Expanded flight testing and prototype production of the KAAN may lead to the jet’s first delivery by 2028.
Ankara’s homegrown fighter program appears to be gaining momentum. According to the jet’s manufacturer, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS), expanded flight testing and prototype production of the fifth-generation KAAN aircraft may lead to the first delivery of the jet by the end of 2028. In total, four aircraft prototypes will be constructed for the program’s test campaign. TUSAS CEO Mustafa Demiroglu has specified that the first has already been fielded and that the next two in line are underway. “The second prototype will be completed early next year and begin flight testing,” Demiroğlu said in a Defense News report. “We’ve now ignited the afterburner on the first aircraft. We are awaiting its third flight – perhaps in August or before October. But it’s still too early to confirm.”
Turkey’s ambition to introduce a fully homegrown cutting-edge fighter series was perhaps prioritized following the nation’s expulsion from the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. Initially, Ankara made up one of the fifth-generation fighter’s nine co-development nations. However, when Turkey penned a deal to procure the Russian-made S-400 defense system, which the U.S. has previously prohibited, Ankara was nixed from the program. As previously stated by Demiroglu, “The Turkish Air Force needs to keep the capability and readiness up to a certain level, whether it is with F-35s or with Eurofighters. But everybody knows that if you want to stay independent for the next 50-100 years, you must have your own [defense] equipment.”
An Overview of the KAAN Jet
Turkey’s quest to field a replacement for its aging fleet of American-made F-16 Fighting Falcon jets led to the KAAN program. Measuring roughly 70 feet long and with a wingspan of 46 feet, Ankara’s new jet series is allegedly on par with the F-35 Lightning II. While the exact specs and capabilities surrounding the Turkish aircraft remain classified, the KAAN is expected to be equipped with a range of cutting-edge capabilities, including networked drone control, sophisticated internal weapons, and ground attack functions. Similarly to the Lightning II jet, the Turkish counterpart will be able to fly in air-to-air missions. Other top-notch specs the fighter will presumably feature include a low radar cross-section, supercruise capability, and a fully homegrown avionics suite.
A pair of General Electric turbofan engines power the KAAN fighter, enabling it to fly at speeds in excess of Mach 1.7 (times the speed of sound). Initially, Turkey actually submitted a request to the Pentagon for joint production of the General Electric F110 engine, which also powers the Fighting Falcon. Turkish officials later indicated its long-term plan is to replace these engines with domestically produced alternatives.
The KAAN fighter embarked on its maiden flight last year, where it registered a speed of 230 knots and a top altitude of 8,000 feet. Until the aircraft reaches operational capacity, Turkish officials will undoubtedly be trying to look down potential foreign client states for its domestic jet series.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: Wikipedia.
