(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The highly anticipated maiden flight of Turkey’s fifth-generation fighter aircraft, “KAAN,” scheduled for last night (December 27), did not materialize as planned, disappointing the citizens of the Mediterranean nation and global observers.
The eagerly awaited maiden flight was postponed following a series of ground tests and taxi tests.
The debut flight of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft “KAAN,” developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), is now expected to take place in the coming weeks, contingent upon the success of the ground tests and taxi tests.
The success of both technical tests is crucial to ensuring the safety of the fighter aircraft, its test pilots, and overall performance.
Previously, TAI CEO Prof. Temel Kotil stated that every effort and test were underway to ensure that Turkey’s fifth-generation fighter aircraft, characterized as a “strategic asset,” would conduct its inaugural flight on the specified date (December 27th)
“We are working diligently. It will conduct its inaugural flight in the second month of the second quarter. We are heading in that direction, and it (KAAN) will take flight. It needs to fly to allow the entire world to witness it,” he was reported as saying.
“We are getting closer; all tests on the Kaan fighter are being conducted,” he said, emphasizing that the inaugural flight of the “KAAN” fighter aircraft will mark a transformative era for Turkey.
Temel Kotil stated that the development project for the fifth-generation fighter aircraft “KAAN” is Turkey’s most crucial high-tech development project and, therefore, must be “100 percent” domestically owned.
TAI, the primary contractor for the development program of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft “KAAN,” reportedly will deliver a total of 20 KAAN Block 10 fighter aircraft to the Turkish Air Force by 2028.
By 2029, TAI is expected to produce two KAAN fighter aircraft each month, generating an annual revenue of approximately US$2.4 billion (RM9.6 billion).
The fifth-generation KAAN fighter aircraft is set to replace over 200 F-16 fighter aircraft in the Turkish Air Force fleet.
Turkey has intensify efforts to develop its own fifth-generation fighter aircraft after being excluded from the F-35 program due to the acquisition of Russian-made S-400 “Triumf” air defense system.
As a partner in the F-35 fighter jet program, Turkey will acquire 100 F-35 fighter jets.
However, Ankara’s participation in the fifth-generation fighter jet program was terminated prematurely following its decision to purchase the S-400 “Triumf” air defense system from Russia.
Previously known as TF-X or Milli Muharip Ucak (National Combat Aircraft – MMU), KAAN is almost 100 percent domestically developed by Turkey’s defense industry, except for some components such as the ejection seat, engine, and controller.
However, these three foreign components on the KAAN aircraft will be replaced with domestically produced components as the aircraft development progresses.
Initial data indicates that the “KAAN” fighter aircraft will have a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 27,200kg and be capable of reaching a maximum speed of Mach 2. — DSA