Turkey's fifth-generation TAI TF-X fighter may have a unique feature
Turkey is actively working on its own fifth-generation fighter. It is called TF-X. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) recently unveiled a prototype aircraft, which has a unique feature.
Here's What We Know
An interesting feature of the promising fifth-generation fighter is that the infrared search system sensor is in front of the cockpit, while the electro-optical guidance system sensor is located under the nose of the aircraft. This can be seen in a photograph of the TF-X prototype taken in the TAI workshop.
???????????????? #NEW
- Dr. Ali BAKIR (علي باكير) (@AliBakeer) January 9, 2023
➡️ #Turkish officials confirm expediting the process of the 1st #Turkey/#Turkiye-built 5th generation fighter jet, by two full years!
✅ The 1st flight of TAI's TF-X Stealth Fighter Jet will be in 2023 instead of 2025. pic.twitter.com/mo8PBBmZcp
Perhaps the Turkish corporation will abandon such sensor separation in the final version of the fifth-generation fighter jet. Currently, there are no aircraft in service, decommissioned or in development with sensors separated from each other.
Installing the sensors separately could improve the quality of each one. But then again, it is possible that only the prototype will have this sensor arrangement. The first flight of the TF-X is scheduled for 2023, and the debut production model will appear in 2028. Beginning in 2029, TAI Turkey plans to produce two fifth-generation TF-X fighters per month.
Source: The Drive
