Since its inaugural flight on February 21, 2024, Turkey’s fifth-generation fighter jet, TF-X, has garnered significant global attention, shining a spotlight on its future trajectory. Turkey’s new fighter jet, TF-X, also known as KAAN, or Khan in English, represents the pinnacle of ambition for the Turkish defence industry. This fifth-generation jet has progressed rapidly since plans were set in motion to replace the F-16 fighters in the Turkish Air Force's inventory, which were expected to go out of service by the 2030s.

This indigenous programme represents a paradigm shift, propelling Turkey into an elite group of nations with the capacity to independently develop, produce, and integrate cutting-edge fighter aircraft and aerospace technologies.

KAAN will play a pivotal role in the future, managing advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) like ANKA III and ŞİMŞEK, further enhancing Turkey's aerospace capabilities and strategic deterrence.

The Defence Industry Executive Committee’s launch of the Jet Trainer and Fighter Aircraft (TX/FX) Conceptual Design and Feasibility in 2010, marked the initiation of Türkiye's indigenous fighter jet programme. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), signed a contract with the Swedish company SAAB in 2011 for technical consultancy services. Three different fighter jet concepts were presented based on the Air Force's expectations: the FX-1 (two-engine conventional tail), the FX-5 (single-engine conventional tail), and the FX-6 (single-engine canard).

In August 2016, TAI signed the Turkish Fighter Development Project Term I Phase I contract with the Defence Industry Agency to develop the FX-1 model, now known as KAAN. The following year, it reached an agreement with the UK’s BAE Systems, further accelerating the project's momentum. More than 200 companies participated in the KAAN project, with TAI collaborating with more than 100 domestic companies. Twenty-four of the 30 subsystems were supplied by domestic suppliers.

By 2022, KAAN had progressed substantially, boasting more than 90% domestic content, a remarkable achievement showcasing Turkey's transition from the assembly and design phase to full-scale serial production within its defence industry. Earlier this year, KAAN completed its maiden flight, marking a historic milestone for Turkey's aerospace renaissance. The aircraft reached an altitude of 8,000 feet and achieved a speed of 230 knots during the 13-minute flight.

Progress on the P1 prototype is advancing, with its maiden flight scheduled for 2025 and inclusion in the Turkish Air Force's inventory by 2028. TAI is set to produce a total of 29 KAAN prototypes, in addition to the aircraft scheduled for delivery to the Air Force by 2028, with plans to simultaneously assemble two aircraft in the hangar. TAI Engine Industries, (TEI) and TRMotor, are tirelessly working to develop an indigenous engine for integration into KAAN, further enhancing its domestic content and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.

KAAN's formidable deterrent capabilities position it to become the backbone of Turkey's future air combat fleet. The extensive facilities, infrastructure, and expertise cultivated during its development will serve as a strategic hub, enabling TAI to undertake numerous advanced aviation projects.

It will be equipped with an advanced sensor suite, including the indigenously developed MURAD AESA Aircraft Nose Radar by the Turkish defence company ASELSAN. The AESA radar provides automatic target recognition, multi-target tracking, ground mapping, AI-assisted target limiting, electronic warfare capabilities, and enhanced missile guidance. KAAN will also feature a dedicated infrared search and track system housed in faceted enclosures in front of the cockpit and a multi-purpose electro-optical targeting system underneath the forward fuselage. These sensors will provide KAAN with enhanced situational awareness and targeting capabilities.

Integrating the domestically developed MURAD AESA radar is critical for boosting KAAN’s air combat capabilities and the deterrent sensor edge of the Turkish Air Force's future fighter fleet, which will be led by KAAN. Following initial tests, the MURAD AESA radar will be a critical sensor and targeting system integrated into KAAN, providing true fifth-generation multi-role capabilities, an enhanced stealth profile, superior situational awareness, and an electronic warfare suite.

KAAN is designed for air-to-air combat with next-generation weapons and precision air-to-ground strikes from internal weapon bays at supersonic speeds. The key indigenous Turkish weapons confirmed for integration into the KAAN fighter are the Gökdoğan long-range air-to-air missile, the Bozdoğan short-range dogfight missile, and potentially the SOM-J cruise missile for ground attack roles. Their integration highlights Turkey's drive towards self-sufficiency in arming its future fighter fleet. The internal weapons bay design contributes to KAAN's low observable characteristics. Its combat power will be increased with the integration of artificial intelligence and neural network support systems.

