IRIA News

Turkiye’s first locally manufactured fifth-generation combat aircraft, Kaan, completed its inaugural flight at the Akinci air base near Ankara on February 21, 2024.

Kaan’s initial flight was accompanied by an F-16 fighter jet of the Turkish Air Force. There have been no official comments from the Turkish authorities, the Air Force, or the developers so far, but the maiden flight tests were deemed successful as the aircraft took off, flew the designated route, and landed using a braking parachute.

Developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), the Kaan fighter jet was formerly known as TF-X. The jet promises to be Türkiye’s most ambitious technological initiative, designed to fortify the nation’s defense capabilities and elevate its strategic standing on the world stage.

Türkiye initiated the combat aircraft development program in December 2010. A conceptual design contract was signed between the government and the company in August 2011. A development contract followed in August 2016.

Turkish fifth-generation fighter jet Kaan successfully completed its first flight 🇹🇷

The maiden flight of the indigenously developed jet lasted 13 minutes, with the aircraft reaching an altitude of 8,000 feet and a speed of 230 knots 🚀 pic.twitter.com/VZNUQ8YgYY

— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) February 22, 2024

The production process of the prototype was unveiled in November 2022, while the ground testing for the prototype was conducted in March 2023. The Turkish Defense Industries Authority plans to use the Kaan jet as a prospective replacement for its fleet of F-16 fighter aircraft. TAI plans to finalize the production of three functional MMU Block prototypes by 2026 and one Block I prototype by 2029.

By completing the production of its locally manufactured fifth-generation fighter jet, Türkiye strives to join the select group of nations that the complete value chain for producing advanced combat aircraft, encompassing technology, infrastructure, human resources, and manufacturing capabilities.

Specifications and features

To qualify as a fifth-generation fighter, an aircraft must have certain features like stealth capabilities to avoid detection and the ability to cruise at supersonic speeds without engaging its afterburners, among other things. Türkiye’s Kaan has all the capabilities to be termed a fifth-generation fighter jet.

Measuring approximately 46 feet in wingspan and 69 feet in length, the Kaan features twin engines. The prototype utilizes two General Electric-manufactured F110-GE-129 turbofan engines for now; however, Türkiye is engaged in developing an indigenous turbofan engine for the Kaan, spearheaded by the local company TRMotor.

The aircraft incorporates an electronic warfare system and a 360-degree electro-optical surveillance system developed by Aselsan, one of the top defense firms in Turkey. The jet is coated with a special paint and its design is aimed at reducing radar visibility.

With high air combat range and supersonic strategic attack capabilities, the aircraft would be armed with domestically produced smart munitions for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. It boasts a fuselage equipped with internal stations and cutting-edge technologies, enabling it to carry a total of eight medium and long-range missiles. Kaan has a superiority in munitions capacity compared to its counterparts such as the F-35 jets.

Currently, there are only a handful of fifth-generation fighter jets in existence. The list includes the U.S.-made F-22 Raptor, which is no longer in production, as well as the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, which is the most used fifth-generation fighter jet in the Western world. Russia has the Su-57 Felon, and China has the J-20, which qualified as a fifth-generation fighter jet.

Prospective clients and partnerships

Alienated by its fellow NATO member countries and kicked out of the U.S.’s F-35 fighter jet program, Türkiye used its defense production capabilities and diplomatic connections to seek partners to share the financial responsibilities of the project. Azerbaijan and Pakistan have expressed interest in participating.

In August 2023, Türkiye signed a National Combat Aircraft Development Collaboration Protocol with Azerbaijan. This agreement allowed Azerbaijan to participate in Turkey’s domestically developed fifth-generation fighter jet program.

Around the same time, a high-ranking Turkish official suggested the potential for Pakistan to join the initiative. Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler revealed that Pakistan was in talks to finalize an agreement to take part in the development of this fifth-generation fighter.

The inaugural flight of KAAN will facilitate Türkiye in strengthening these partnerships. While these two countries may not contribute significantly to aerospace technology, they offer Türkiye economies of scale, which will ultimately reduce the cost per aircraft over time.

Ukraine has also expressed interest in buying the Turkish-made fighter jet in the future. Ukrainian Ambassador to Türkiye, Vasyl Bodnar, recently said that Kyiv is closely monitoring the production of Türkiye’s fifth-generation fighter jet. He said, “We will not only purchase the Kaan fighter jet, but we will also utilize it, and we know where it will be deployed.”