Developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TUSAŞ), Turkey’s indigenous fifth-generation fighter aircraft KAAN is entering a critical phase. TUSAŞ General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu announced that KAAN’s flight-ready prototypes will take to the skies in the coming months, with the first delivery to the Turkish Air Force expected in 2029.
Demiroğlu stated, “KAAN is not just ours—it is our nation’s pride. Only four countries in the world are capable of producing fifth-generation fighter jets. We are now joining that league. In April, we will fly our first prototype, followed by a second one three months later. Currently, we are working on four aircraft—three flight-ready prototypes and one static test aircraft. After that, we will produce three more prototypes.”
Following ground testing and simulation processes at TUSAŞ facilities, KAAN will complete its test flights with three different prototypes by the end of 2026. Demiroğlu added, “We have an intensive testing schedule. According to our plans, we will carry out the first deliveries at the end of 2028 or the beginning of 2029.”
Current Timeline of the KAAN Project:
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April 2026: First prototype flight planned
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July 2026: Second prototype expected to fly
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End of 2026: All three prototypes targeted to have flown
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Late 2028 – Early 2029: Initial deliveries to the Turkish Air Force
The KAAN project holds critical importance in Turkey’s goal of reducing foreign dependency in the defence industry. Developed with domestic engineering capabilities, the aircraft has garnered attention for its high manoeuvrability, low radar visibility, and advanced avionics systems.