What KAAN brings to Turkish deterrence

The KAAN fighter jet will have advanced data link and network-enabled warfare capabilities, including a KEMENT Tactical Data Link by Meteksan Defence for near real-time transmission of data. KAAN "will integrate with TAI’s [unmanned air vehicle] Anka via an encrypted data link for manned-unmanned teaming." This suggests KAAN will have secure data links to network and share data with unmanned systems like the Anka drones. Being a fifth-generation fighter jet, KAAN is expected to have advanced sensor fusion, data links and communications for network-centric operations as a standard feature.

A source within TAI who is working on the KAAN project told Defence Procurement International that in the initial plans, KAAN was slated to exit the hangar in 2023, undergo Critical Design Review activities in 2024, complete Block-0 aircraft production in 2025, and conduct its maiden flight in 2026.

“However, due to project acceleration, the schedule was moved up, and KAAN successfully conducted its first flight three years ahead of schedule,” the source says. “It's understood that modifications were made to the ground test aircraft for this flight. Even though the flight occurred earlier than anticipated, this flight test campaign will allow the flight control teams to conduct tests. Subsequently, the mission aspect will be addressed following the production and delivery of post-CDR equipment.”

KAAN will replace Turkey's ageing fleet of over 200 F-16 fighter jets and become the backbone of the Turkish Air Force's future air combat capabilities. The facilities and infrastructure developed for KAAN will enable TAI to undertake numerous other advanced aviation projects.

Dr. Hüseyin Fazla, a former Turkish Air Force fighter pilot, who currently leads Turkey’s STRASAM Strategic Research Centre, underlined the importance of having a formidable air force. “As a country located in a difficult geography surrounded by conflicts, Turkey has always considered it imperative to have a strong air power in its region. The prerequisite for having a modern air force is to have modern fighter jets.”

He says factors such as the failure of the F-35s to enter the inventory for various reasons, the fact that it was not clear whether the F-16 Block 70 Viper aircraft to be purchased from the US would be given to the Turkish Air Force, as well as the uncertainty over the purchase of Eurofighter 2000 aircraft, made it necessary to accelerate the KAAN development and production schedule.

Encouraged by this acceleration, the Turkish Air Force is now in the process of acquiring early versions of the MMU KAAN to meet its short-term combat aircraft requirements. “The decision to deliver at least 20 KAANs with F110-GE-129 engines, which have better features and capabilities than the F-16s, to the Turkish Air Force Command by 2028 is very appropriate,” Fazla adds.

He says TAI now plans to carry out an estimated 6,000–7,000 test flights with a total of eight prototypes, and verification of around 100,000 test points, conducting some additional tests with flying test platforms featuring many indigenous-national sensors and systems such as the AESA radar and EOTS.

KAAN'S export potential 

KAAN's formidable deterrent capabilities, even while grounded, position it as the future backbone strengthening Turkey's air power projection. It also enhances Turkey's self-reliance in defence, allowing it to deter enemies more effectively and contribute strongly to the security of allies and partners.

Fazla says KAAN will serve as the backbone of the Turkish Air Force for the coming decades. "In the long run, our goal is to develop a domestic engine through TR Motor and integrate it into KAAN,” he says. “Ultimately, the MMU will be in service in the Air Force fleets until at least 2070, meeting the operational requirements of fifth-generation combat aircraft."

The aircraft also holds export potential. Vasyl Bodnar, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Ankara, mentioned in a February 2024 interview with Turkish television that Ukraine is considering purchasing KAAN, indicating its potential in the international market.

However, Çağlar Kurç, an assistant professor of political science at Abdullah Gül University says it is premature to assess KAAN's sales potential in countries influenced by the Turkish defence industry. "We haven't fully determined its capabilities and associated costs, including acquisition, operation, and maintenance,” he says. “The unit cost of KAAN will also depend on demand. Many countries are seeking new fighter aircraft, particularly fifth-generation ones.”

Kurç says countries with limited budgets may opt for more affordable options compared to US offerings. “KAAN could target this market segment, competing directly with South Korea's KF-21. The less restrictive option would likely prevail, giving Turkey an advantage. But without knowing KAAN's actual capabilities, estimating its export prospects is challenging."

According to the TUSAŞ source, KAAN’s export unit costs might be higher due to the project's infrastructure establishment. “Factors such as the Turkish Air Force's order quantity could also impact cost,” they said. “Nevertheless, KAAN's export potential in friendly and allied markets where Turkey has influence is considerable."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tayfun Ozberk is a former Turkish naval officer turned defence analyst and writer.

This article first appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of Defence Procurement International magazine. To stay up to date with the latest news in global defence procurement, subscribe to our print or digital editions.