TEI CEO Mahmut Faruk Akşit stated that the deliveries of the PD170 turbodiesel engine’s new variant, PD200, with more power, have started for Bayraktar TB3.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency News, Akşit stated that PD200 with a higher power rating is being delivered in response to Baykar’s preference for an engine with higher power on Bayraktar TB3 UCAV. Akşit added that the engine was flight tested.
Initially, PD170 was selected as the engine for Bayraktar TB3, which has started its service in the Turkish Army and will soon serve onboard the TCG Anadolu (L400) LHD with its ski-assisted takeoff and short landing capabilities. PD170 is also used onboard TUSAŞ’s ANKA and AKSUNGUR UCAVs.
PD170 provides a continuous power of 170 hp up to an altitude of 20000 ft, and due to the naming, PD200 is likely to provide 200 hp at the same altitude.
A more powerful engine means several things. Firstly, an engine with higher power will allow the Bayraktar TB3 to carry more payload or take off from shorter distances, something important for TCG Anadolu. According to general calculations for conceptual design, the shift in power theoretically provides eight per cent more MTOW.
On the other hand, a more powerful engine pulls up the operational ceiling and climb rate.
Thus, PD200’s integration may be a move to have Bayraktar TB3 satisfy a series of projected specifications for shipborne operations, which constrain parameters like MTOW and payload. One of the best ways to combat these constraints is to have a more powerful engine than one could expect. As it has been stated before, Bayraktar TB3 will have both land-based and naval configurations, and TEI’s PD200 turbodiesel engine might be one of the differences for the naval configuration.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
