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| Turkey's fifth-generation fighter jet, built in-house, KAAN, is seen in the air on February 21, 2024, during its first flight out of Ankara. (Photo by AA) |
The chief of the project's development said on Friday that Turkey's first indigenous fighter jet is the most successful project completed in the world in such a short amount of time and is compatible with all current aircraft.
Wednesday saw the first flight of the fifth-generation warplane, known as KAAN, which represents the latest development in the nation's efforts to modernize its air force and reduce reliance on foreign aid
Wednesday saw the first flight of the fifth-generation warplane, known as KAAN, which represents the latest development in the nation's efforts to modernize its air force and reduce reliance on foreign aid.
To develop a domestic combat aircraft, NATO member Turkey started the TF-X project in 2016. In 2017, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Britain's BAE Systems inked a $125 million contract to develop the fighter jet of the future.
The head of TAI, Temel Kotil, stated that KAAN reached a speed of 230 knots at an altitude of 8,000 feet during its 13-minute flight.
With the jet, Turkey will join the select few nations possessing the technology and infrastructure needed to create a fifth-generation combat aircraft.
"This is the world's most successful project completed in this amount of time. "The technology of the Eurofighter, F-16, and Rafael aircraft is inferior to that of KAAN," Kotil stated in a TRT Haber interview.
"When an aircraft reaches the fifth generation, it means it can combat all existing aircraft," he stated.
"The initial flight was really important. It is a 25-ton machine. It includes everything. Power distribution, hydraulic, and computer systems are all included.
KAAN, which was made public last year, is thought to be Türkiye's most ambitious endeavor to date. After turning on its engines for the first time in mid-March of last year, the warplane made its runway debut and successfully finished its first taxi test.
It is intended to replace the Air Forces Command's outdated F-16 aircraft, which is scheduled to be phased out beginning in the 2030s.
It's a completely domestic aircraft, according to Kotil.
"Aside from the engine and ejector seat, the landing gears and generator are domestic."
