Turkey  

Turkish Aerospace Industries' new KAAN fighter jet, claimed to surpass the US-made F-35, recently completed its second successful flight test. TAI aims to deliver 20 KAAN jets by 2028, with plans for domestic engine production.

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) General Manager Temel Kotil has made bold claims about Turkey's new KAAN fighter jet, asserting it outperforms the US-made F-35. This statement followed the aircraft’s second flight test earlier this month at a military base in Ankara.

“This aircraft is better than the F-35,” Kotil told Turkiye Newspaper. He highlighted that the F-35 carries six tons of ammunition, while the KAAN can carry ten tons. Additionally, Kotil noted the KAAN's two-engine design compared to the F-35's single engine, which he claims provides more energy and extends radar range.

Turkey's development of the KAAN is partly driven by its expulsion from the F-35 program after purchasing a Russian air defense system. Consequently, Turkey initiated the KAAN program to develop its own combat aircraft.

TAI aims to deliver 20 KAAN jets by 2028, with "many more" expected between 2030 and 2033. The Turkish Air Force plans to incorporate hundreds of KAAN aircraft into its fleet. By 2028, TAI also hopes to manufacture engines domestically for these jets.

The KAAN, equipped with advanced weaponry, is designed for air-to-air combat and precision supersonic strikes.

On May 6, a TAI test pilot flew a KAAN prototype to 10,000 feet for over 14 minutes, marking its second flight since its maiden flight on February 21. An F-16 jet acted as a safety chase during this test.

With these successful flights, the KAAN program is progressing towards full-rate production and deployment. Haluk Gorgun, a Turkish Defence Industries official, congratulated all contributors to the project, especially the TAI engineers, pilots, and technical teams.