The prototype performed taxi and ground tests on 16 March 2023[9] and was ceremonially rolled out two days later.[15] Its maiden flight, initially scheduled for 27 December 2023, one day before the maiden flight of theTAI Anka-3,[16] was completed on 21 February 2024.[7]
On 15 December 2010, Turkey's Defence Industry Executive Committee (SSIK) approved the design, development, and manufacture of a national next-generation air superiority fighter to replace Turkey's F-16 fleet and operate alongside other key assets such as theF-35 Lightning II.[17]
In 2011, Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM), now known as theDefence Industry Agency, signed an agreement with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the conceptual development of the aircraft's basic capabilities. TAI andTUSAŞ Engine Industries (TEI) were assigned to lead the design, development, and entry processes of the fighter. The studies aimed to determine the fighter’s cost, evaluate potential mechanical and electronic systems, and assess the opportunities and challenges within military aviation.[18]
Funding of approximately US$20 million was allocated for a two-year conceptual design phase, conducted by TAI.[19] TAI officials projected completion of this phase by late 2013, after which a report would be submitted to the Prime Minister to approve the budget and framework for the development phase.[20]Janes described the project as "extremely ambitious."[20]
In 2024, it was announced thatTÜBİTAK andAselsan would support TAI in the development and construction of the aircraft.[21][22]
In March 2015, the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) issued a Request for Information to Turkish companies which had the capability "to perform a genuine design, development and production activities of the first Turkish fighter aircraft to meet Turkish Armed Forces' next generation fighter requirements" signalling the official start of the program.[23] The contract for design and development of the fighter was signed between the SSM of Ministry of Turkish National Defence and Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. in August 2016. The SSM granted $1.18 bn. to Turkish Aerospace Industries to acquire necessary technologies and infrastructure for the design, testing and certification of the aircraft.[24]
In the same period, Request for Proposal was published for the engine of the aircraft, and General Electric, Eurojet and Snecma companies returned to this file. Within the scope of the RFP, the condition was for the engine infrastructure to be developed in Turkey and production be domestic as long as possible.
Development Phase-1 was expected to officially commence by the end of 2014,[25] however, initial conditions were met and the project was officially started in late 2018.
In June 2021, the Turkish Air Force made a presentation about the TF-X program to the press. It was stated that Phase-1 Stage-1 had started with preliminary design works, right after T0 stage. As part of preliminary design activities, a system requirements review (SRR) is currently being carried out. By the end of 2022, system functionality review (SFR) and system requirements review (SRR) will be completed. Thus, the preliminary design activities will come to an end. The program is expected to go to the next stage by 2023 when the initial roll-out occurs with engines capable of taxiing.[1]
Phase-1 Stage-2 involves detailed design and qualifications carried out in the 2022-2029 period. The aircraft will roll out in 2023, critical design review (CDR) activities will be carried out in 2024, the production of the first aircraft, called Block-0, will be completed in 2025 and the first flight will be accomplished in 2026.[needs update] Until that date,TAI aims to manufacture 3 prototypes.[1] The Block-1 configuration is planned to be developed until 2029. The manufacture of 10 Block-1 fighter jets is planned within the scope of Phase-2, and the aircraft will be delivered to the Turkish Air Force between 2030 and 2033.[1] In Phase-3, between 2034 and 2040, development and mass production activities of other TF-X blocks is planned.[1]
In February 2013, meetings were held withSaab AB upon the instruction of then-Prime MinisterRecep Tayyip Erdoğan. An agreement was signed between TAI and the Swedish firm Saab during the state visit of then-Turkish PresidentAbdullah Gül to Sweden in March 2013, according to which:[26]
Saab AB would provide technological design assistance for Turkey's TF-X program.
TAI would have the option to purchase Saab's fighter aircraft design unit.
This plan was later abandoned. In January 2015, then-Prime MinisterAhmet Davutoğlu announced that the TF-X program will be a completely independent domestic platform, not in partnership with Korea, Sweden, Brazil or Indonesia.
