Türkiye’s 5th generation fighter jet KAAN will enter a comprehensive test programme lasting approximately two years with new flights set to begin in May. TUSAŞ General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu announced that the second and third prototypes are also planned to roll out of the hangar before the end of the year.
Türkiye’s 5th generation fighter jet KAAN is entering a new phase in its development process. The national fighter aircraft, one of the most important projects of the Turkish defence industry, is preparing for an intensive test programme that will last approximately two years, with new flights scheduled to begin in May.
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu shared the latest developments regarding the KAAN project and announced that the new flight tests are targeted to begin in May–June. The national fighter jet, which successfully completed its first flight, will be comprehensively tested during this period in terms of different flight profiles and mission capabilities.
New prototypes to roll off the production line
As part of the ongoing work at TUSAŞ facilities, the second and third prototypes of KAAN are planned to roll out of the hangar before the end of the year.
In the later stages of the project, a full-scale static test aircraft and the P1 flight prototype are also targeted to join the test fleets in the fourth quarter of the year. With this development, the test processes are planned to be conducted more simultaneously and comprehensively.
Critical aerodynamic updates in the design
The development process of KAAN is not limited to increasing the number of prototypes. Significant design updates are also being made to the aircraft based on data obtained from the first flights.
In the P1 prototype currently in production, it is observed that the air intakes have been moved slightly behind the cockpit and enlarged compared to the first flying P0 prototype. This aerodynamic update is expected to improve the airflow going to the engines and increase the aircraft’s performance.
In addition, in the front section of the cockpit, there is a new sensor aperture design for the KARAT Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system developed by ASELSAN. This system is among the critical technologies that strengthen KAAN’s fifth-generation fighter jet capabilities.
Target: Turkish Air Force inventory in 2029
TUSAŞ General Manager Demiroğlu stated that following the test process to be carried out with the improved prototypes, the first delivery of KAAN to the Turkish Air Force is planned to begin in 2029.
Civil aviation projects from TUSAŞ
In addition to military projects, TUSAŞ continues its work in the field of civil aviation.
The Gökbey helicopter will become Türkiye’s first nationally produced helicopter with civil certification after receiving civil certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation at the end of this month.
By the end of the year, three Gökbey helicopters are planned to be delivered to the Ministry of Health to be used as air ambulances.
The 10-ton firefighting helicopter developed for the General Directorate of Forestry is planned to begin deliveries in 2028.
https://www.airportgundem.com/kaan-mayis-ayinda-yeni-ucus-testlerine-basliyor/
