Tomorrow, Turkey will begin flight tests of the KAAN fighter jet of its own design. They are expected to be completed within the next few years.
KAAN belongs to the 4.5 generation. It will be modernized to the 5th generation by the Turkish defense industry later. Thus, very soon Turkey will become a member of a closed club of countries capable of producing the latest fighter jets on its own.
KAAN is being developed in stages. In this regard, the weapon systems will be installed only on pre-production prototypes. The aircraft was originally called TF-X. In late spring of this year, it was renamed KAAN.
The Turkish Defense Ministry has set the designers the task of designing a highly maneuverable aircraft with low radar visibility. It will be equipped with an onboard radar and an advanced optoelectronic system. The first three Block prototypes will be assembled by 2026. In 2029, the Turkish defense industry will present the Block 1 prototype.
