Ankara, May 6 - Turkey’s KAAN fighter jet, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), is poised to transform the Turkish Air Force by 2028, with plans to replace the aging fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons. This fifth-generation stealth aircraft, previously known as TF-X and officially named KAAN in 2023, represents Turkey’s ambitious push to join an elite group of nations capable of designing and producing advanced combat aircraft. The KAAN program, initiated in 2010, gained momentum after Turkey’s exclusion from the U.S.-led F-35 program in 2019 due to its procurement of Russian S-400 air defense systems. This geopolitical shift underscored the urgency for Turkey to develop an indigenous fighter to meet its strategic needs in a volatile region.
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The KAAN is a twin-engine, all-weather, multi-role fighter designed for air superiority and ground attack missions. With a length of 20.3 meters and a maximum takeoff weight of 34 metric tons, it rivals the capabilities of modern jets like the F-22 Raptor. Its low-observable design incorporates radar-absorbent materials, internal weapons bays, and advanced avionics, including an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and helmet-mounted displays. The aircraft is equipped to carry a mix of indigenous and international weaponry, such as Turkey’s Bozdoğan and Gökdoğan missiles, alongside MBDA Meteor and Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, enabling precise supersonic strikes and robust air-to-air combat capabilities. Artificial intelligence and neural network integration further enhance its combat effectiveness, positioning KAAN as a technologically sophisticated platform.
The development timeline has been marked by rigorous milestones. The first prototype rolled out on March 17, 2023, at TAI’s Ankara facilities, followed by taxi and ground tests. KAAN’s maiden flight on February 21, 2024, lasted 13 minutes, reaching 8,000 feet and 230 knots, with a second flight on May 6, 2024, extending to 14 minutes at 10,000 feet. These tests validated critical systems, including hydraulics and avionics. TAI plans to produce six flying prototypes, with the next, P1, scheduled to fly in 2025, expanding the flight envelope. By 2028, TAI aims to deliver 20 Block 10 aircraft to the Turkish Air Force, with production scaling to two jets per month by 2029. The program’s long-term goal is to produce at least 100 KAAN jets by 2050, forming the backbone of Turkey’s air defenses. A key challenge is propulsion. Initial KAAN units will rely on General Electric F110-GE-129 engines, the same as those in Turkish F-16s, highlighting a temporary dependency on foreign technology.
However, TAI, through subsidiaries TRMotor and TUSAŞ Engine Industries, is developing an indigenous engine, expected to be integrated in the early 2030s. This transition is critical for Turkey’s goal of operational sovereignty, as emphasized by TAI’s leadership, who stress the involvement of domestic firms like Aselsan for avionics and Havelsan for software, achieving 80-90% indigenous content. KAAN’s strategic significance extends beyond Turkey. Positioned as an export product, the aircraft has attracted interest from nations like Azerbaijan, which joined the program in 2023, and Saudi Arabia, reportedly considering a purchase of 100 jets. Other countries, including Pakistan and Indonesia, have shown interest, reflecting KAAN’s potential to compete in a global market dominated by Western and Russian platforms. The jet’s development aligns with Turkey’s broader defense strategy, including integration with unmanned systems like the Anka-3 and Kizilelma, enhancing its role in collaborative combat scenarios. Despite challenges, such as high costs and the complexity of fifth-generation technology, KAAN’s progress underscores Turkey’s determination to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and assert itself as a defense powerhouse by 2028.