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Turkey's KAAN P1 prototype completes taxi tests ahead of first flight
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) unveiled an updated version of its fifth‑generation fighter KAAN, the P1 prototype, and conducted powered taxi tests on the runway at its Ankara facility. The aircraft moved under its own General Electric F110 after‑burner engines, confirming that ground‑system checks, brakes, steering and flight‑control functions are operating as intended. Visible design changes include revised control‑surface actuators, cockpit and air‑intake modifications, a larger nose opening for an electro‑optical sensor, and a wider landing‑gear track.
The P1 retains the GE F110 engines used on the earlier P0 demonstrator, but TAI plans to replace them with a domestically produced TF35 engine for production models. The company expects the first flight of P1 within the next few months, possibly by the end of 2026, and aims to begin deliveries to the Turkish Air Force by 2028. The United States has approved export of the F110 engines for the prototype phase.
International defence media have praised the taxi test, calling the KAAN "Turkey's most valuable jewel" and noting growing interest from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and Azerbaijan, which could position Turkey as a fourth major supplier of fifth‑generation fighters.
Entities
ASELSAN · General Electric · KAAN fifth‑generation fighter · KAAN fighter jet · Mehmet Demiroğlu · Turkish Aerospace Industries · Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) · Turkish Air Force
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The United States approved export of the GE F110 engines for the KAAN prototypes. www.airway.com.br · www.haber7.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The P1 prototype includes revised control actuators, cockpit changes, a larger nose opening for an electro‑optical sensor, and a wider landing‑gear track. www.airway.com.br · www.aereo.jor.br · www.borsaningundemi.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Turkey aims to deliver KAAN aircraft to its air force by the end of 2028. www.airway.com.br · www.borsaningundemi.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] International defence press described the KAAN P1 as “Turkey's most valuable jewel” and noted interest from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and Azerbaijan. www.borsaningundemi.com · www.haber7.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The prototype is powered by two General Electric F110 after‑burner engines. www.airway.com.br · www.aereo.jor.br · www.haber7.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The KAAN P1 prototype performed taxi tests using its own engines at Ankara. www.airway.com.br · www.aereo.jor.br · www.borsaningundemi.com · www.haber7.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The first flight of the P1 prototype is expected within the next few months, possibly by the end of 2026. www.aereo.jor.br · www.haber7.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Turkey plans to replace the GE F110 engines with a domestically developed TF35 engine in production aircraft. www.airway.com.br · www.haber7.com