Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) has announced a new investment plan to accelerate the serial production of the National Combat Aircraft KAAN. Work has begun on a new facility that will produce an additional 24 fighter jets annually, with the goal of increasing total production capacity to more than 30 aircraft per year.
TUSAŞ’s KAAN Move: Annual Capacity to Exceed 30 Aircraft with New Production Facility
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) has launched a major investment initiative to increase the serial production capacity of Türkiye’s fifth-generation fighter aircraft, KAAN. Stating that the current production infrastructure is capable of manufacturing 6 to 9 KAAN aircraft annually, TUSAŞ aims to produce an additional 24 fighter jets per year and increase total annual production capacity to more than 30 aircraft once the new production facility becomes operational.
The announcement was made by TUSAŞ National Combat Aircraft Deputy General Manager Uğur Zengin during the Scientific Research Student Congress (KOÜBAK26) held at Kocaeli University.
Serial Production Contract Signed Between TUSAŞ and SSB for 20 KAAN Aircraft
Uğur Zengin stated that the KAAN program has entered the low-rate initial production phase and announced that a contract has been signed with the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) covering the production of 20 KAAN fighter aircraft for the Turkish Air Force.
Zengin noted that the current production infrastructure can manufacture 6 to 9 aircraft annually and said the planned investment will significantly increase the production rate.
Capacity to Exceed 30 Aircraft with the New Production Facility
The new production facility being developed by TUSAŞ is planned to have the capacity to manufacture an additional 24 fighter aircraft annually.
Once the new facility becomes operational, the serial production pace of KAAN is expected to increase significantly, raising total annual production capacity to more than 30 aircraft.
The investment is expected to provide production flexibility to meet both the needs of the Turkish Air Force and potential future export demand.
Second KAAN Prototype Counting Down to First Flight
Stating that testing activities within the KAAN program are progressing as planned, Uğur Zengin announced that the second prototype will perform its maiden flight within the next few months.
Assembly work on two additional prototypes is also continuing in the hangar.
Work Continues on the Third and Fourth Prototypes
According to information provided by Zengin;
- The third prototype will be placed on its landing gear next month.
- The fourth prototype will reach the same stage toward the end of the year.
- Thus, the flight test fleet of the KAAN program will be gradually expanded.
“The KAAN Program Is a Remarkable Achievement on a Global Scale”
Uğur Zengin recalled that production of KAAN began in 2022 and that the aircraft successfully completed its maiden flight in 2024.
Stating that this process has become one of the remarkable examples in the global aerospace industry, Zengin said that Türkiye has become one of the limited number of countries capable of flying a prototype within such a short period.
Critical Test Centers Commissioned in Türkiye
Zengin stated that numerous advanced technology testing infrastructures have been established within TUSAŞ as part of KAAN’s development process and said that the facilities operating in Ankara meet world-class standards.
These include:
- Lightning Test Facility,
- Full Anechoic Electromagnetic Test Center,
- One of Europe’s largest subsonic wind tunnels,
- which are actively used during KAAN’s development process.
These centers conduct critical validation tests for the fighter aircraft’s lightning resistance, electromagnetic compatibility, and aerodynamic performance.
TUSAŞ Also Working on New Production Bases
Stating that increasing production demand has begun to challenge the capacity of existing facilities, Uğur Zengin announced that TUSAŞ plans to expand its operations with new production bases to be established in different cities.
With these new investments becoming operational, the goal is to accelerate KAAN’s serial production process, improve the delivery schedule, and strengthen Türkiye’s defense industry manufacturing infrastructure.
