Turkey's KAAN fighter jet completes taxi test of new prototype
Turkey’s indigenous fifth‑generation fighter, the KAAN, has successfully completed its first taxi test on a runway. The new KAAN‑1 prototype, shown moving under its own twin‑engine power, was displayed in video released by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ). The test confirms core systems such as navigation, braking and engine‑pist synchronization are functioning ahead of planned flight trials later this summer.
The programme, which began with the KAAN‑0’s maiden flight on 21 Feb 2024 (13 minutes) and a second flight on 6 May 2024 (14 minutes, 10 000 ft, 230 kt), targets delivery to the Turkish Air Force by the end of 2028. The aircraft features stealth shaping, an internal weapons bay, AI and neural‑network‑assisted combat capability, and the updated P1/P2 architecture. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed the aircraft’s name on 1 May 2023, noting the name was supplied by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli. The latest prototype is still unpainted, indicating it is in the final pre‑flight verification stage.
Entities: Devlet Bahçeli · KAAN (Milli Muharip Uçak) · KAAN (Turkey's fifth‑generation fighter) · President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan · Turkey · Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) · Turkish Air Force
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] KAAN is a fifth‑generation, twin‑engine, low‑observable fighter equipped with AI and neural‑network‑assisted combat capabilities. (Technical descriptions)
- [● 2 SOURCES] President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed the KAAN name on 1 May 2023, noting it was supplied by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli. (President’s remarks)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The new KAAN‑1 prototype features updated P1 and P2 architecture and is currently unpainted. (TUSAŞ visual releases)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The KAAN programme plans to deliver the aircraft to the Turkish Air Force by the end of 2028. (Program timeline statements)
- [● 2 SOURCES] KAAN‑0 performed a second flight on 6 May 2024, reaching 10 000 ft and 230 kt for 14 minutes. (TUSAŞ statements)
- [● 2 SOURCES] KAAN‑0 completed its maiden flight on 21 February 2024, lasting 13 minutes. (TUSAŞ and news reports)
- [● 9 SOURCES] KAAN‑1 prototype performed its first taxi test on a runway successfully. (Various TUSAŞ releases and news reports)