Turkey Flies Its Own TAI TF Kaan New 5th-Gen Fighter Jet

By: Logan M. Williams | Author’s Twitter

In another manifestation of the deterioration of Turkey’s relationship with the United States, NATO, and the West, Turkey’s indigenously designed and produced fifth-generation fighter jet, the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) Kaan, took to the skies on February 21st.

Turkey was booted from the F-35 development program due to its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense missile system, in a complete and contemptuous disregarding of Turkey’s responsibilities to the alliance, and an affront to its NATO allies.

The Turkish fifth-generation fighter design project began in 2010, and initially the fighter jet was intended to fly alongside the F-35, serving as a replacement for the F-16.

The Kaan has a wingspan of 46-feet and a length of 69-feet. The aircraft is presently powered by the General Electric F110 turbofan engine; this is notable because this is the same engine which powers the F-16, and older fighter jets such as the F-15 “Eagle,” and the F-14 “Tomcat.” The use of this engine is likely due to the lack of available, cutting-edge propulsion technology, manufactured by the United States’ and European defense companies, due to collapsing relations between Turkey and NATO, as well as United States’ sanctions upon Turkish entities.

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Turkey has pursued international partners to help mitigate the costs of indigenously designing and producing a fifth-generation fighter jet, and it has sought opportunities to sell this jets to foreign militaries — as of now, Pakistan and Azerbaijan seem to be the only takers. The fighter jet market has become increasingly crowded, and it is unclear what advantages the Turkish Kaan offers that other air-frames cannot, already.