Turkey’s KAAN program represents an emerging global trend, as rising middle powers push for independence and self-sufficiency.
Turkey’s KAAN fifth-generation fighter aircraft, commonly known as the TF-X or Kaan, is Ankara’s most ambitious aerospace venture to date. Pursued with the intention of replacing an aging fleet of American-exported General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons, the KAAN would elevate Turkey into the small echelon of nations capable of fielding an indigenous fifth-generation fighter.
The KAAN / TF-X’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: Not yet introduced (prototype maiden flight 2025; anticipated entry early 2030s)
- Number Built: 1 (prototype)
- Length: 21 m (69 ft)
- Wingspan: 14 m (46 ft)
- Weight:
- Empty weight: ~17,000–18,000 kg (37,500–40,000 lb)
- Normal takeoff (standard conditions): ~25,000 kg (55,000 lb)
- Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW): ~27,000–30,000 kg (60,000–66,000 lb)
- Engines: Two General Electric F110-GE-129 (29,000 lbf thrust each with afterburner); anticipated indigenous engine in future
- Top Speed: ~Mach 1.8 (~2,200 km/h / 1,370 mph)
- Range: ~1,100–1,200 nmi (2,000+ km)
- Service Ceiling: ~55,000 ft (16,800 m)
- Loadout:
- Internal weapons bay + external hardpoints (stealth optional); payload capacity 6,000–7,000 kg (13,000–15,000 lb)
- Aircrew: 1
The KAAN’s Capabilities Are Impressive
The KAAN is a twin-engine, stealthy multi-role fighter comparable to the F-35 or Su-57. The fighter jet’s airframe features a chined fuselage and trapezoidal wings, with canted tail fins and an internal weapons bay. These features enhance the aircraft’s stealth capabilities by allowing for a reduced radar cross-section (RCS). The KAAN is expected to perform a wide range of missions, including air superiority, deep strike, and networked warfare.
The aircraft’s cockpit is expected to feature some of the F-35’s advanced technologies, with sensor suites, data fusion, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, and advanced electronic warfare systems designed to enhance situational awareness and interconnectivity. The issue of propulsion remains unresolved, as early KAAN prototypes were dependent upon the American-made General Electric F110 engine. While the F110 engine is adequate for the task, Turkey is bent on fielding a fifth-generation fighter that is entirely domestically manufactured, including Turkish-made propulsion systems. However, Ankara has yet to develop a domestic engine as powerful and reliable as the F110.
The aircraft is expected to reach operational capability in the early 2030s. The first prototype was unveiled in 2023, and the fighter jet’s maiden flight took place in 2025. If the program avoids any delays, the KAAN will become operational around the time that Turkey’s F-16 fleet is slotted for retirement.
The fighter jet will make Turkey the fourth nation to field a fifth-generation fighter, behind the United States, Russia, and China.
Why Acquiring a Fifth-Generation Fighter Is Vital for Turkey
The KAAN fighter is not merely a fifth-generation aircraft, but also a geopolitical statement by Turkey. Ankara has straddled a middle-ground, appropriate given its geographic distinction, with a foot in Europe and a foot in Asia. This middle ground saw Turkey maintain complicated relations with both the United States and Russia.
Ankara was expelled from the US F-35 program after purchasing Russian S-400 air defense systems. The expulsion from the fifth-generation program that the United States was exporting to allies around the globe inspired Turkey to develop its own fifth-generation program, which enhances autonomy.
For NATO, the KAAN development presents both challenges and opportunities. On the one hand, the KAAN likely bolsters the defensive capabilities of a member-state, allowing Turkey to contribute more to its own defense without having to divert resources from other NATO states. On the other hand, the fifth-generation fighter grants Turkey higher self-sufficiency, which means NATO will have less leverage over Ankara, which is prone to drifting towards a more independent pole.
Turkey’s KAAN program represents an emerging global trend, as rising middle powers push for independence and self-sufficiency. Ankara’s pursuit of fifth-generation fighter jet capabilities is mirrored by South Korea, which is developing its KF-21 fighter, and India with its AMCA fighter jet program.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a senior defense and national security writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
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