The 30W T/R Module is GaN based and designed for active phased array radars.
http://www.aselsan.com.tr/en-us/press-room/Brochures/Microwave-Products/X_BAND_MODULE_ENG.pdf
ASELSAN has GaN HEMT on SiC growth technology and is working on greater than 50W X-Band TRMs.
This facility is dedicated for GaN technologies R&D by ASELSAN and it is the largest of its kind in Europe commissioned in 2015.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]253260[/ATTACH]
Because South Korea and Turkey have been working together for a long time.
The Aselsan and Thales contract was used to illustrate how South Korea could do the same with Aselsan for its AESA radar.
Considering that ASELSAN has already developed an airborne AESA radar for combat aircraft and also a Multi Function Active Phased Array Radar (CAFRAD) the Koreans should just enter into a JV with them.
The below shows how far Turkey has come in GaN based nanotransistor production. Only about 5 countries in the world have the capacity to produce high-power nanotransistors.
http://bilnews.bilkent.edu.tr/aselsan-and-bilkent-found-company-to-produce-advanced-nanotransistors/
http://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/26653-aselans-new-phased-array-and-scalable-sige-integrated-circuits#.V1_yhm-elic.hootsuite
Micro Nano Technologies (AB-MikroNano) Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., a joint-venture between Aselsan and Bilkent University produces many GaN based nano-transistors for export.
Just by way of comparison ASELSAN’s CAFRAD X band radar has more than 10,000+ TRMS.
Why don’t the Korean’s just purchase their GaN based T/R modules from Turkey like Thales?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]253249[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]253250[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]253251[/ATTACH]
Aselsan produces t/r modules for their own AESA radar systems: http://www.aselsan.com.tr/en-us/press-room/Brochures/Microwave-Products/TRANSMIT_RECEIVE_MODULES_ENG.pdf
Aselsan also supplies T/R modules for THALES: http://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/22664-aselsan-to-provide-transmitterreceiver-modules-for-thales-radar
It looks like everyone had forewarning about the strikes: Turkey was advised by US Ambassador prior to strikes http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-04/07/c_136190749.htm
Turkish MALE ISR UAV’s were spotted in the area just prior to strike
The Gas attack could be a way of drawing Turkey back into the Syrian crisis.
Turkey this week declared that Euphrates Shield was over and that it would now focus on building cities for displaced Syrians in the regions it has de facto control over.
Turkey also stated that although Euphrates Shield was over it did not mean that it would halt military operations under different names.
Today we are informed that Turkey is amassing troops on the its Iraq border and that it now intends to commence Operation Tigris Shield with similar objectives to E.S. To secure a buffer zone between its borders to prevent cross border attacks by terrorists.
It seems as though Mr. Putin and Mr. Erdogan have reached an agreement whereby Syria would be controlled by Moscow and Iraq by Ankara and that the two will help each other.
The raising of the Kurdish flag in Kirkuk and the recent Gas attach in Idlib could be a way of discouraging Turkish-Russian cooperation in the region.
Turkish and Russian Navies hold massive drills in Black Sea today. Is it in response to US drill in Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean?
https://sputniknews.com/military/201704051052314680-russia-turkey-fleet-drills/
http://www.eurasiareview.com/06042017-nato-member-turkey-holds-joint-naval-drills-with-russia/
http://www.newsweek.com/russia-turkey-military-drills-syrian-war-nato-tensions-579485
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/why-are-russia-turkey-holding-joint-naval-exercises-the-20041
Turkey’s Bayraktar announces new High Altitude Long Endurance UAV program after its success with the armed Bayraktar TB-2.
Flight Ceiling: 40,000 feet
Endurance: 4-5 hours
Turbo-fan engine
Weapons Payload: 1 Ton
Textron AirLand to forgo T-X bid with Scorpion Jet: http://www.defensenews.com/articles/textron-airland-to-forgo-t-x-bid-for-scorpion-jet
Textron says although the Scorpion Jet is good it does not fulfil the US Air Force requirements for the T-X program.
It looks like Leonardo will be withdrawing too.
The timelines for the prototype are way off. Lockheed, Boeing and Northrop all timed their prototypes just right for a program that would have down-selected by March-May of 2017..Since the initial plans the time frame has shifted to the right by a couple of months on account of a late RFP release since it was pending approval from the OSD (clearance issues). Both Boeing and Lockheed intend on offering their 2 prototypes (each) as part of the 5 required for the EMD phase of the program.
What use is of a prototype if it does nothing to de-risk the proposal vs competitors that have been flying theirs since before RFP release?
Again paper aircraft that may result in a prototype that may or may not fly before the contract is awarded. No details of specifications claiming superior performance have been provided.
SNC/TAI have been developing the Freedom Trainer since 2009.
The Freedom trainer is not being solely developed for the US market but is being pitched to the Turkish Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force.
There is a prototype in production as stated by Aviation Week. See http://aviationweek.com/defense/sierra-nevada-corp-tai-team-offer-freedom-trainer-t-x
A full version of the article was reproduced here before.
The political spat between Europe and Turkey has nothing to do with Turkish companies doing business with European counterparts. In any event they are of mutual interest and benefit to each other.
http://www.kokpit.aero/tai-snc-tx-ihalesi
According to Turkish sources SNC/TAI will have new partner Airbus USA and Raytheon for Freedom Trainer.
Wait till the prototype is complete in a few months time and pilots see the technology on board. SNC/TAI have set the bar up really high as newcomers.
And details of the 2 other Defence giants have been made public.
Turkish Aerospace Industries sources have announced (http://c4defence.com/Gundem/tainin-abdde-yuzu-guluyor/4019/1) that the Sierra Nevada Corporation/Turkish Aerospace Industries Joint-Venture is currently discussing a new project model with “Raytheon” and Airbus’s US Subsidiary “Airbus Americas” for the “Freedom Trainer”.
Thus a joint-venture between TAI/SNC/Raytheon/Airbus intend to enter the US T-X tender with the “Freedom Trainer”.
Sounds like a winner to me.
Any source for that ?
An official announcement should be made soon.
The Sierra Nevada Corporation/Turkish Aerospace Industries joint-venture will enter into a partnership with 2 other Defence giants.