Is the Over $100 Million Price Tag for Turkey’s ‘KAAN’ 5th Gen Fighter Jet Justified?”

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Any party that aspires to acquire Turkey’s fifth-generation fighter aircraft known as “KAAN” need to “think twice” before contemplating buying it, because the price of one unit of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft is expected to exceed US$100 million (RM450 million).

This was confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Temel Kotil, who stated that the per-unit price of the aircraft is expected to be “slightly” less than US$100 million, as estimated previously.

 However, he did not explain the reason or rationale for the current price of a Turkish-made fifth-generation fighter aircraft exceeding US$100 million.

In an interview in 2021, Kotil estimated the per-unit price of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft to be US$100 million, and two years later, his estimate was almost accurate.

With an estimated price of over US$100 million per unit for the Turkish-made fighter aircraft, the “KAAN” price does not differ significantly from the price of fifth-generation fighter aircraft from the United States, especially the F-35 variants C (conventional takeoff and landing) or B (short takeoff and vertical landing).

 

The estimated price per unit of the F-35A (conventional takeoff) is US$80 million.

However, the technology that accompanies the F-35 is already more mature and “proven” compared to the “KAAN.”

Meanwhile, Kotil also mentioned that by 2028, TAI will deliver a total of 20 “KAAN” Block 10 fighter aircraft to the Turkish Air Force. “By 2029, TAI will produce two KAAN fighter aircraft per month, generating approximately US$2.4 billion (RM9.6 billion) in annual revenue,” Kotil said, as quoted by an international defense portal.

“KAAN” is expected to make its maiden flight on October 29, 2023, in conjunction with the country’s 100th-anniversary celebration, and it will enter service with the Turkish Army in 2029.

The fifth-generation fighter aircraft will replace more than 200 F-16 fighter jets owned by the country’s Air Force.

Turkey’s domestically developed fifth-generation fighter aircraft will replace the F-35 that was originally intended for use by the Turkish Air Force before Ankara was excluded from the aircraft development program due to its purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system.

 

“KAAN” was previously known as TF-X or Milli Muharip Ucak (National Combat Aircraft – MMU).

The production of this fighter aircraft makes Turkey the fifth country in the world to successfully develop a fifth-generation fighter.

Almost 100 percent of Turkey’s fifth-generation aircraft is developed by its defense industry, except for some components such as ejection seats, engines, and joysticks.

However, all three foreign components of “KAAN” will be replaced with Turkish-made components as the aircraft development progresses further.

All 10 prototype “KAAN” aircraft will be equipped with two engines manufactured by General Electric F110, which is well known in Turkey as it is also used in the country’s F-16 C/D fighter aircraft and is domestically produced.

However, the serial production of the aircraft will use engines developed by the local company, Tusas Engine Industries (TEI), based on the Eurojet EJ200 engine used in the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft.

Preliminary data indicates that the “KAAN” fighter aircraft will have a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 27,200kg and will be capable of reaching a maximum speed of Mach 2. — DSA

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