Turkey's KAAN fighter jet passes runway test, nears first flight

Turkey's indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet, KAAN, has successfully completed a critical runway taxi test, marking a significant milestone in its development. The test, conducted with the engines running, signifies the aircraft's readiness for further ground and flight testing. This advancement brings KAAN closer to its maiden flight, a highly anticipated event for Turkey's defense industry.

The KAAN program was initiated after Turkey was excluded from the U.S. F-35 program, prompting the nation to pursue its own advanced fighter jet capabilities. The multirole fighter is designed to ensure air superiority, featuring capabilities for beyond-visual-range air-to-air combat and precision missions using internally carried weaponry. It is powered by two engines and incorporates advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and neural networks.

This latest test follows previous flight milestones, including a 13-minute first flight in February 2024 and a 14-minute second flight in May, where the aircraft reached an altitude of 10,000 feet and a speed of 230 knots. The development program is progressing with additional prototypes, P1 and P2, which feature more advanced system architectures. Turkey aims to deliver the first batch of KAAN aircraft to its Air Force by the end of 2028, with plans to equip them with domestically developed engines in the 2030s.