In December 2015, Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) announced that it had chosenBAE Systems of the United Kingdom to assist with the design of the nation's next-generation air superiority fighter. On the same day,Rolls-Royce offered technology transfer for the EJ200 engine and joint-development of a derivative for the TF-X program.[27] During the visit of British Prime MinisterTheresa May to Turkey in January 2017,BAE Systems andTAI officials signed an agreement, worth about £100 million, for BAE Systems to provide engineering assistance in developing the aircraft.[28] Following the agreement, the UK issued an open general export licence to defence companies willing to export goods, software or technology to Turkey.[29]
On 20 January 2015,ASELSAN of Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding withEurojet, the manufacturer of theEJ200 engine used in the Eurofighter Typhoon.[30] A derivative of the EJ200 will be used in the TF-X program.[31][32][33][34] The two companies will additionally collaborate and co-develop engine control software systems and engine maintenance monitoring systems.[34]
Turkey's selection of the EJ200 evidenced TAI's intention to use supercruise capability. In May 2017, Rolls-Royce established a joint venture with the Kale Group of Turkey to develop and manufacture engines for the project.[35] Another competitor is TRMotor Power Systems Inc. established in April 2017 byBMC,TAI and SSTEK. In November 2018, TRMotor signed a memorandum of understanding with thePresidency of Defence Industries to develop a jet engine for the TF-X project.[36]
While General Electric did not openly express interest in the TF-X project, its local partnerTusaş Engine Industries (TEI) announced that it will participate in the engine development phase. In June 2018, TEI General Manager Mahmut Faruk Akşit said that they proposed a mature engine for which they had completed a commercial proposal for the infrastructure of sub-component tests for the compressor. He emphasized the advantage of GE engines over its competitors stating that they have significant OEM support whereas the collaboration between other companies were yet to thrive. TEI committed to submit all intellectual rights to the government.[37] In October 2018, local media reported that an unknown number of initial production fighters will be equipped withGeneral Electric F110 engines until Turkish Air Engine Company (TAEC) finalizes the local engine.[38][39]
On 14 March 2022, Kale & Rolls-Royce re-started the progress of developing an engine for the TF-X program, stating that the previous disputes between the companies have been resolved and that the first prototypes of the TF-X will use the F110 engine.[40]
On 5 March 2022, İsmail Demir, undersecretary for Defence Industries, said the government would now negotiate a possible engine deal with Rolls-Royce. “We had some issues [with Rolls-Royce] before. These have been resolved. I think we are ready to work together.”[41]
In May 2022, while visiting the UK, Demir said, "It is imperative for us that the engine be produced in Turkey… that Turkey should possess intellectual property rights."[42] His statement implied that the same dispute over intellectual properties of the engine which previously stalled the negotiation between Rolls-Royce and Turkey in 2019[43] remained unresolved.
In July 2022, theDefence Industry Agency published theinvitation to tender for the domestic development of the engine to be used. İsmail Demir, undersecretary for Defence Industry Agency, stated that TRMotor, which is a subsidiary of TAI, has submitted its proposal and Turkish Air Engine Company (TAEC), consortium by Kale Group andRolls-Royce, will submit its offer soon.[46]
On 4 November 2021, the first piece of the MMU was manufactured.Temel Kotil, CEO ofTAI said;
We have realized the production of the first part of our National Combat Aircraft. Every step we take for the survival project of our country is very meaningful and valuable for us. I would like to thank all my friends with whom we walked on the same path by working with enthusiasm and effort.[49]
The other 20,000 parts of TF-X were planned to be ready by the end of 2022.[50]
In February 2022, TAI's Deputy General Manager responsible for the TFX, Dr. Uğur Zengin, stated that 550 TF-X parts were in production.[51] The maiden flight was planned for 2025,[52] but has been rescheduled for the end of 2023.[53]
The aircraft was officially namedKaan on 1 May 2023.[54][55][56]
In May 2023, TAI CEOTemel Kotil said the company expects to deliver twenty Block 10 aircraft to theTurkish Air Force in 2028, then two aircraft per month by 2029, generating $2.4 billion in annual revenues for TAI.[57]
Kotil also warned that the price tag of the aircraft may surpass his 2021 promise of $100 million per unit.[57] This led the company to seek additional capital and production workers. In July 2023, at the 16th International Defense Industry Fair, a protocol agreement was signed to bring Azerbaijan into the project. Project officials began looking for Azerbaijani companies and production facilities that could be used and 200 Azerbaijani workers were to be immediately dispatched to join the project.[58]
On 21 February 2024, Kaan's first prototype, the P0, conducted its maiden flight.TAI shared a video showing a Kaan jet taking off and then returning toMürted Airfield Command in the northAnkara. During this flight, Kaan remained in the air for 13 minutes and reached a speed of 230 knots (426 km/h) at an altitude of 8,000 feet (2,438 m).[59][60][61] Kaan successfully completed its second flight on 6 May 2024 and reached 10,000 feet and stayed in the air 14-minute.[61][62][63] Kaan successfully conducted a twin-engine afterburner test on the ground on 6 December 2024.[64][65] It was announced by TAI that the second prototype of Kaan is under construction and will fly in the last quarter of 2025.[66][67] The first image of the second prototype of Kaan was presented to the press by the President of theDefence Industry Agency on 14 January 2025. It was stated in the same statement that 6 prototypes of Kaan would be built for testing and development studies.[68][47] TAI General Manager Demiroğlu stated that the first flight of Kaan's second prototype has been postponed to April or May 2026.[69] Photos of the fuselage section of Kaan's second prototype, the P1, were released to the press on 26 September 2025.[70][71][72] It was announced that Kaan's third prototype, the P2, is also under construction and is scheduled to fly a few months after the second, in July or August. It was stated that the second (P1) and third (P2) prototypes were much more advanced than the first prototype (P0) and would include many important flight and avionics parts that were not present in the first prototype. It was also reported that an unnamed prototype is under construction solely for ground testing.[73][74][75]
