Türkiye’s engine maker TEI develops 13 aviation engines in 10 years

Until the 2010s, Türkiye was almost entirely dependent on foreign sources for aviation engines. Established in 1985 to assemble F110 engines for F16 aircraft, Turkish Engine Industries (TEI) has evolved into one of Türkiye’s most important aerospace companies, with engine and component manufacturing, maintenance, repair, overhaul, design, and research and design capabilities.

Significant state support boosts domestic engine production

In recent years, significant state support for the defense industry, coordination with the Presidency of Defense Industries, and TEI’s renewed mission and vision have led to the development of numerous national engines. Some of these engines have accumulated tens of thousands of hours of successful operation.

TEI has developed 13 indigenous engine over the past decade. Seven of these engines have achieved flight, and six have entered mass production.

TEI’s key developments

• 2014: TEI-TJ90 turbojet unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) engine for high-speed target drone Simsek
• 2015: TEI-PG115 gasoline UAV engine
• 2016: TEI-PD155 diesel UAV engine for Anka
• 2017: TEI-PD170 diesel UAV engine for Anka UAV and TEI-TS1200 core engine for Gokbey helicopter
• 2018: T700-TEI-701D engine for T70 Black Hawk helicopter
• 2019: TEI-PG50 engine for kamikaze UAV Kargi and TEI-PD222-DT engine
• 2020: TEI-TJ300 engine for medium-range anti-ship missiles, TEI-PD180ST, and TEI-TS1400 engines
• 2021: TEI-PD222ST engine

Milestones in Turkish aviation

In March 2024, TEI successfully operated Türkiye’s first military turbofan engine, TEI-TF6000, which will power UAVs such as Kizilelma and Anka-3, and pave the way for the engine of the national combat aircraft KAAN.

TEI has achieved flight with the TEI-TJ90, TEI-PG115, TEI-PD155, TEI-PD170, T700-TEI-701D, TEI-PG50, and TEI-TS1400 engines on their respective platforms. Mass production has begun for the TEI-TJ90, TEI-PG115, TEI-PD155, TEI-PD170, T700-TEI-701D and TEI-PG50 engines.

Power behind Turkish UAVs

TEI developed the TEI-PD170 turbodiesel aviation engine to meet the power needs of medium-altitude long-endurance UAVs like Anka. The TEI-PD170, which has a ceiling altitude of 45,000 feet, stands out among its competitors in terms of altitude capabilities, weight, and fuel consumption.

After 8,000 hours of calibration and testing, the TEI-PD170 entered mass production and was integrated into Anka and Aksungur UAVs. It is also undergoing flight tests with Bayraktar TB3.

National helicopter engine brings numerous gains

TEI developed Türkiye’s first national helicopter engine, the TEI-TS1400, for the Gokbey general-purpose helicopter. Capable of producing up to 1,660 horsepower, TEI achieved several firsts in manufacturing and materials technologies during its production. The company produced the first single-crystal turbine blade in Türkiye and developed aerospace-grade forging technology for nickel and titanium alloys. The TEI-TS1400 has successfully completed flight tests with the Gokbey helicopter and will power national helicopters following development, flight tests, and mass production.

TEI’s turbojet engine success

The TEI-TJ90 Turbojet Engine, developed for target drones and producing 400 newtons of thrust, successfully completed its first flight with Turkish Aerospace Industries’ Simsek platform in 2017.

Class-leading engine performance

Developed with the support of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK), the TEI-PG50 is Türkiye’s first two-stroke aviation engine. Designed for UAVs under 300 kilograms, it delivers 50 horsepower at takeoff and 30 horsepower at 16,000 feet, offering more power and a higher power-to-weight ratio than competing UAV engines. The TEI-PG50 made its first flight in May 2019.

Türkiye’s first medium-range anti-ship missile engine, the TEI-TJ300, was designed and produced using domestic resources. Weighing less than 30 kilograms and with a narrow diameter of 24 centimeters, it is the first turbojet engine in its thrust class capable of producing 1,300 newtons of thrust. The TEI-TJ300 generates nearly 400 horsepower at speeds approaching 90% of the speed of sound.