As reported by the Turkish media, the new KAAN multi-role fighter aircraft made its “maiden” flight.

This is a landmark milestone for the neighboring country, which has faced problems in recent months, since this flight was originally scheduled to take place last December.

According to the manufacturer Turkish Aerospace Industries, the aircraft has a length of 21 meters, a wingspan of 14 meters, a maximum speed of Mach 1.8, and can fly up to 55,000 feet, with the possibility of extended supercruise flight.

🇹🇷 Türkiye'nin milli muharip uçağı KAAN ilk uçuşunu gerçekleştirdi ⬇️

• Supercruise kabiliyeti
• Düşük görünürlük ve kızılötesi iz
• Dahili silah yuvası
• Yüksek durumsal farkındalık

👉 https://t.co/cFLejfPEvo pic.twitter.com/FMYLK3l18o

— Anadolu Ajansı (@anadoluajansi) February 21, 2024

The pilot Barbaros Demirbas flew the new-generation, KAAN-type, Turkish national fighter aircraft from the Murted air base in the greater area of ​​Ankara, and thus Turkey can claim to have joined the “closed group” of the five countries worldwide that have managed to build and develop a fifth-generation aircraft.

According to the Anadolu news agency, KAAN will be able to cooperate with friendly and allied air assets, such as AWACS aircraft and unmanned platforms, while it will also have the ability to carry out precision strikes against enemy targets at supersonic speed, utilizing artificial intelligence systems.

🛫 Milli Muharip Uçak KAAN, bugün sabah saatlerinde ilk uçuşunu başarıyla gerçekleştirdi

🇹🇷 Türkiye, KAAN ile 5. nesil savaş uçağına sahip ülkeler arasında yer alacak
💨 Yüksek hava muharebe menzili ve süpersonik hızda stratejik taarruz yeteneğe sahip olacak… pic.twitter.com/a0CMNgjNDQ

— Anadolu Ajansı (@anadoluajansi) February 21, 2024

It is noted that the goal of Turkish Aerospace Industries is to build three KAAN prototype aircraft by 2028 and to produce a total of 10 Block 1 configuration fighter aircraft by 2029, to be delivered to the Turkish Air Force between 2030 – 2033. According to information sources from Turkey, tests have already been successfully carried out in areas such as ejected seats, landing systems, engine start, etc.

Recently, the ambassador of Ukraine to Turkey gave an interview to the CNN Turk network and talked about the development program of the Turkish new-generation KAAN fighter aircraft and the role that Kyiv seeks to play, with the participation of the Ukrainian defence industry.

Also read: Turkey | Design phase kicks off for new national aircraft carrier