Osman Okyay, Vice President of Kale Group and Head of Technical Department and Mustafa Varank, Minister of Industry and Technology participated in one of the latest tests of The National Turbojet Engine before its delivery; Kale R&D, one of the defence and aerospace companies of the Kale Group, developed the engine in Tuzla.
Okyay reminded that as Kale R&D, they undertook the design, production, testing, technology demonstration, training and maintenance of the National Turbojet Engine and engine subsystems to be used in the mass production of Stand-Off Ammunition (SOM missile) needed by the Air Force Command along with the Preparation of Technical Data Package (TVP).
Stating that Kale Group entered the defence and aviation sector in 1987 with the production of 22 different parts in the Stinger Missile Systems Project, Okyay noted that the defence and aviation sectors are of critical importance for countries and companies.
Okyay noted the following:
‘’If you are going to undertake some innovations in the field of technology, the sector you will choose is most likely defence and aviation industry. In addition, dependence on foreign countries in this sector also affects your country’s other policies in many areas. Therefore, the more you can reduce your external dependence here, the more freely you will be able to make your policies in other areas. Defense industry is a sector that our country needs very much. Therefore, it is very important for the economy of the country that this expenditure remains within the country and that the companies in the country operate in this field.
As Kale Group, we started by producing Stinger missile parts abroad in 1987, we have 5 companies operating in this field at this point. One of them is Kale Aviation. Important parts and components of military and civil aircraft are produced there. Companies like Boeing and Airbus are our customers.’’
‘’ We are first to design and develop national altitude test setup in Turkey.’’
Okyay stated that Kale Aviation contributes to the foreign trade of the country with its high value-added production and that they continue to work with qualified productions to increase exports. Explaining that Kale R&D was established in 2012 to develop national gas turbine engines, Okyay noted that their first project was the National Turbojet Engine and said:
‘’We are working on the first national scale jet engine developed in our country. We developed this completely with national means. It is the success of our engineers, the team working here. We not only developed the engine, but also developed many subsystems such as the electronic control unit, fuel group, pyrotechnic igniter, alternator, which we can call all subsystems of the engine, locally and nationally.
Apart from the engine, there is also a national altitude test setup. We are first to design and develop national altitude test setup in Turkey. It is a very difficult task. It is really as difficult a job as developing an engine, engineering, installing, operating and maintaining an altitude test rig. Here, we are doing tests of our engine at altitude and flight tests. In other words, we can provide exactly what the engine feels in the flight, whatever environment it is in, so that we can test its performance in the air on the ground. It is not possible to develop an engine without doing this. It is not a maintenance test rig, it’s a development test rig.
‘’The test we conducted with our dear minister was completed without any problems.’’
Okyay stated that engines will be produced for SOM missiles at the first stage with the National Turbojet Engine Project and said that they are proud to test the engine named KTJ-3200 with Minister Varank.
Giving information about the test of the engine, Okyay said:
“Thank God our engine worked very well. It carried out all the commands given by the electrical control unit exactly. The test we carried out with Mr. Mustafa Varank, our Minister of Industry and Technology, was completed without any problems and then we turned off our engine. Indeed, we can now feel comfortable in this area. Frankly, we feel that we have reached the level to be able to develop this and other engines.’’
Stating that they have been working on the National Turbojet Engine Project for 8.5 years, Okyay pointed out that they gained serious experience during this period.
‘’We have been working on preparation for production since August.’’
Stating that the engine is ready for the delivery schedule, Osman Okyay said:
“We are currently doing factory acceptance tests. Subsequently, the delivery process will be completed with the qualification tests of the engine.’’
Noting that they will perform the qualification tests of the engine in December, Okyay said:
‘’We plan that the qualification tests, which are the last stage of the ‘National Turbojet Engine, will start in the middle of December at the latest and be completed within a month. Thus, the development project will be completed, and our engine will now be ready for mass production. Manufacturing in the aviation industry is something we have been doing for years. We also produced a large number of prototype engines for tests. Things did not always go well in the 8.5-year period, sometimes there were engine damage. We immediately produced new ones. Therefore, we do not have any difficulties in engine production. We are also a direct sub-producer to Boeing and Airbus, the world’s largest aviation companies, in the international arena. So, the manufacturing side is easier for us than developing an engine from scratch. After this engine is qualified, we will take it to our production line and start mass production. We have been continuing the production preparation works since August. Therefore, we take it into mass production very comfortably.’’
‘’The engine will not be used only in SOM missiles. ‘’
Okyay reminded that the thrust of the engine is at the level of 3,200 newtons and that this corresponds to a power of 900 hp. Okyay stated that the engine was designed in a very small size because it was a jet engine, and that this engine would provide propulsion to more than one flying object and the flying platform. Okyay continued his words as follows:
‘The National Turbojet Engine will be used first in the SOM missile. The engine we developed was developed for the SOM missile, but it will not be used only in the SOM missile. This engine will serve as the engine of our more than one flying system. After that, there is a process that needs to be done, this engine will be placed inside the rocket, inside the missile… The rocket and the engine must be integrated. In parallel with this process, our preparatory phase for mass production will already be completed. Later, flight tests with missiles will be carried out. In other words, the missiles flying with the engine we produced will begin to be tested in early 2021. I foresee that all of these can be completed within 7-9 months at most. I hope that our missiles flying with the National Turbojet Engine in 2021 will take their places in the inventory.
source: AA / translated by Melisa Karayusufoglu