Yesterday, May 6th, the new fifth-generation locally manufactured fighter TF KAAN by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) successfully completed its second flight, as stated in a press release from the Turkish Defense Industry Secretariat (SSB). According to the disclosed information, the test, conducted less than three months after its inaugural flight, lasted for 14 minutes, reaching an altitude of 10,000 feet and a speed of 230 knots.
The KAAN is part of TAI’s TF-X project, which began in 2010 aiming to develop locally manufactured fifth-generation fighters. These are expected to enter service by 2030 and replace the Turkish Air Force’s F-16C/D Fighting Falcon and F-4E-2020 fighters, but they are also projected to be offered to other countries.
The new achievement on May 6th came after the prototype’s first test flight was conducted on February 21st. It’s worth noting that the TF-X began taxi tests in March 2023, with the expectation that the prototype would successfully meet all milestones prior to its first flight.
Despite the TF KAAN for the Turkish Air Force being a result of Turkey’s growing and consolidated aerospace industry, some components come from foreign suppliers, such as the General Electric F110 engines. Although these propulsion systems are manufactured under license, the United States maintains the final decision regarding their availability and the possibility of exporting them to third countries. Faced with this situation, the Turkish industrial complex initiated a local engine development project, about which there have been no major updates. However, during an interview conducted by Zona Militar with TAI representatives at FIDAE 2024, they indicated that test flights of the KAAN equipped with locally developed engines would take place in 2028.
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