KAAN Fighter Jet 2026: Türkiye’s Fifth-Generation Aircraft Explained
KAAN is Türkiye’s twin-engine, low-observable fifth-generation fighter and the most ambitious aerospace programme the country has ever attempted. After its February 2024 maiden flight and a landmark 48-aircraft export deal with Indonesia, the programme is now racing toward an initial Turkish Air Force batch by 2028. This is a complete 2026 update on KAAN’s specifications, engines, weapons and roadmap.
Programme Overview: From MMU to KAAN
Originally designated MMU (Milli Muharip Uçak — National Combat Aircraft) and known internationally as the TF-X, the aircraft was renamed KAAN in May 2023. Lead manufacturer Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI / TUSAŞ) is integrating a domestic-supplier ecosystem that includes Aselsan (sensors and EW), Havelsan (mission software), Roketsan (weapons) and TEI (engines). The programme is positioned as a replacement for Türkiye’s ageing F-16 fleet and as a hedge against continued U.S. restrictions on stealth-fighter exports.
| Key Facts — KAAN |
|---|
| Class: 5th-generation, twin-engine, low-observable air superiority fighter Maiden flight: 21 February 2024 Lead integrator: Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI / TUSAŞ) Initial powerplant: 2 × General Electric F110-GE-129 Indigenous engine target: post-2030 (TF35000 / TEI national engine) Headline export deal: Indonesia — 48 aircraft (signed 2025), worth more than US $10 billion |
KAAN Technical Specifications
KAAN is a clean-sheet design optimised for low observability, supercruise and beyond-visual-range air-to-air combat. Public specifications released by TUSAŞ and tracked by major defence outlets describe a large fighter in the F-22-to-F-15EX weight class, with internal weapons bays and a planned sensor suite comparable to fifth-generation Western platforms.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 20.3 m |
| Wingspan | 13.4 m |
| Maximum take-off weight (MTOW) | 34,750 kg |
| Powerplant (initial) | 2 × GE F110-GE-129 turbofans |
| Thrust (dry / afterburner, each) | 76.3 kN / 131 kN |
| Maximum speed | Mach 2.0 (~2,470 km/h) |
| Supercruise (without afterburner) | Mach 1.4 |
| Service ceiling | 55,000+ ft (16,764 m) |
| Combat radius | ~1,100 km (600 nm) |
| Ferry range with external tanks | 3,700+ km |
| Crew | 1 (single-seat fighter; trainer variant studied) |
Stealth, Internal Bays and Sensors
KAAN’s low-observable shaping — chined fuselage, internal weapons bays, edge-aligned panels and serpentine inlets — reduces frontal-aspect radar cross-section to levels comparable to fifth-generation peers. The aircraft is built around an Aselsan-developed active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, an electro-optical targeting system, an integrated electronic warfare suite and a 360-degree distributed aperture system that fuses on-board and off-board data into a single pilot picture.
Internal weapons bays for low-observable air-to-air loadouts
AESA radar (Aselsan-developed)
Distributed aperture infrared system (situational awareness, missile warning)
Integrated EW suite (jamming + electronic protection)
Helmet-mounted display with high off-boresight cueing
Sensor fusion architecture comparable to F-35 design philosophy
Weapons: A Domestic Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface Mix
A central goal of the KAAN programme is to field a fully Türkiye-sourced weapons mix — reducing dependence on foreign export licences and aligning timelines with Türkiye’s own munitions roadmap.
| Weapon | Class | Manufacturer | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozdoğan (Merlin) | Short-range AAM | Tübitak SAGE / Roketsan | WVR air-to-air, high-off-boresight |
| Gökdoğan (Peregrine) | BVR AAM | Tübitak SAGE / Roketsan | Beyond-visual-range air-to-air |
| MBDA Meteor (export-permitted) | Long-range BVR AAM | MBDA | Long-range AAM, integration studies |
| SOM | Cruise missile | Roketsan / Tübitak SAGE | Stand-off precision strike |
| KUZGUN series | Mini cruise / glide bomb | Roketsan | Networked precision strike |
| HGK / KGK | Precision-guided bomb kits | Tübitak SAGE / Aselsan | GPS/INS-guided air-to-surface |
The Engine Question
KAAN’s biggest open-ended risk is its engine. The first prototypes and the initial Turkish Air Force batch will use the General Electric F110-GE-129 — the same engine family that powers Türkiye’s F-16 fleet. Türkiye has already received its first F110 deliveries dedicated to the KAAN line, and Lockheed-style export approvals from the U.S. State Department have been the subject of ongoing diplomatic talks.
