ANKARA \u2014 Most Turkish programs in recent years have gone with the priority tag of “indigenous.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet all of the indigenous programs, whether naval, ground or air, lacked an indigenous engine. Turkey is now trying to earn the technology to build one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Locally developed engines inevitably will be an important part of Turkish procurement strategy in the years ahead,” one senior procurement official said. “The idea is to buy know-how [from foreign firms] and localize it over the course of time. We aim at 100 percent Turkish engines for future platforms of all sorts.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another procurement official specializing in engine programs said a recent study found that Turkey could earn fully indigenous engine technology in the next five to 10 years if it fully implements a proposed roadmap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Perhaps we should have launched this effort years ago. Better late than never,” the official said. “Each day without a solid national engine program would expose indigenous platform programs to the risk of further delays.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parallel efforts by one state-controlled and two privately owned companies to build indigenous engines are underway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tusas Turkish Engine Industries (TEI), a government-controlled engine maker, has devised a 20-year roadmap for the design, development and manufacture of a local aircraft engine, company officials said. TEI hopes its indigenous engine will power the TF-X, the indigenous Turkish fighter jet to be developed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In March, TUMOSAN, a privately owned Turkish engine maker, signed a \u20ac190 million (US $203 million) contract with the government to design and develop an indigenous engine for the Altay, a new-generation tank the country has been developing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TUMOSAN’s Power Group Development program signed the contract with the country’s procurement office, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM). In August, Turkey’s top procurement panel, the Defense Industry Executive Committee, tasked SSM with opening contract negotiations with TUMOSAN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The program involves the indigenous design, development, prototype production, testing and qualification of an engine for the Altay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the plan, TUMOSAN also will design and develop a transmission for the Turkish tank and produce critical parts for its engine, including the diesel pump, electronic control unit and injector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TUMOSAN said it aims to conclude the program within 54 months and “with maximum possible local content.” It said it will obtain foreign know-how when necessary. TUMOSAN hopes that it will also develop variants of the planned engine for other land and naval platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TUMOSAN, founded in 1975, is a diesel engine and tractor manufacturer. It produces 75,000 diesel engines annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n