Turkish Prime MinisterAhmet Davutoğlu announced in January 2015, that the TF-X will be a twin-engined fighter.[10] The Undersecretariat for Defence Industries published its 2016 Performance Report in March 2017, with a final decision to continue with the twin engine FX-1 configuration.[77][78]
Hüseyin Yağcı, TAI's chief engineer on the TF-X program, has stated that all three conceptual designs thus far feature a design optimized for low radar cross-sectional density, internal weapons bays, and the ability tosupercruise, features associated with fifth-generation fighter jets.[11]
TAI's Advanced Carbon Composites fuselage facility, which was commissioned to produce fuselages for Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter (F-35) program,[79][80] has been tasked with developing an Advanced Carbon Composite fuselage for the TF-X. The Turkish Defence Industry Agency has also issued a tender for the development of a new lighter carbon compositethermoplastic for the TF-X fuselage.[81]
Integrated Communication, Navigation and Identification System (ICNI)
The ICNAir-ASQ9683 and Mode-5IFF CIT components address communication, navigation and identification requirements. The system integrates radio-navigation equipment, tactical air radios, ground and satellite-based communication systems, instrument approach and landing aids,anti-jamGNSS, obstacle and terrain detection systems, an automatic terrain and collision avoidance system,IFF Mode 5/S functionalities, and encrypted tactical data links.[84]
Integrated Processing Unit (IPU)
The unit includes components for central management, flight control, aircraft management, and mission computing. It uses deterministic networking technologies, optical communication channels, a multi-corereal-time operating system, and cybersecurity measures.[85]
The Autonomous Wingman Operations (OKU) framework enables Kaan to control accompanying platforms, such asANKA-III and Super-ŞİMŞEK using encrypted data links. The aircraft’s computational systems provide capabilities for autonomous mission execution, task assignment toUAVs, and coordination with other platforms in air, land, and naval domains, as well as air defense systems. The system allows for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISR),targeting, andair superiority tasks through collaborating aircraft and reduces the workload of onboard pilots.[86]
Prototypes and the first batch of aircraft will be equipped withGeneral Electric F110 engines. TRMotor collaboration withTEI will develop locally made engines for the aircraft, which will produce at least 36.000 pound of thrust. Locally developed engines are planned to be integrated and tested on the aircraft in 2029–2030.[87][1] In May 2025, TEI (TUSAŞ Engine Industries), the Turkish state-backed aerospace engine manufacturer, published the first official image and technical data of theTEI-TF35000[88]
Azerbaijan signed a protocol to determine the working procedures and principles of cooperation on production data, including the development work of the Kaan.[89]
Egypt expressed interest in Kaan program in September 2024.[90] In July 2025, Turkey announced Egypt's participation in the Kaan program, including co-production of the aircraft. This agreement reflects a strategic shift and a focus on practical industrial collaboration between the two nations.[91]
On 24 July 2025, Turkish Aerospace signed agreements withIndonesian Aerospace and PT Republik Aero Dirgantara (PT RAD), as the main local partners, regarding the procurement of 48 Kaan, along with cooperation in production engineering and technology transfers.[98] Indonesian Aerospace would be responsible for final assembly of some of the airframes and technology transfers with Turkish Aerospace Industries, while PT RAD responsibilities are building the main MRO facility, strengthening sustainable local industrial support, and operating the simulator and training center.[99] Indonesia signed a purchase contract for 48 Kaan on 26 July.[100] However, according to some sources this is not a final sale contract as Indonesia has signed similar preliminary contracts with South Korea, France and the United States.[101][102]
Turkey has offered Malaysia the opportunity to participate in the Kaan. Deputy Minister of National Defense Celal Sami Tüfekçi, in a statement at a defense fair in Kuala Lumpur, offered Malaysia the opportunity to work on the program.[103]
Turkey and Pakistan are reportedly set to establish and operate a joint factory to produce the Kaan. According to a number of Turkish and Pakistani news outlets, representatives from 32 institutions gathered at the 8th meeting of the Pak-Turkish Industrial Expo in Pakistan in April 2025 and finalized plans for a partnership between Ankara and Islamabad for the production of Turkey's Kaan fighter jet.[b]
It has been claimed that Saudi Arabia is considering purchasing 100 Kaan fighter jets in line with its goals of modernizing its military capacity.[111]
Ukraine's ambassador to Ankara,Vasyl Bodnar, has openly declared his country's interest in Kaan.[113] The Ukrainian defence industry has shown interest in KAAN's final engine.[114]
Turkish Air Force: 100. According to TAI executives, the company will supply limited-capacity 20Kaan Block 10 by 2028. The remaining aircraft will be higher-end.[74][75][115]
KUZGUN-EW, KUZGUN-EW will be able to carry miniaturised EW payload which will act as a stand-in jammer and suppress enemy air defences to significantly increase the survivability of the aircraft of theTurkish Air Force.[124]
Mockup_Teknofest2019_(1).jpg)
