Скачать или смотреть Turkish 5th-Gen fighters become Backbone of Future Air Combat; How the turkish air force formed it?

Turkey raises the bar with its fifth-generation fighter jet KAAN, which showcases domestic combat-aircraft capabilities.

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.

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. 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.