The fifth-generation aircraft is currently the world's most advanced fighter, and its most significant feature is its stealth capability, compared with the fourth-generation aircraft, the fifth-generation aircraft can easily penetrate the enemy's air defense network and carry out accurate and silent strikes. This extraordinary ability makes the technical threshold of the fifth-generation aircraft much higher than that of the third- and fourth-generation aircraft. At present, only three countries in the world, China, the United States and Russia, have fully mastered the technology of fifth-generation aircraft, and have achieved mass production and service of fifth-generation aircraft. Other countries can only introduce fifth-generation aircraft if they want to equip them, but at present, only American F-35 fighters are allowed to be exported, so other countries have extremely limited options.
Therefore, some countries hope to break the monopoly of China, the United States and Russia on fifth-generation aircraft and start their own research and development. South Korea previously introduced the KF-21 fighter and was called a fifth-generation aircraft by some, but in the eyes of many, the KF-21 can only barely count 45th generation fighter. The reason why it cannot meet the standards of fifth-generation aircraft is that its stealth capability is still unknown, and perhaps it has no stealth capability at all, because it uses an external bomb bay design, rather than a built-in bomb bay like the fifth-generation aircraft of China, the United States and Russia. After the KF-21 failed to meet the standards of the fifth-generation aircraft, Turkey was ready to launch the world's fifth fifth-generation aircraft.
According to the Turkish military, the self-developed fifth-generation aircraft Kaan may make its maiden flight on December 27, local time. Kaan was developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries, and the first prototype was unveiled in March this year, and was named "Kaan" by Erdogan, Turkey. Judging from the ** released by the Turkish military, the Kaan shape design absorbs a variety of elements of the fifth-generation aircraft of the United States and Russia. On the front, it resembles an American F-22 fighter jet, with wing-body fusion and air intakes almost identical to the F-22.
The wing shape and vertical tail are similar to those of the Russian Su-57 fighter, but the canopy resembles the American F-35 fighter. Coupled with the canard wings on the Chinese J-20 fighter, the Kaan simply concentrates the strengths of the fifth-generation aircraft of the United States and Russia. According to the information released by Turkey**, the Kaan has a maximum speed of about Mach 2, a combat radius of more than 1,100 kilometers, and is equipped with avionics and ** systems independently developed by Turkey. General Electric's F110 engine is the core power system of this fighter. Although the prototype was already available, achieving mass production and mass equipping was a daunting task.
In the short term, it will be difficult for Turkey to achieve this goal, because the ** of the engine is completely under the control of the United States. Since Turkey has offended the United States by insisting on buying S-400 anti-aircraft missiles from Russia, it is unlikely that the United States will supply Turkey with F110 engines on a large scale at the moment. Although it is possible to provide several units for testing, large-scale ** is something that the United States will definitely not agree to. Although Turkey is aware of the risks associated with engines, it still insists on moving forward with its fifth-generation aircraft project. In fact, this is mainly to put pressure on the United States and make the United States feel the pressure.
Turkey's intentions are obvious, that is, if the United States does not give it the fifth-generation aircraft, it will develop its own aircraft, and even if the United States wants to do so in the future, Turkey may refuse. In this way, Turkey hopes to push the United States to send its F-35 fighters, and if it doesn't work, at least F-16V fighters. There is no doubt that Turkey has set the trap, and now it is up to the United States to see if it will fall for it.