TAI TF‑X “Kaan”: Turkey’s Indigenous Next-Gen Fighter Jet
Turkey has made a bold leap in aerospace with its TAI TF‑X, officially named “Kaan”—a fifth-generation, twin-engine stealth fighter aircraft designed and built by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). The project aims to reduce dependence on foreign systems and replace aging F-16s, all while placing Turkey among the elite group of nations capable of building advanced combat jets.
1. Program Origins and Naming
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Project Start: TF‑X was launched in 2016, under a contract between TAI and Turkey's Defence Industry Agency
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Name Announcement: On May 1, 2023, it received the moniker “Kaan,” meaning “ruler” or “king” in Turkish .
2. Development Milestones and First Flights
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Ground Tests: Taxi runs began in March 2023 and the first engine start occurred shortly before .
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Maiden Flight: The first prototype (P0) completed a 13-minute flight on February 21, 2024, reaching 230 knots at 8,000 ft altitude International Defence Analysis+3Vikipedi+3defensemirror.com+3.
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Subsequent Flights: A second flight took place in May 2024 . A ground afterburner test was conducted in December 2024 Vikipedi.
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Prototype Expansion: Six prototypes (P0–P5) are slated to fly between 2024 and 2026 defensemirror.com+1International Defence Analysis+1. P1 and P2 should fly by end‑2025 International Defence Analysis+3defensemirror.com+3trt.global+3.
3. Design and Key Features
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Stealth and Sensor Fusion: The TF‑X will include a low observability airframe, internal weapons bays, advanced avionics, and sensor fusion for enhanced situational awareness
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Avionics Suite: Onboard systems will feature the Murad AESA radar, Karat IRST, Tulgar helmet display, and Yildirim DIRCMs 19FortyFive+2International Defence Analysis+2defensemirror.com+2.
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Performance Specs: The 21‑meter airframe supports speeds up to Mach 1.8, thanks to twin engines with 13,000 kg thrust each Küresel Güvenlik+1Türkiye Today+1.
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Armament: Integrated weapons will include internal bays for Çakır cruise missiles, Gökdoğan and Bozdoğan AAMs, plus TOLUN small bombs International Defence Analysis+1defensemirror.com+1.
4. Engines and Future PowerPlants
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Current Engines: Early prototypes are powered by General Electric F110s, also used in F-16s Türkiye Today+5Reuters+5Vikipedi+5.
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Indigenous Option: Turkey is developing the TEI‑TF35000, a domestic turbofan with 35,000 lbf thrust, aiming for integration by 2032 19FortyFive+6Vikipedi+6trt.global+6.
5. Timelines, Production and Exports
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Target Deliveries: TAI aims to deliver initial Block 10 jets—20 units—to the Turkish Air Force by 2028, rising to 2 jets/month by 2029 Business Insider+5Vikipedi+5International Defence Analysis+5.
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Export Agreements:
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Indonesia signed a $10 billion deal for 48 KAANs, deliveries expected by 2026 Business Insider+13AP News+13The Economic Times+13.
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Other interested nations: Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Gulf countries 19FortyFive+1The Economic Times+1.
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6. Strategic Significance
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Technological Independence: Developed after Turkey’s F-35 exclusion, KAAN enhances domestic control over defense capabilities Business Insider+5Business Insider+5International Defence Analysis+5.
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Competitive Stand: KAAN puts Turkey in a select group (US, China, Russia, South Korea) of nations developing fifth-gen fighter jets Küresel Güvenlik.
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Export Potential: With export contracts underway, KAAN could significantly boost TAI’s annual revenue (approx. $2.4 billion) Türkiye Today+2Vikipedi+2Türkiye Today+2International Defence Analysis.
7. Outlook and Future Development
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Sixth-Gen Capabilities: TAI is already integrating MUM-T (manned-unmanned teaming) and AI features, aiming toward sixth-generation concepts Türkiye Today+1Türkiye Today+1.
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Weapons Testing: KAAN will enter weapons testing by 2026, verifying integration with missiles and advanced avionics International Defence Analysis.
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Full Service: Official service entry is planned for 2028–2030, initially with GE engines, then transitioning to indigenous TEI powerplants .
Final Takeaway
The TAI TF‑X “Kaan” marks Turkey’s emergence as a serious player in advanced combat aircraft design. With rapid prototype development, advanced systems, export deals, and a clear path to domestic engine integration, KAAN is poised to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with global fifth-generation platforms. It's not just a spearhead for Turkish defense; it’s a statement of technological ambition and sovereignty on the world stage.