In parallel, TEI (TUSAŞ Engine Industries) is leading the development of a fully domestic engine in the 35,000 lbf-class — sometimes referred to as TF35000 — with the goal of fielding it on production-batch KAANs after 2030. Engine industrialisation is widely regarded as the single most demanding technical hurdle on the path to a sovereign 5th-generation fighter.
Production Timeline and the 2028 Target
The Turkish Ministry of Defense has publicly stated its intention to deliver an initial batch of 20 KAAN fighters to the Turkish Air Force by 2028. The 2026 announced milestones — including the start of serial-production tooling and the second-prototype acceptance — are part of the run-up to that target. A second prototype incorporating design refinements has been built, and TUSAŞ has confirmed an industrial plan for double-digit annual production once Block 10 enters serial production.
Indonesia: The Programme’s First Export Customer
In 2025, during a series of signings at IDEF Istanbul and Indo Defence in Jakarta, Türkiye and Indonesia signed a contract for 48 KAAN fighters, with options for 12 more — a deal valued at more than US $10 billion and the single largest export contract in Turkish defence industry history. All 48 aircraft are scheduled to be delivered with TF35000 engines by 2034, contingent on the maturation of the indigenous engine programme. Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Spain have all been reported as following the programme closely as potential next customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the KAAN make its first flight?
KAAN completed its maiden flight on 21 February 2024.
What engine does KAAN use?
The first prototypes and initial production batches use 2 × General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofans. A fully domestic engine (TF35000) is targeted for production-batch aircraft after 2030.
How fast does KAAN fly?
Maximum speed is approximately Mach 2.0 (~2,470 km/h), with supercruise capability at Mach 1.4 without afterburner.
Which country was KAAN’s first export customer?
Indonesia, with a 2025 contract for 48 aircraft (plus 12 options) — the largest single export deal in Turkish defence industry history at over US $10 billion.
When will KAAN enter Turkish Air Force service?
Türkiye targets an initial batch of 20 KAAN fighters in Turkish Air Force service by 2028.
Conclusion
KAAN is no longer a paper programme. With first flight in 2024, an Indonesian export contract larger than any previous Turkish defence deal, and a public 2028 service target for the Turkish Air Force, the aircraft is now in the most consequential phase of its life — moving from flying prototype to industrialised production while simultaneously navigating an engine transition and a growing list of foreign customers.
Suggested Images (with alt text + sources)
Search the WordPress Media Library first for the keywords below. If no asset exists, use the suggested external source (royalty-free / official press).
| # | Suggested Image | Alt Text / Caption | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image 1 | kaan-prototype-flight.jpg | TAI KAAN fifth-generation fighter prototype in flight | Search WP Media first (‘KAAN’); fallback: TUSAŞ press kit (tusas.com/en) or Wikimedia Commons — TAI TF Kaan |
| Image 2 | kaan-three-view.png | KAAN fighter dimensions and three-view diagram | Search WP Media first (‘KAAN three-view’); fallback: TUSAŞ official materials |
| Image 3 | kaan-internal-bay.jpg | KAAN internal weapons bay rendering with air-to-air missiles | Search WP Media first; fallback: TAI / Roketsan official media |
| Image 4 | kaan-indonesia-signing.jpg | Türkiye–Indonesia KAAN export contract signing ceremony 2025 | Search WP Media first (‘Indonesia KAAN’); fallback: Indonesia Ministry of Defence press release |
Sources
TAI TF Kaan — Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAI_TF_Kaan
KAAN guide — The Defense Post (Apr 2026) — https://thedefensepost.com/2026/04/19/tai-tf-kaan-guide/
Turkey Receives First F110 Engines for Kaan Fighter — The Defense Watch — https://thedefensewatch.com/aerospace-aviation/turkey-secures-f110-engines-for-kaan-fighter/
Endonezya 48 KAAN sözleşmesi imzalandı — Anadolu Ajansı — https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ekonomi/endonezyaya-48-adetlik-kaan-ucagi-satisinda-sozlesme-imzalandi/3642773
KAAN’ın Endonezya’ya satışı analizi — AA — https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/analiz/kaanin-endonezyaya-satisinin-yansimalari-ne-olur/3603000
