TUSAŞ’s New General Manager Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu’s Important Statements on the KAAN Project
Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu, who recently took office as the General Manager of Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TUSAŞ), provided striking information about the current status of the National Combat Aircraft KAAN. Demiroğlu stated that they aim to produce a total of 250-300 KAAN aircraft, with at least 100 being delivered to the Turkish Air Force initially. He also revealed that the number of countries showing serious interest in the project has already reached five.
Future of the KAAN Project and Production Plans
Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu emphasized that the National Combat Aircraft KAAN is the salvation project of Turkish aviation, taking over from Prof. Dr. Temel Kotil. In an interview with the YouTube channel Gündeme Dair Her Şey (GDH), he made significant statements about the delivery date of KAAN, the Block-10 production process, potential partners of the project, and the superiority of the national aircraft over the American F-22.
Engine Development and Embargo Possibilities
Demiroğlu noted that American-made engines are used in KAAN and HÜRJET and mentioned that international relations affect them as well. He expressed hope that the developments in the F-16 procurement process could have positive effects and stated that they are accelerating engine development work at TRMotor and TEI companies to counter possible embargoes. He mentioned that the KAAN engine will be capable of supporting 5th and 6th generation aircraft by the early 2030s.
KAAN’s First Flights and Delivery Process
Demiroğlu stated that the first delivery model, known as Block-10, will emerge in 2025, with the first flights beginning that year and continuing until 2028. He mentioned that they aim to deliver 20 KAANs by 2028 and added that while there are no current delays, there could be disruptions in the process.
Exports and Partnerships
Demiroğlu highlighted that the number of countries showing serious interest in the KAAN project has reached five, indicating that the visit of Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman to TUSAŞ is a sign of this interest. He stated that they plan to export 150 aircraft initially and that they plan to produce a total of 250-300 KAANs in the coming years.
6th Generation Aircraft Vision
Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu emphasized that KAAN is designed in line with the 6th generation aircraft concept and aims to lead in this concept. He highlighted that the most important feature of the 6th generation aircraft is the ability of manned and unmanned systems to communicate with each other and stated that they are pioneers in this field with the ANKA-3, KIZILELMA, and Super Şimşek projects. Demiroğlu expressed the ambition to be among the top three in the world in the 6th generation aircraft domain, potentially even achieving the first place.
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