Türkiye’s first true Kaan fighter jet prototype to fly by May or June 2026.

Turkish Aerospace Industries confirmed that the first true flight prototype of the KAAN fighter jet is expected to fly by May or June 2026. The program is now using three dedicated flight prototypes, while serial production deliveries are targeted for 2029.

On January 23, 2026, in an interview with Saha Istanbul, Turkish Aerospace Industries CEO, Mehmet Demiroglu, confirmed that the first true flight prototype of Türkiye’s Kaan fighter jet is scheduled to fly by May or, at the latest, June 2026, following extensive ground testing and system verification. Serial production deliveries have been adjusted to 2029 to align with flight testing, systems maturity, and production readiness.
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The earlier engineering prototype of the Kaan, which previously completed two flights, is now used exclusively for ground and system-level testing, freeing the three dedicated flight prototypes to carry the main burden of the airborne test campaign. (Picture source: TAI)

Three dedicated flight prototypes are currently under production and form the core of the upcoming flight test campaign. The first of these prototypes is the closest to flight readiness and has undergone extensive ground testing before flight clearance. These ground tests include system verification, resonance testing, fuel system validation, and electrical testing, with each prototype requiring two to three months of such work before flying. The first Kaan prototype was initially planned to fly at the end of April, but the schedule shifted to May or June due to final adjustments typical of such aircraft programs. The second prototype is planned to follow by the end of 2026, and the third is expected to enter flight testing late in 2026 or early in 2027. This approach allows testing and production activities to proceed in parallel rather than sequentially.

Alongside these flight prototypes, the earlier engineering prototype remains active but in a different role. That aircraft previously completed two flights but is no longer intended to conduct further flight tests. Instead, it is now used exclusively for ground and system-level testing, freeing the dedicated flight prototypes to carry the main burden of the airborne test campaign. This separation reflects a transition from initial proof-of-flight activities to a broader verification and validation work using multiple airframes. The emphasis on prolonged and repeated ground testing is presented as a key factor shaping the overall Kaan schedule. Short delays, measured in months rather than in years, are treated by TAI as cumulative effects of this process rather than as indicators of major program disruption. The use of multiple prototypes is therefore intended to distribute testing loads and reduce dependency on a single aircraft.

The serial production timeline of the Kaan has been adjusted accordingly, with deliveries now targeted for 2029, instead of the previously cited 2028 schedule. By that point, the Kaan program is expected to have moved beyond the initial serial production ramp-up phase and begun delivering fighter jets. An official order covering 20 units is anticipated in the near term, providing the initial production anchor for the Turkish Air Force. This early batch is linked to the longer-term plan to replace F-16 fighters, which are planned to be gradually phased out starting in the 2030s. According to TAI, this revised timeline reflects the interaction between flight testing, systems maturity, and production readiness rather than a single isolated scheduling factor.

Concerning propulsion, the Kaan will adopt a phased strategy. Early production aircraft in the Block 10 and Block 20 configurations will use the General Electric F110 engine as an interim solution. This American engine is already in service with Turkish F-16s and is supported by existing test and maintenance infrastructure, which reduces the integration risks for the Turkish Air Force. Between 20 and 40 Kaans are planned to be produced with F110 engines across these blocks. While the program’s long-term thrust requirement is set at about 35,000 pounds, the F110 provides thrust in the 29,000 to 30,000-pound range, making it suitable for initial operational jets, while the development of a Turkish-made engine continues.

In parallel, the indigenous TF35000 turbofan engine is being developed by TRMotor and TUSAS Engine Industries to meet the full propulsion requirement. The target is to complete the engine and finish its integration with the Kaan airframe by 2032. The TF35000 is designed to deliver approximately 35,000 pounds of thrust and is central to the program’s long-term autonomy and configuration goals. Integration of this engine is expected to support later production blocks and expand the fighter's capability growth beyond the initial aircraft powered by foreign engines, allowing Türkiye to achieve a strategic propulsion autonomy and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.

Export considerations are also shaping the propulsion roadmap. A framework agreement with Indonesia, valued at $15 billion, positions Jakarta as the expected first export customer for the Kaan. Indonesia has indicated that it is prepared to wait for an ITAR-free configuration equipped with the indigenous engine rather than accepting early aircraft powered by American engines. The agreement is structured in phases, with the initial phase already agreed and subsequent phases planned to be finalized during 2026. This approach could align Kaan's market access with the serial production of the TF35000, reinforcing the importance of the turbofan engine in the overall program strategy.

To date, the Kaan has already demonstrated basic flight capability through two test flights in 2024. The maiden flight took place on February 21, 2024, lasting 13 minutes and reaching an altitude of 8,000 feet at 230 knots, followed by a second flight on May 6, 2024, which lasted 14 minutes and climbed to 10,000 feet at the same speed. In May 2025, Mehmet Demiroğlu also revealed that the second Kaan prototype was under construction and would feature notable changes, including reshaped air intakes and structural airframe enhancements. In June, Aselsan presented a complete weapon package for the Kaan, and all of these munitions are Turkish-made, further reducing foreign reliance. Finally, in September 2025, the second prototype of the Kaan already entered the system integration phase, demonstrating an industrial maturation and effectiveness in the program.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.