Turkey’s first domestically manufactured combat aircraft Kaan completed its debut flight at the Akinci air base near Ankara on February 21, 2024.
Turkish Aerospace Industries started manufacturing the indigenous fighter jet in 2016 and officially unveiled it in March 2023.
During its maiden flight, Kaan flew for 13 minutes, reaching a speed of 230 knots at 8,000 feet, according to a recent Twitter post by Chief of Turkish Aerospace Industries Temel Kotil.
The success marked a crucial step in Türkiye’s ambition to develop its fifth-generation fighter aircraft, as lauded by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who heralded this achievement as emblematic of Türkiye’s prowess in defense innovation.
“In the coming period, we will continue to give new good news to our nation in the defense industry,” he wrote on X.
With Kaan’s maiden flight, Türkiye aims to modernize its military fleet, positioning itself among the few nations with such cutting-edge technology.
Significant features of Kaan
Spanning 21 meters, KAAN boasts twin engines capable of generating 13,000 kilograms of thrust each, enabling it to reach speeds of up to 1.8 Mach.
Its arsenal of features includes heightened situational awareness, reduced pilot workload, combat damage detection, advanced mission systems, stealth capabilities, precise targeting, and an internal weapon bay.
The emergence of Kaan underscored Türkiye’s ascent in the defense sector.
A paradigm shift occurred in the early 2000s when the Turkish government committed to indigenous weapon production. Since then, Turkish firms have been at the forefront, manufacturing an array of military equipment, from rifles to armored vehicles, missile systems, and state-of-the-art armed drones, garnering global recognition.
Economic boost
- This surge in domestic defense production has not only bolstered Türkiye’s security but also significantly boosted its economy.
- Defense exports have soared to a record $5.5 billion, reflecting a 27% surge from the previous year.
- The per-kilogram export value has surpassed $65, underscoring the world’s confidence in Turkish defense products.
- Furthermore, the number of recipient nations has climbed to over 185, signaling the expanding global footprint of Türkiye’s defense industry prowess.