TEI (TUSAŞ Engine Industry Inc.), Türkiye's leading company in the field of aviation engines, is redefining world standards with its TEI-PD170 Turbodiesel Aviation Engine, developed with domestic and national resources. TEI General Manager Prof. Dr. Mahmut Faruk Akşit, a guest on the "Domestic Technology" program broadcast on TRT Avaz, shared the technical specifications that set the PD170 apart from its competitors and the critical details of its development process. This engine, the heart of UAVs, stands out not only for its thrust power but also for its high electrical capacity and altitude performance.
From a Team of 100 to a Massive Staff of 1500: TEI's Engineering Revolution
Prof. Dr. Mahmut Faruk Akşit described TEI's transformation process from a company that only produced parts to a technology giant that develops original engines. While prior to 2014, research and development was limited to an engineering team of approximately 100 people, today, thanks to state resources and strategic will, a massive R&D force of over 1500 engineers has been established.
Akşit also touched upon the story of the first 115-horsepower gasoline-powered UAV engine, developed for urgent needs (during the trench operations era) before the PD170. He stated that commanders took the engine away during its testing phase, saying "we need it," and emphasized that this first engine successfully completed over 60,000 hours of flight time. This experience formed the basis of a masterpiece like the PD170.
“"Despite the Engines That Can't Breathe Up There": Uninterrupted Power at 30,000 Feet
The PD170's greatest technical achievement lies in its high-altitude capability. Akşit summarized the influence of atmospheric physics on the engines with these words: “Yukarı tırmandıkça hava incelir. 30 bin fitte oksijen oranı deniz seviyesinin %30’una düşer. Sıradan bir araba motoru bu irtifada stop eder, çalışamaz bile. Çünkü yakacak oksijen bulamaz.”
However, the TEI-PD170 is specially designed. two-stage turbo system It overcomes this problem thanks to this technology. By compressing the air to provide the oxygen the engine needs, this technology enables the engine to operate without losing power even above 30,000 feet. Thanks to this, the AKSUNGUR UAV can perform its missions at altitudes exceeding 40,000 feet.
Three times more powerful electricity generation than a car engine: Dual Alternator System
Modern UAVs not only fly, but their radar, camera, and communication systems require a significant amount of electrical energy. Mahmut Faruk Akşit stated that although the PD170 resembles a standard diesel engine from the outside, it contains significant technological differences within. dual alternator system It attracted attention.
While a standard car alternator produces approximately 1.5 kW of power, the PD170 has two alternators, each producing 4.5 kW. The total electrical power generated is approximately six times that of a passenger car. Akşit stated that this system was designed with a backup, meaning that even if one alternator fails, the other takes over, preventing the aircraft from becoming blind or deaf.
The Power Behind Bayraktar TB3 and AKSUNGUR's Record-Breaking Performance
The PD170 engine is also a class leader in fuel efficiency. Its lower fuel consumption compared to competitors allows Turkish UAVs to achieve record flight times.
- AKSUNGUR: With a single tank of fuel, it can stay airborne for 45 hours, performing missions for almost two days without landing.
- Bayraktar TB3: The TB3, the world's first UAV in its class capable of taking off from and landing on ships with short runways (such as the TCG Anadolu), achieved a flight duration of 32 hours with its PD170 engine. With imported engines, these times were much shorter (the record for the TB2 was 27 hours).
Competing with Technology
TEI General Manager Akşit summarizes their vision as "Competing with our rivals not in terms of price, but in technology." While the global aviation engine market is expected to exceed $190 billion in the next 10 years, Turkey, with the TEI-PD170, is progressing towards becoming not just a player, but a game-changer in this market. This engine, a product of domestic engineering, maintains its place in the skies as one of the most concrete proofs of Türkiye's goals of complete independence in the defense industry.
Keywords: TEI, PD170, Mahmut Faruk Akşit, Defense Industry, UAV Engine, Bayraktar TB3, AKSUNGUR, Domestic Engine, Aviation, Turbodiesel, TRT Avaz.
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