Mehmet Fatih Demiroğlu, the General Manager of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), has provided significant updates on the test process for the national combat aircraft KAAN. Demiroğlu explained that the initially taxi-only Prototype 0 was later modified to perform a few flights. These announcements were made at the Farnborough Airshow in Farnborough, England, one of the leading events in the aerospace, defense, and space industries.
In his remarks to Aviation Week about KAAN’s development process, Demiroğlu stated, “It was not intended to fly in its initial build. However, we made many modifications to enable it to fly; it is currently flying and will continue to fly. But we will not use this prototype as actively as we are using the HÜRJET prototype. We will not push this prototype hard. The next two prototypes will fly much more.”
Demiroğlu’s statements provided crucial insights into KAAN’s future development. Initially designed only for taxiing, Prototype 0 was modified to perform flights. However, this prototype is not planned to be heavily used, allowing subsequent prototypes to undergo more extensive test flights.
TUSAŞ Deputy General Manager Prof. Dr. Fahrettin Öztürk also announced during a program that work has begun on the secondary prototype for the mass production of the National Combat Aircraft KAAN. Öztürk emphasized the need for a strong supply chain to overcome challenges in transitioning to mass production. He noted that TUSAŞ is working intensively on this matter and aims to establish a robust supply ecosystem soon, enabling production in the desired quantity and at the desired price.
Work on the P1 Prototype Begins
Initiated in 2024, the P1 prototype is expected to be on its landing gear by 2025. The first flight of this aircraft is anticipated to occur within 2025. TUSAŞ officials have announced that parts production for the second prototype has begun, with plans to produce up to eight prototypes. Getting the P1 prototype on its landing gear will mark a significant milestone in the KAAN project.
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