TAI Kaan, internally referred to as the TF (lit. 'Turkish Fighter') and MMU (Turkish: Milli Muharip Uçak, lit. 'National Combat Aircraft'), is a fifth-generation stealth, twin-engine, all-weather air superiority fighter currently under development by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). Designed to replace the Turkish Air Force’s fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons, the Kaan is also intended for export to international markets. The prototype performed taxi and ground tests on 16 March 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) approved the design, development, and manufacture of a national next-generation air superiority fighter to replace Turkey's F-16 fleet and operate alongside other key assets such as the F-35 Lightning II. In 2011, Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM), now known as the Defence Industry Agency, signed an agreement with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the conceptual development of the aircraft's basic capabilities. TAI and TUSAŞ Engine Industries (TEI) were assigned to lead the design, development, and entry processes of the fighter. The studies aimed to determine the fighter’s cost, evaluate potential mechanical and electronic systems, and assess the opportunities and challenges within military aviation. Funding of approximately US$20 million was allocated for a two-year conceptual design phase, conducted by TAI. TAI officials projected completion of this phase by late 2013, after which a report would be submitted to the Prime Minister to approve the budget and framework for the development phase. Janes described the project as "extremely ambitious." In 2024, it was announced that TÜBİTAK and Aselsan would support TAI in the development and construction of the aircraft.
Bid In March 2015, the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) 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. in 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.
Development schedule
Development Phase-1 was expected to officially commence by the end of 2014, however, initial conditions were met and the project was officially started in late 2018. In June 2021, the Turkish Air Force made a presentation about the TF-X program to the press. 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.
Partnerships
Saab AB In February 2013, meetings were held with Saab AB upon the instruction of then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. An agreement was signed between TAI and the Swedish firm Saab during the state visit of then-Turkish President Abdullah Gül to Sweden in 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. In January 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.
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.
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