Explosive news, Turkey's Kaan "Khan" successfully made its first flight on February 21, and the fifth-generation ** fighter quietly rose, as if on this day, anyone can build a top fighter. Turkey is ambitious and has become the fourth country after the United States, China and Russia to successfully develop a ** fighter jet, which is simply earth-shattering news!
It was originally planned to make its first flight at the end of last year, but due to the constraints of others on the core technology, the first flight had to be postponed for more than two months. However, the first flight of the Kaan Khan** was jaw-dropping, with the airspeed tube installed in the nose of the aircraft, and the standard test version was fully displayed. In order to ensure the safety of the test flight, the landing gear was not retracted throughout the whole process, and an F-16D two-seater was responsible for accompanying the flight, and landed smoothly after 20 minutes.
Kaan "Khan" is of great significance to Turkey, and it is reported that starting in 2023, the F-16 will be massively equipped and gradually replaced, and the number may even exceed a hundred. This means that Turkey will say goodbye to its dependence on American fighters, and the F-16 and F-35 fighters of the past will become history. What's even more exciting is that Turkey is negotiating with the Pakistan Air Force, or will jointly participate in the development of the project, and the FC-31 "Falcon" may usher in a strong competitor in the future!
Kaan "Khan", formerly known as the TF-X fighter, made its debut at the Paris Air Show in 2019 and is not much of an obstacle to the introduction of Western technology thanks to Turkey's status as a member of NATO. The development process was rapid, with parts production starting in 2021 and the first prototype completed ground taxiing tests in March 2023. Although the first flight was originally scheduled for December last year, it was repeatedly postponed for various reasons, and on the whole, it was still smooth two months later than expected.
The Kaan "Khan" has a twin-engine, single-seat layout, looks like a combination of the F-22 and Su-57, and has a length of 21 meters, which is similar to the J-20. It has a built-in tandem bomb bay, which can carry 4 medium-range air-to-air missiles, and two side bomb bays, carrying 2 close-range combat bombs, and the stealth design is synchronized in China, the United States and Russia. The maximum take-off weight is 27 tons, and the maximum flight speed at an altitude of 12,000 meters is 1Mach 8, with a maximum combat radius of 1,100 km, has supersonic cruise, battlefield situational awareness and high maneuverability.
Kaan "Khan" in official Turkish propaganda with its head-on RCS (radar cross-section) in 001 to 01 square meter, slightly stronger than the South Korean KF-21, but slightly inferior to China, the United States and Russia. Turkey has always been committed to becoming a regional power, especially after being kicked out of the F-35 program, and with the success of the TB-2 drone, it is determined to enter the international market. Last year, the Turkish Ministry of Defense said it wanted to attract foreign partners, not only Azerbaijan, but also Pakistan and other technologically strong countries.
The Pakistan Air Force is already massively equipped with JF-17 Thunder and J-10CE fighters, and even plans to purchase FC-31 Falcon. But if Turkey can share technology, the Kaan "Khan" has the potential to become a strong competitor to the FC-31. This may even put some pressure on the F-35 in the international market, after all, the fifth-generation aircraft with a full stealth design is not something that can be improvised.
However, the dream is wonderful, but Turkey's relatively weak industrial base is still inseparable from the support of the F-16. The Kaan Khan is powered by General Motors and is powered by the F110-GE-129 engine that comes standard on the F-16. While Americans are willing to provide power now, it is unknown whether there will be restrictions in the future. In particular, the performance of this engine is mediocre and cannot achieve supersonic cruise, while Turkey only has a subsonic wind tunnel, and high-speed wind tunnel testing has to rely on BAE.
Turkey has invested heavily in the Khan project, equipping it with a domestic active phased array radar and related avionics systems. Of course, some U.S. ammunition was also imported, such as the AIM-120 medium-range ammunition and the AIM-9 close-range combat ammunition. In the future, it may also be equipped with the "Red Apple"** drone, which has successfully made its first flight, adding a lot to Turkey's aviation strength. However, it should be noted that the core technology is still subject to the West, and the potential risks cannot be ignored.
The arena of fifth-generation aircraft is in full swing! Turkey has always been chasing dreams and aspiring to become a regional powerhouse. The advent of the Kaan "Khan" may allow Turkey to say goodbye to its over-dependence on the West and move towards a more independent and powerful future. This is not only a first flight, but also a declaration of a country's self-confidence and strength, and a dream to set sail. In the era of fifth-generation aircraft, let's wait and see who can dominate the sky!