 billion related to the Boeing 777X and 767 programs.

The company forecasts a $2.6 billion pre-tax charge due to the updated timeline, which accounts for delays in flight testing for the 777-9 and the impact of the IAM (International Association of Machinists) work stoppage. The first 777-9 delivery is now expected in 2026, with the 777-8 freighter following in 2028.

Exploring the Boeing 777x: Highlights from the Debut at …

In addition, Boeing plans to conclude production of the 767 freighter, resulting in a $0.4 billion pre-tax charge. From 2027 onwards, the company will solely produce the 767-2C aircraft for the KC-46A Tanker program.

In August 2024, Boeing grounded its 777X test fleet after detecting a failure in a key engine mounting structure during a routine inspection. The new boeing 777x, powered by the GE9X engine, is the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet, but this issue has caused further setbacks.

Boeing 777x, A close-up of the engine, landing gear, and wing

Comparison of 777x vs A350

Meanwhile, the Airbus A350 continues to secure new orders from airlines, becoming a strong competitor in the wide-body aircraft segment. While the a350 vs b777 offer similar ranges, the 777X is designed to carry a heavier payload.

In other developments, Boeing has hinted at starting production of a new mid-sized aircraft, the Boeing 797, which would likely compete with the Airbus A321 XLR.