What You Need to Know: Türkiye is developing the fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft TAI Kaan (also known as TF or MMU), which aims to rival advanced aircraft such as the F-35.

-Kaan made its first flight in February 2024 and is planned to replace Turkey’s F-16 fleet. Powered by two General Electric F110-GE129 engines, this aircraft has advanced stealth capabilities, a top speed of Mach 1.8, and multi-role capabilities such as air superiority and ground attack. Despite successful test flights, comparisons with established fighter jets such as the F-35 raise doubts.

Problems: Recent terrorist attacks on TAI’s headquarters in Ankara have raised concerns about possible delays in the development of Kaan.

When you think of countries producing fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, you probably think of the Big Three (to use the American automotive manufacturing analogy): the United States, for example, LockheedMartin F-22 Raptor And F-35 Yıldırım II; Russia, for example Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name “Felon”) and Su-75 “Checkmate”; and China, for example Chengdu J-20 Weilong (“Mighty Dragon”; NATO reporting name “Fagin”).

What sometimes gets lost in this confusion is the fact that there is a fourth country in the act of producing a stealth fighter jet. ostensibly a NATO member country and US ally, but Extremely comfortable with Russia (and to a lesser extent, Chinese) recently: Türkiye. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI; Turkish abbreviation TAI) says “Hello” to Kaan (“Leader” or “Ruler”), aka TF (“Turkish Fighter”) and MMU (National Combat Aircraft; “National Battle”). Say “Hello”. Aeroplane”).

TAI Kaan Early History and Specifications

TAI Kaan made its first flight on February 21, 2024. Before this, the prototype carried out taxi and ground tests on March 16, 2023, and was then unveiled at a ceremony two days later. Kaan is planned to replace the American-made aircraft of the Turkish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon (AKA “Viper”) fleet and is also intended for foreign military sales (FMS).

The big driving force behind Turkey’s decision to pursue a domestic stealth fighter jet is The recent decline in Türkiye-US relationsespecially Washington’s refusal to sell Patriot missile batteries Going to Ankara and removing the Turks from the F-35 FMS customer list in 2019.

Kaan is reported to have made the following preliminary preparations: features and vital statistics:

Hull Length: 68 ft 11 in (21 m)

Wingspan: 45 ft 11 in (14 m)

Height: 19 ft 8 in (6 m)

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 60,000 lb (27,215 kg) takeoff, 51,320 lb (23,280 kg) combat weight

Power plant: 2 x General Electric F110-GE129 Engines with 58,000 lb (26,308 kg) thrust (NOTE: This F-15EX Eagle II)

Maximum Airspeed: Mach 1.8 (1,381 mph; 2,222 km/h)

Service Ceiling: 55,000 ft (16,764 m)

g-Limits: +9.0 and -3.5

My colleague Brandon J. Weichert adds: July 1, 2024, article National Interest:

“Turkey’s TF Kaan boasts advanced stealth capabilities that make it difficult to detect by radar, infrared and other sensors. It is equipped with advanced avionics, including fly-by-wire system, active electronically scanned array radar and electronic warfare (EW) suite… This warbird can carry a variety of weapons, including air-to-air weapons, air-to-air weapons. ground missiles and guided bombs. It is also equipped with a 20 mm gun for close air support missions. “

The aircraft is expected to be multi-purpose (air superiority missions, ground attack and reconnaissance).

Operational Performance

The aforementioned first flight of the MMU was a rather modest performance, lasting only thirteen minutes; the aircraft reportedly reached an altitude of 8,000 ft (2,438.4 m) and a speed of 230 kts (254 mph; 425.9 km/h). A second test flight was conducted last May; whereupon the manufacturer’s in-house test pilot took the prototype to an altitude of 10,000 feet (3,048 m) for more than fourteen minutes.

This second mission led to a rather bold claim by TAI General Manager Temel Kotil (as quoted by Joe Saballa). Defense Post):

“This plane is better than the F-35… F-35 carries 6 tons of ammunition, (KAAN) carries 10 tons of ammunition… Having two engines means more energy and radars that illuminate more distance.”

Kotil’s comments should be approached with caution, as the Kaan is still in the prototype stage and is not expected to become operational until the 2030s, while the F-35 has been in production since 2006 and is not expected to actually enter production. it already happened combat proven (thanks to the Israeli Air Force)). By the way, one of the best ironies of Kaan’s second test fight is that an F-16 of the Turkish Air Force served as a safety/tracking plane!

The Way Forward

While I was writing these lines, by a frightening coincidence, we received the news that TAI’s headquarters in Ankara’s Kahramankazan district was demolished. was subjected to a terrorist attackIt was reported that gunshots were heard after the explosion. Details are still sketchy at this point, but there have been an unspecified number of deaths, with Turkish interior minister Ali Yerlikaya stating on X (formerly Twitter), “Unfortunately, we have martyrs and wounded.” The news agency stated that the country’s security forces were in the process of neutralizing “terrorists”.

In addition to the human tragedy caused by the lives lost in this attack, it is not yet known how this attack on TAI/TUSAŞ Headquarters will affect not only Kaan but also the company’s development and production program. phoenix-3 UAVs (No relation to Canadian American singer Paul Anka).

By the way, to quote Weichert once again:

“As for the reaction from foreigners, it has been mixed so far. Some countries have expressed interest in purchasing the aircraft, while others Greece and Cyprus expressed concerns about its potential impact on regional security. This situation is not surprising, considering the tensions between the parties mentioned above. In fact, while Athens and Ankara are fighting over everything from territorial rights to whose culture is superior, there is a danger of completely collapsing the southern defense line that NATO boasts about… Therefore, the TF KAAN-F-35 debate is heating up in this bad context… Turkey has severed its ties with the USA. . “The creation of a domestic fifth-generation warbird to rival the F-35 is the inevitable and final end of this change.”

About the Author:

Christian D. Orr is Senior Defense Editor. National Security Journal (NSJ). He is a former Air Force Security Forces officer, Federal law enforcement officer, and private military contractor (he served in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, Japan, Germany, and the Pentagon). Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Southern California (USC) and a master’s degree in Intelligence Studies (terrorism Studies concentration) from American Military University (AMU). It was also published Daily Torch, Intelligence and Cyber ​​Security MagazineAnd Simple Flight. Last but not least he is a Companion of the Order. Order of the Navy of the United States (NOUS).

Image Credit: Creative Commons.