Turkey will soon get rid of the American engine in its KAAN fighter jet
Turkey's national programme to develop a fifth-generation KAAN fighter jet has entered a new stage: by 2032, the Turkish TF35000 engine will be developed, which means a gradual move away from the US F110.
Here's What We Know
According to TUSAŞ CEO Mustafa Demiroglu in an interview with Defence News, the second and third KAAN prototypes are currently under construction, which will have differences from the first, including improved air intakes and a modified internal frame for better weight and centre of mass balance. A total of four prototypes are planned: three for flight testing and one for ground testing.
At the same time, Demiroglu confirmed that the transition to the new TF35000 engine is planned after 2032, so the first production KAAN aircraft, which will start arriving in 2028, will be powered by General Electric's F110-GE-129 engines, the same as those used in the F-15 and F-16.
Turkey's 5th generation KAAN fighter jet. Illustration: SavunmaSanayiST
This decision will also affect exports, as countries that cannot obtain US re-export permits will have to wait for the Turkish powerplant. One of the potential buyers of the KAAN is Saudi Arabia, which is also negotiating the purchase of the F-35.
The KAAN is currently equipped with two F110s with 129 kN of afterburner thrust. The Turkish TF35000, on the other hand, is supposed to have 155 kN of thrust, which implies supersonic cruise speed and the potential for further improvement, including the thrust vector.
The South Korean KF-21 fighter jet, which is currently flying with the US F414, has a similar development trajectory, but in the future it will also receive a domestic engine. Korea also has about a decade to do so.
Source: Defence News
