Turkey’s KAAN fifth-generation fighter aircraft, commonly known as the TF-X or Kaan, is Ankara’s most ambitious aerospace venture to date. Pursued with the intention of replacing an aging fleet of American-exported General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons, the KAAN would elevate Turkey into the small echelon of nations capable of fielding an indigenous fifth-generation fighter.

The KAAN is a twin-engine, stealthy multi-role fighter comparable to the F-35 or Su-57. The fighter jet’s airframe features a chined fuselage and trapezoidal wings, with canted tail fins and an internal weapons bay. These features enhance the aircraft’s stealth capabilities by allowing for a reduced radar cross-section (RCS). The KAAN is expected to perform a wide range of missions, including air superiority, deep strike, and networked warfare. 

The aircraft’s cockpit is expected to feature some of the F-35’s advanced technologies, with sensor suites, data fusion, active........

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