The 'Kaan' fighter prototype, developed by Turkey, tests its first flight: "It will have the most powerful air force in the entire region"

The prototype of the fighter-bomber being developed by Turkey, called 'Kaan', carried out its first test flight this Wednesday, reports the Turkish state agency Anadolu.. The flight, carried out before the cameras of several media outlets, took place at the Murted (formerly Akinci) military base near Ankara and lasted 11 minutes, reports the Hürriyet newspaper.

Developed since 2016 by the state company TUSAS, the 'Kaan' first took to the runway for taxiing tests last December and, as Turkish authorities indicated then, it could begin to be used in the Air Force from 2032..

Turkish General Ismail Hakki Pekin estimated this Wednesday, in statements to Hürriyet, that “serial production of the 'Kaan' will still take 10 years,” but that once in use, Turkey “will have the most powerful air forces in the entire region.” , including Israel.”

Bigger than American F-16s

The 'Kaan', which is defined as a “fifth generation” fighter, measures 21 meters long and six meters high, and has a wingspan of 14 meters, according to data provided by Anadolu.

With its two engines currently manufactured by the American company General Electric, with a propulsion force of 76 kN without afterburner and 131 kN with afterburner, it will reach a speed of 1.8 mach and will be able to fly up to altitudes of 17,000 meters.

Thus, it is not only larger and more powerful than the American F-16 fighter, which Turkey currently uses, but also larger than the F-35, in whose production in the United States Turkey participated until this country was expelled from the program. in 2019 for acquiring a Russian anti-aircraft missile system.

Turkey began this project in 2016 to complete its locally produced weapons fleet, which already includes a tank model, a helicopter and above all the TB2 combat drone, which is also exported.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan often highlights the ability to manufacture its own weapons as an indicator of Turkey's international weight and its greatness as a nation.

Its critics, however, remember that many of the key components used in these vehicles and aircraft are still imported from other countries.