Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) successfully rolled out the first prototype of its flagship project, the Milli Muharip Ucak (MMU) next-generation fighter aircraft (NGFA). TUSAŞ also unveiled the prototype of its own unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), the ANKA-3, which was previously designated the TİSU.
The showing of the two prototype platforms arguably establishes Türkiye’s intent and emerging capacity to indigenously design, develop, and manufacture its future air warfare solutions.
First MMU (TFX) Prototype is Complete and Ready for Testing
On March 17, the head of Türkiye’s Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), Dr. Ismail Demir, announced that TUSAŞ successfully carried out the taxiing test of its first MMU prototype.
This specific unit will not fly. Rather, TUSAŞ will use it to carry out ground-based tests to gauge key aspects of the aircraft, like its subsystems and integration work, among other areas.
That said, MMU program seems to be running according to the schedule set in 2021. TUSAŞ said it aimed to roll out a prototype in 2023 and, in turn, carry out a test flight in 2025.[1] The first MMU prototypes and initial production variant will use the General Electric (GE) F110 turbofan engine.
Türkiye is also aiming to fly a variant powered by a domestic engine by 2029. TR Motor, which is a joint venture of TUSAŞ and SSTEK (a state-owned R&D bureau), is developing the indigenous engine.
In fact, it should be noted that Türkiye is aiming to indigenously source every critical input of the MMU, be it engine, radar and avionics, onboard oxygen generation system, and weapon systems. Thus, there is a clear focus on ensuring the aircraft is immune to supply-side blockages or interference.
Türkiye initiated the MMU in 2010 with the aim of developing a next-generation fighter aircraft (NGFA) to both replace the F-16 and complement the F-35. In 2017, TUSAŞ contracted BAE Systems for technical support in designing and developing the MMU.
That same year, TUSAŞ also revealed the specifications of the MMU. Originally, the design had a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 27,215 kg, roughly similar in size to the Chinese FC-31. It was supposed to use two engines, each with a maximum thrust of 88.9 kN.
However, Türkiye changed its plans and, instead, worked on a larger design. Though it did not reveal the MTOW of the revised model, the aircraft would instead use two General Electric (GE) F110 engines. These turbofans would generate a maximum thrust of 131.2 kN.
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