Text/Fat Eggplant
Recently, a video went viral overseas: a drone that looks highly similar to the J-20 is speeding up, but its birthplace is not China, but Turkey, which has always had little presence in the aviation industry?
("Gao imitation J-20" UAV developed by Turks)
According to the global network quoted by the EurAsia Times on November 21, a few days ago, Turkey's Baika Airlines released a new video, showing off the latest progress of the "Kyzylema" drone it is developing. In this video, it is clear that the drone has been painted in a dark gray low-visibility paint. In the video, there is a noticeable ejection of tail flame in the engine nozzle at the tail of this fighter, accelerating from one side of the runway to the other - of course, it does not end up taking off in the video. But as a prototype that was only assembled in August this year, it can now rely on autonomous power to taxi, and its progress is already very fast.
(The Kyzylema drone slides across the runway)
As soon as this video was released, it aroused heated discussions among netizens around the world, because this thing looks too much like China's J-20, and some people even call it "Gao imitation J-20". Like the J-20, it uses a fused fuselage design, with full-motion canards positioned behind the air intakes on both sides, and a swept delta that is highly similar to the J-20's fusion with the leading edge extension.
Of course, it has some differences with the J-20, such as its larger, more traditional non-full-motion camber tail, and a single engine placed on the center line - if you look at its "ass" alone, it will be more similar to the American F35 fighter than the J-20 fighter. As for why not use a more advanced full-motion tail? Maybe the cost and technical level are stuck.
(Top view of the Kyzylema drone)
This "Kyzylema" stealth drone, which seems to be copied from the design of manned fighters, can be said to be the key to Turkey's ambitious "strong military plan". Turkey claims that the aircraft is designed for a maximum speed of 900 kilometers per hour, a combat radius of 930 kilometers, and can operate at an altitude of 12,000 meters. Coupled with its obvious consideration of the shape design of medium and close combat, it can be guessed that the aircraft will not only be used for "long-range stealth strikes", but will also perform the mission of "unmanned air combat".
Moreover, the Turkish army does not only want it to be a "national defense force", but also wants it to "go global". The UAV is designed according to the Turkish army's "Unmanned Combat Aircraft System" project and will become a carrier-based aircraft of the Turkish Navy's flagship amphibious assault ship "Anadolu". At that time, the ship will become a "quasi-aircraft carrier" carrying stealth fighters, and its combat effectiveness will not be underestimated.
(The "quasi-aircraft carrier" Anadolu envisaged by the Turkish army)
However, the reality is brutal. Although the Turks dream of "reviving the Ottomans" every day, the strength of their aviation industry obviously cannot support them to create a real "domestic stealth drone". First of all, the drone uses AI-322F engines from the Zaporozhye Design Bureau of Ukraine. However, due to the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the resumption of production of the plant is far away, let alone supply Turkey on time and in quantity.
In addition, Turkey's own semiconductor and optoelectronic technology level is limited, and most of its radar, infrared, photoelectric sensors and other "peripherals" must be bought from Western countries, for example, the United Kingdom and Canada were once Turkey's UAV "parts suppliers". In other words, even if Turkey really rubs this drone out, it can only be regarded as a "made in all countries", and the performance may be difficult to guarantee.
(The prototype of the drone was unveiled)
Some commentators pointed out that this is not the first time Turkey has engaged in such "face engineering", and before that, Turkey also had a TF-X fifth-generation aircraft program that seemed to be copied from F35 fighters. In order to seek the status of a "military-industrial power" and even a "world power", the Erdogan authorities can be said to do everything they can. If he just wants to strengthen national defense and is willing to contribute to regional peace, I believe the United States and Russia will not mind much. But its ambition to expand its regional influence and seek an Ottoman renaissance deserves vigilance.