TAI TF-X

The TAI Kaan also called TF ("Turkish Fighter", formerly known as TF-X) and MMU (, Turkish for 'National Combat Aircraft'), is a stealth, twin-engine, all-weather air superiority fighter in development by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). The jet is to replace the Turkish Air Force's F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and to be sold to foreign governments.

The prototype performed taxi and ground tests on March 16, 2023 and was ceremonially rolled out two days later. Its maiden flight, initially scheduled for 27 December 2023 (one day before the maiden flight of the TAI Anka-3), was completed on 21 February 2024.

Development

On 15 December 2010, Turkey's Defence Industry Executive Committee (SSIK) decided to design, develop, and manufacture a national next generation air-superiority fighter which would replace Turkey's F-16 fleet and operate with other critical assets like the F-35 Lightning II.

In 2011, Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM), now known as the Defence Industry Agency, the procurement agency for the Turkish Armed Forces, signed an agreement with TAI for the conceptual development of basic capabilities. TAI and TUSAŞ Engine Industries (TEI) would lead the design, entry, and development processes of the fighter jet. The studies would reveal the cost of the fighter, while investigating which mechanical and electronic systems would be employed and included, and a wider perspective of the opportunities and challenges in military aviation. Funding equivalent to US$20 million was allocated for a 2-year conceptual design phase performed by the Turkish Aerospace Industries. TAI officials stated that conceptual design phase should be complete in late 2013, with a report being prepared and submitted to the Prime Minister for the approval of development phase budget and framework. Janes has described the project as "extremely ambitious". It was announced that in 2024, Tübitak and Aselsan will also support TAI in the development work and will be involved in the construction of the aircraft.

Design choice

In 2015, the TAI released three potential airframe configurations:
* FX-1: Twin engine, Lockheed Martin F-22 like configuration
* FX-5: Single engine, General Dynamics F-16 like configuration
* FX-6: High agility single engine canard-delta Saab JAS 39 Gripen like configuration
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu announced on 8 January 2015, that the TF-X will be a twin-engined fighter. The Undersecretariat for Defence Industries published its 2016 Performance Report in March 2017, where it was revealed that the final decision was to continue with the twin engine FX-1 configuration.

Bid

On 13 March 2015, the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) officially 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. 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. on 5 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. 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.

Former partnership plans and proposals

Saab AB

In February 2013, meetings were held with Saab AB upon the instruction of then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and an agreement was signed between TAI and the Swedish firm Saab during the state visit of then-Turkish President Abdullah Gül to Sweden on 13 March 2013, according to which:

* 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 and on January 8, 2015, then-Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu announced that the TF-X program will be a completely independent domestic platform, not in partnership with Korea, Sweden, Brazil or Indonesia.

Cooperation agreement between TAI and BAE Systems

In December 2015, Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) announced that it had chosen BAE 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. During the visit of British Prime Minister Theresa May to Turkey in January 2017, BAE Systems and TAI officials signed an agreement, worth about £100 million, for BAE Systems to provide engineering assistance in developing the aircraft. Following the agreement, the UK issued an open general export licence to defence companies willing to export goods, software or technology to Turkey.

Engine

On 20 January 2015, ASELSAN of Turkey announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Eurojet, the manufacturer of the EJ200 engine used in the Eurofighter Typhoon. The announcement also stated that a derivative of the EJ200 will be used in the TF-X program. The two companies will additionally collaborate and co-develop engine control software systems and engine maintenance monitoring systems. 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. Another competitor is TRMotor Power Systems Inc. established in April 2017 by BMC, TAI and SSTEK. On 8 November 2018, TRMotor signed a memorandum of understanding with the Presidency of Defence Industries to develop a jet engine for the TF-X project.

While General Electric did not openly express interest in the TF-X project, its local partner Tusaş Engine Industries (TEI) announced that it will participate in the engine development phase. On 11 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. In October 2018, local media reported that an unknown number of initial production fighters will be equipped with General Electric F110 engines until Turkish Air Engine Company (TAEC) finalizes the local engine.

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.

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 ith Rolls-Roycebefore. These have been resolved. I think we are ready to work together.”

In May 2022, while visiting the U.K., Demir said, "It is imperative for us that the engine be produced in Turkey… that Turkey should possess intellectual property rights." 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 remained unresolved.

As of 2 June 2022, unknown number of General Electric F110 engines delivered to TEI as the first batch according to the agreement between Tusaş Engine Industries (TEI) and GE Aerospace that comprises delivery of 10 engines in total.

On 2 July 2022, the Defence Industry Agency published the invitation to tender for the domestic development of the engine to be used and 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 and Rolls-Royce, will submit its offer soon.

On 15 January 2025, President of Defence Industry Agency Haluk Görgün said that after 2030, KAAN will fly with a completely domestic engine.

Development schedule overview

Development Phase-1 was expected to officially commence by the end of 2014, however, initial conditions were met and the project has officially started in late 2018.

On June 30, 2021, the Turkish Air Force made an official presentation about the TF-X program to the press. In the presentation, 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.

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. Until that date, TAI aims to manufacture 3 prototypes. 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. In Phase-3, between 2034 and 2040, development and mass production activities of other TF-X blocks is planned.

Start of production

On November 4, 2021, the first piece of MMU was manufactured. Temel Kotil, CEO of TAI said; The other 20,000 parts of TF-X were planned to be ready by the end of 2022.

TAI's Deputy General Manager responsible for TFX Dr. Uğur Zengin, stated on February 11, 2022, that 550 parts of TF-X were in production. The maiden flight was planned for 2025, but has been rescheduled for the end of 2023.

The aircraft was officially named Kaan on May 1, 2023.

