Türkiye to assemble KAAN combat aircraft prototypes in 2025

Türkiye plans to assemble the P1 and P2 prototypes of the KAAN national combat aircraft within the next year.

“The P0 prototype of the KAAN fighter, currently undergoing testing, is set to make its third flight soon. However, the P1 and P2 prototypes will be crucial for conducting the definitive flight tests necessary for these purposes,” Caliber.Az reports citing the message of SavunmaSanayiST.com on X.

Milli Muharip Uçak KAAN'ın P1 ve P2 prototiplerinin montaj faaliyetlerinin, gelecek yıl içerisinde tamamlanması planlanıyor.

Şu anda faal halde olan P0 prototipi ise yakında 3'üncü uçuşunu gerçekleştirecek.

Ancak uçuş testlerine şekil verecek asıl prototipler, 'bu amaçla'… https://t.co/JLsYbww2wu pic.twitter.com/DlHJ1aWE7H

— SavunmaSanayiST.com (@SavunmaSanayiST) July 24, 2024

KAAN, the first fifth-generation fighter jet manufactured domestically, aims to replace the Turkish army's aging fleet.

Before its maiden flight, tests were carried out on KAAN's launch seat tests, control surfaces, landing gear, avionic systems, fuel, engine start-up, and taxiing.

KAAN will be capable of air-to-air combat with next-generation weapons and precision strikes from internal weapon mounts at supersonic speed, and will provide increased combat power with AI and neural network support.

The latest development makes Türkiye one of the few countries to own this technology. The aircraft, for which the project began in 2016, was rolled out in March 2023.

Last year, it left the hangar for the first time, and last May, the name of the aircraft was announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It is part of Türkiye’s continuing efforts to shift most of its defense vehicles, weapons, and supplies from foreign sources to domestic ones.