TEI-TF6000
{{short description|Turbofan engine developed by Tusaş Engine Industries}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2024}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name = TEI-TF6000 | image = File:TEI TF6000 drawing.png | caption = TEI-TF6000 turbofan engine }}{{Infobox aircraft engine |type= Turbofan |national origin= Turkey |manufacturer= Tusaş Engine Industries (TEI) |major applications= Bayraktar Kızılelma |number built= 1 |developed from= |developed into= TEI-TF10000 |variants with their own articles= }} |
The TEI-TF6000 is an indigenously developed turbofan engine by Tusaş Engine Industries (TEI), designed to deliver 6,000 pounds-force (26.7 kN) of thrust. The engine is primarily intended for use in Turkish unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), advanced trainer aircraft, and light combat aircraft. The TF6000 forms part of Turkey's broader initiative for self-sufficiency in advanced defense technologies.{{cite web|trans-title=Türkiye's first national turbofan aircraft engine TF6000 was successfully launched|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/savunma-sanayisi/turkiyenin-ilk-millî-turbofan-ucak-motoru-tf6000-basariyla-calistirildi/3160243|title=Türkiye'nin ilk millî turbofan uçak motoru TF6000 başarıyla çalıştırıldı|publisher=Anadolu Agency|date=9 March 2024|language=tr}}{{cite web|trans-title=TF6000: More than just building an engine|url=https://www.trthaber.com/haber/gundem/tf6000-bir-motor-uretmenin-daha-fazlasi-843475.html|title=TF6000: Bir motor üretmenin daha fazlası|publisher=TRT|date=12 March 2024|language=tr|access-date=2 April 2025}}
Design and development
The TEI-TF6000 project was initiated by TEI to create a domestically produced engine to power both unmanned and light combat platforms. It was stated by TEI that the engine is expected to be ready for testing in 2023.{{cite news|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/science-technology/turkiyes-1st-turbofan-engine-to-be-launched-in-2023/2851792|title=Türkiye's 1st turbofan engine to be launched in 2023|date=21 March 2023|website=Anadolu Agency|accessdate=28 March 2025}} It was announced that the first rotating parts of the engine were produced on 31 August 2023.{{cite news|trans-title=The first rotating parts of the national aircraft engine have emerged|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/savunma-sanayisi/milli-ucak-motorunun-ilk-donen-parcalari-ortaya-cikti/2979861|title=Milli uçak motorunun ilk dönen parçaları ortaya çıktı|date=31 August 2023|website=Anadolu Agency|accessdate=28 March 2025|language=tr}} It first ran on 9 March 2024, marking a significant milestone in Turkey's aerospace engine capabilities. This engine also serves as a technological stepping stone for future projects, including a variant with afterburner capability, known as the TF10000.{{cite news|url=https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2024/03/10/turkish-engine-industries-unveils-new-turbofan-engine/|title=Turkish Engine Industries unveils new turbofan engine|date=10 March 2024|website=Defense News|accessdate=30 October 2024}} The engine underwent more than 30 tests in the two weeks following its first start-up.{{cite news|trans-title=TF6000 passes 30 tests in two weeks|url=https://tolgaozbek.com/savunma/tf6000-iki-haftada-30-testi-geride-birakti/|title=TF6000, iki haftada 30 testi geride bıraktı|date=21 March 2024|website=tolgaozbek.com|accessdate=28 March 2025|language=tr}} On 4 October 2024, the engine was publicly exhibited at the Teknofest technology festival. CEO Mahmut Faruk Akşit said the following at the fair; "TF6000 is a turbofan military aircraft engine... We have advanced to the US, UK, France, Germany league, the class of countries that have developed their own engines, the Super League. We started the engine in February. We increased it to 15 thousand rpm and kept it there for a long time."{{cite news|trans-title=Türkiye's first national turbofan aircraft engine TEI-TF6000 is exhibited at TEKNOFEST Adana|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/teknofest/turkiyenin-ilk-milli-turbofan-ucak-motoru-tei-tf6000-teknofest-adanada-sergileniyor/3351112|title=Türkiye'nin ilk milli turbofan uçak motoru TEI-TF6000, TEKNOFEST Adana'da sergileniyor|date=4 October 2024|website=Anadolu Agency|accessdate=28 March 2025|language=tr}}
By October 2024, more than 60 tests had been conducted. TEI's CEO Mahmut Faruk Akşit emphasized that the TF-10000 and TF-6000 engines were developed in parallel. "They both use the same core, of course the TF-6000 is without an afterburner. The TF-10,000 is a version with an afterburner," he said.{{cite news|trans-title=Türkiye's first national turbofan aircraft engine TEI-TF6000 has passed 60 tests|url=https://gdh.digital/haber/turkiyenin-ilk-milli-turbofan-ucak-motoru-tei-tf6000-60-testi-geride-birakti-86h0i6jqsuq|title=Türkiye'nin ilk milli turbofan uçak motoru TEI-TF6000, 60 testi geride bıraktı|date=3 October 2024|website=gdh.digital|accessdate=28 March 2025|language=tr}} In February 2025, TEI CEO Akşit stated that the engine was almost finished, but since it was developed in parallel with the TF-10000, they were considering completing both together. Aksit also stated that demands had come from abroad before the engine was even finished. TF-6000 is considered a pioneer engine for TAI Kaan's future domestic engine and is being prepared accordingly.{{cite news|trans-title=The customer is ready before it is even finished|url=https://www.yenisafak.com/ekonomi/daha-bitmeden-musterisi-hazir-4677116|title=Daha bitmeden müşterisi hazır|date=15 February 2024|website=Yeni Şafak|accessdate=28 March 2025|language=tr}} The TF6000 is expected to fulfill various roles in Turkey's military, supporting advanced unmanned systems like the Bayraktar Kızılelma and the TAI Anka-3. TEI's development process for the TF6000 included advanced material engineering, fuel efficiency optimization, and modular design.{{cite web|url=https://www.tai.com.tr/en|title=TAI Website|accessdate=30 October 2024}}
Specifications
{{jetspecs
|type=turbofan
|length={{convert|2250|mm|in}}
|diameter={{convert|650|mm|in}}
|weight={{convert|400|kg|lb}}{{cn|date=February 2025}}
|compressor=2-stage axial fan; 6-stage axial HP
|combustion=Through-flow
|turbine=1-stage high-pressure, 1-stage low-pressure
|fueltype=Jet A-1
|oilsystem=Closed-loop
|power=
|thrust={{convert|26.7|kN|kgf+lbf|abbr=on}} (dry thrust)
|compression=
|overall pressure ratio=22
|bypass=1.08
|aircon=40 kg/s{{cn|date=February 2025}}
|turbinetemp=1400 K{{cn|date=February 2025}}
|fuelcon=
|specfuelcon=0.70 kg/kgf-hr (0.70 lb/lbf-hr)
|power/weight=
|thrust/weight=6.68
|air mass flow=
|max flight altitude=12 km
|turbine entry temperature=
}}
See also
{{aircontent
|related=
|similar engines=
- HAL HTFE-25
- Honeywell/ITEC F124
- IHI Corporation XF5
- Ivchenko-Progress AI-322
- Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour
|lists=
}}