Türkiye advances with KAAN fighter development, eyes foreign buyers Report by National Interest

As Türkiye’s fifth-generation KAAN fighter nears its expected introduction, more potential foreign buyers could emerge for the new platform.

While the US Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program continues to dominate headlines, several other nations are developing their own advanced fighter jets. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is pushing forward with the KAAN, aiming to introduce the aircraft by 2032, the National Interest writes.

The head of TAI, Mehmet Demiroğlu, stated that progress on developing a domestic engine for the jet is advancing. 

“Conceptual design is almost done and then it will go to initial prototyping maybe by the end of the year,” Demiroğlu said regarding the TF35000 turbofan engine, which is now under construction. The introduction of KAAN is expected to boost Türkiye’s domestic manufacturing capabilities.

Türkiye reached a major milestone last year when the KAAN prototype completed its first flight. The project originated in the early 2000s, when Türkiye’s Defence Industry Executive Committee approved the development of an indigenous air-superiority fighter. Originally, Türkiye planned for this fighter to operate alongside a fleet of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. However, the country was removed from the F-35 program after refusing to comply with US restrictions related to Türkiye’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 defence system.

Details about the KAAN program remain closely guarded, but analysts and state-run media suggest it may rival other fifth-generation fighters. Reports indicate that the KAAN could feature networked drone control, stealth, ground attack capabilities, and expanded internal weapons storage.

According to Simple Flying, the KAAN’s debut flight saw the prototype reach a top speed of around 255 miles per hour and an altitude of 8,000 feet. On a subsequent flight, the aircraft surpassed its initial performance, reaching 10,000 feet.

During the early design phase, Türkiye requested to jointly produce the General Electric F110 engine — used in the F-16 Fighting Falcon — with the US Pentagon. Turkish officials later emphasized that their long-term goal was to replace these engines with a homegrown option. The TF35000 engine is intended to meet this requirement, once it passes testing. 

Army Recognition reports: “Designed with an emphasis on delivering 35,000 pounds of thrust, the engine incorporates advanced aerospace engineering features including high-temperature-resistant superalloys, advanced thermal barrier coatings, and innovative cooling technologies.”

Interest in the KAAN is already growing internationally. Earlier this month, Indonesia finalized a deal with Türkiye to purchase 48 of the aircraft in the future. As the KAAN moves closer to its service debut, additional foreign customers may also seek to acquire the platform.

However, as the National Interest points out, despite the projected specifications and capabilities, “until the jet is introduced to service and carries out combat time, its true prowess cannot be confirmed.”

By Sabina Mammadli