Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has just carried out only the second test flight of the new KAAN fighter, but is already making ambitious plans for the aircraft.
According to Temel Kotil, general manager of the state-owned company, the Turkish Air Force will receive 20 of these 5th generation fighters by 2028.
Kotil went further and considered the supersonic jet superior to the US Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. “This aircraft is better than the F-35. The F-35 carries 6 tons; this one carries 10 tons of ammunition.” the executive told Türkiye newspaper.
“It has 2 engines compared to the F-35’s single engine. Having 2 engines means more energy and radars illuminating a greater distance,” he further added.
Size of an F-22 Raptor
The comparison is not surprising given that Turkey was removed from the F-35 program by the United States in 2019 after reaching a deal for S-400 surface-to-air missiles with Russia in 2017.
More recently, Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government once again approached the Joe Biden administration amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. With this, an upgrade package for F-16 fighters in addition to new jets is being made possible.
The F-35, however, remains out of the question, which makes investment in the indigenous fighter a higher priority. Kotil even promised that the Turkish Air Force will have “hundreds of KAAN aircraft” between 2030 and 2033.
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KAAN has a stealthy configuration, but it is unknown which stage of technology makes detection by radars difficult.
The aircraft is equipped with two GE F110 engines like those used by F-16 fighters and has similar dimensions to the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.
Via Breaking Defense
