LeGenD
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Turkey has learned a great deal from its dealings with NATO partners; Turkish industries are a byproduct of this collaboration and they have worked on different projects including F-35. I believe that Turkey will be able to produce a good engine in time.Thank you Araz for your thoughts. And it's not a question of being "correct" or "incorrect", there's only so much detail available publicly. I would agree with a lot of your thoughts, but one of the things which we do not yet know for certain is whether the Western suppliers of those critical technologies would allow third party collaboration and/or export of the TFX. For example, BAE has been selected as the design and development partner, and as you've described, the TFX will use the EJ200 engine, at least until the Turks develop there own equivalent. But then that begs the question, if you think the Chinese do not have mature engine technology, why would the Turks be any different? As you've described, the core critical component will be engine tech, especially for the power requirements for a fifth gen type. If the Europeans do not allow third party collaboration or export license for the EJ200, then the TFX is a no go, at least until, or if, it ever gets a Turkish powerplant. But I think the chances of the Turks developing a high quality engine is about the same as the Chinese, and we've seen how even the Chinese have struggled in this regard. China would still be the less risky option in terms of design and development, and perhaps the Russians as an option for the powerplant, on the back of the relationship with Klimov and the RD-93. But besides all that, we don't even know whether the TFX would pass the requirements of the PAF, or the FC-31/J-35 for that matter, in which case the PAF is left with pursuing a bespoke design with external design and development assistance.
WE can/should reach out to Turkey to offer us a PAK-specific TFX - one that will contain components which are not likely to be sanctioned. If this is not possible, WE can strive for a JV of our own in connection with Project Azm. Turkish expertise in this domain would be invaluable to us if secured.