In May 2023, TAI CEO Temel Kotil said the company expects to deliver twenty Block 10 aircraft to the Turkish Air Force in 2028, then two aircraft per month by 2029, generating $2.4 billion in annual revenues for TAI.

Kotil also warned that the price tag of the aircraft may surpass his 2021 promise of $100 million per unit. 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 fighter project.

On February 21, 2024, Kaan conducted its maiden flight. TAI shared a video showing a KAAN fighter jet taking off and then returning to Mürted Airfield Command in the north Ankara. During this flight, KAAN remained in the air for 13 minutes and reached a speed of 230 knots at an altitude of 8,000 feet. KAAN successfully completed its second flight on 6 May 2024 and reached 10,000 feet. KAAN successfully conducted a twin-engine afterburner test on the ground on 6 December 2024. It was announced by TAI that the second prototype of KAAN is under construction and will fly in the last quarter of 2025. The first image of the second prototype of KAAN was presented to the press by the President of the Defence Industry Agency on 14 January 2025. In addition, it was stated in the same statement that 6 prototypes of KAAN would be built for testing and development studies.

Design

Requirements

In June 2021, the Turkish Air Force, in a presentation made to the press, announced its requirements for minimum capabilities of the TF-X:
* Improved aerodynamics and propulsion
* Supercruise
* Sufficient and optimized combat radius
* Advanced and internal multi-spectral sensors (EW and RF/IR)
* Low observability
* Sensor fusion and autonomy
* Improved data-link capabilities for network-enabled warfare
* High precision stand-off weapons

Airframe

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 to supercruise, features associated with fifth-generation fighter jets.

TAI's Advanced Carbon Composites fuselage facility, which was commissioned to produce fuselages for Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter (F-35) program, 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 composite thermoplastic for the TF-X fuselage.

Systems and capabilities

Integrated Radio Frequency System (IRFS)
* MURAD AESA nose radar, part of ASELSAN’s Integrated RF System (IRFS), incorporates RF components with GaN-based transistors. In addition to radar functions, IRFS includes electronic warfare capabilities such as wideband spectrum monitoring, directional jamming, and synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) imaging modes, including ISAR, dot-SAR, and strip-SAR. The system also integrates cognitive operational mechanisms and neural network-based decision support systems.

Integrated Electro-Optical System (IEOS)
* The system includes an Infrared Search and Track (IRST), an Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), and a Distributed Aperture System (DAS) for global day/night imaging and IR-Missile Warning System (MWS) These systems enable functions such as passive situational awareness, intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance and targeting.

Integrated Communication, Navigation and Identification System (ICNI)
* The ICNAir-ASQ9683 and Mode-5 IFF 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-jam GNSS, obstacle and terrain detection systems, an automatic terrain and collision avoidance system, IFF Mode 5/S functionalities, and encrypted tactical data links.

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-core real-time operating system, and cybersecurity measures.

Self-Protection Suite
* The suite consists of a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), an IR-Missile Warning System (MWS), a Laser Warning Receiver (LWS), Directed Infrared Countermeasures, systems for managing countermeasures such as chaff and flares, a RF decoy dispensing system (CMDS), and a jamming system based Digital Radio-Frequency Memory (DRFM).

Autonomous Wingman Operations
* The Autonomous Wingman Operations (OKU) framework enables KAAN to control accompanying platforms, such as ANKA-III and Super-ŞİMŞEK using encrypted data links. The aircraft’s computational systems provide capabilities for autonomous mission execution, task assignment to UAVs, 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, and air superiority tasks through collaborating aircraft and reduces the workload of onboard pilots.

Propulsion

Prototypes and the first batch of aircraft will be equipped with General Electric F110 engines. TRMotor collaboration with TEI 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 2029–203

n May 15, 2025, TEI (TUSAŞ Engine Industries), the Turkish state-backed aerospace engine manufacturer, published the first official image and technical data of the TF35000

Operators

Future operators

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* Turkish Air Force: (at least 20 planned) - According to TAI executives, the company will supply at least 20 KAAN by 2028.

Potential operators

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* Azerbaijan Air Force: A protocol was signed with Azerbaijan to determine the working procedures and principles of cooperation on production data, including the development work of the 5th generation National Combat Aircraft KAAN, which is being developed for the Turkish Air Force.
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* Indonesian Air Force: Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia and the Turkish Defence Industry Agency (''Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı'') signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 48 KAANs at the Indo Defence Expo & Forum 2024, Jakarta, on 11 June 2025. The total order is planned to be delivered with domestically produced engines in approximately 120 months after the effective signatures.
;
* Royal Saudi Air Force: It has been claimed that Saudi Arabia is considering purchasing 100 KAAN fighter jets in line with its goals of modernizing its military capacity. Additionally, TUSAŞ General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu announced that the United Arab Emirates is also interested in KAAN.
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* Ukraine Air Force: Ukraine's ambassador to Ankara, Vasyl Bodnar has openly declared his country's interest in KAAN. The Ukrainian defense industry has shown interest in KAAN's final engine.
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* Egyptian Air Force: Egypt may consider equipping its air force with Türkiye's fifth-generation fighter jets, which were recently successfully tested, according to a report published by Turkish website Sanayi Gazetesi on Monday.
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* Royal Malaysian Air Force: Turkiye 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 fifth-generation fighter jet.
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* Pakistan Air Force: Turkey and Pakistan are reportedly set to establish and operate a joint factory to produce the new Turkish KAAN fighter jet, in what would be a significant move between the two countries. 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 earlier this month and finalized plans for a partnership between Ankara and Islamabad for the production of Turkiye's KAAN fighter jet.

Preliminary specifications

See also

Notes

References

External links

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{{Stealth aircraft

2020s fighter aircraft
2020s Turkish military aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 2024
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Turkish Aerospace Industries aircraft
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