KAAN fighter jet.

Technical Data

• Design

  The design of the KAAN fighter jet reflects the latest philosophies in fifth-generation fighter architecture, combining stealth, aerodynamic agility, and modularity. The aircraft is built around a low-observable airframe, utilizing advanced radar-absorbing materials and angular surfaces that minimize radar cross-section across multiple frequency bands. Its fuselage and wing configuration are tailored for high maneuverability and supercruise capability, featuring a large leading-edge root extension (LERX) and clipped delta wings integrated smoothly into the fuselage to enhance lift and control at both high and low speeds.

  The internal weapon bays are a defining characteristic of its stealth-oriented design, allowing munitions to be carried without compromising radar signature. These bays are engineered to accommodate both air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance, supporting a diverse operational profile while preserving aerodynamic efficiency. The aircraft’s vertical stabilizers are canted outward, contributing both to stealth and yaw control, while the horizontal stabilizers are all-moving surfaces designed for pitch authority and agility during dogfighting.

  From a structural standpoint, the KAAN heavily employs composite materials, primarily carbon fiber-reinforced polymers, to achieve an optimal balance of strength and weight reduction. The single-seat cockpit is elevated to provide superior pilot visibility and is covered by a one-piece canopy that enhances both pilot situational awareness and reduces radar reflectivity. The pilot interface employs a glass cockpit design dominated by a wide-area touchscreen display and integrated digital controls, providing full mission management with a minimal workload. These physical and ergonomic attributes are intended to support both manned and optionally manned configurations in the future.

• Armament

  The KAAN fighter jet is designed to be a highly versatile combat platform capable of deploying a broad spectrum of precision-guided munitions and air dominance weaponry. Its air-to-air arsenal includes indigenous solutions such as the Bozdoğan (Merlin), a short-range infrared-guided missile designed for high off-boresight engagements and close-in dogfighting, and the Gökdoğan (Peregrine), a beyond-visual-range (BVR) radar-guided missile intended for long-range interception and air superiority missions. Additionally, the platform is compatible with the MBDA Meteor missile, which offers extended range and active radar guidance with a ramjet propulsion system, providing superior engagement capability against agile, high-speed targets in heavily contested environments.

  For strike missions, the KAAN can be armed with the SOM (Stand-Off Missile), a long-range cruise missile with a range exceeding 250 kilometers, enabling precision strikes against fortified ground targets without entering enemy air defense envelopes. Further armament includes the KUZGUN family of modular missiles, available in different configurations including high-explosive, penetrator, and electronic warfare (EW) payloads, offering adaptability to varying tactical needs. The aircraft also supports a wide range of indigenous guided bombs such as the HGK (Guidance Kit) and KGK (Winged Guidance Kit) series, which convert standard general-purpose bombs into GPS/INS-guided munitions capable of striking stationary or moving targets with high accuracy.

  All munitions are integrated via the internal bays for maximum stealth, but the aircraft also has provision for underwing pylons for non-stealth operations or ferry missions, greatly increasing payload flexibility when low observability is not a priority.

• Engine

  The propulsion system of the KAAN fighter jet consists of twin afterburning turbofan engines, with initial prototypes powered by the General Electric F110-GE-129 engines. Each engine provides a thrust output of approximately 29,000 pounds-force (lbf), facilitating high-speed performance, rapid acceleration, and sustained supersonic cruise without afterburners—a feature known as supercruise. These engines are proven platforms that already power several fourth-generation aircraft, such as the F-15 and F-16, providing reliability during the KAAN’s early development phases.

  To achieve full indigenous capability and escape dependency on foreign suppliers, Turkey is developing the TEI TF35000 turbofan engine as the KAAN's ultimate powerplant. This engine is expected to deliver equal or superior performance to the F110 while incorporating features optimized for stealth, fuel efficiency, and future upgrades. The twin-engine setup offers redundancy and enhanced survivability in combat, allowing the aircraft to maintain operational capability even in the event of partial engine failure.

  Engine intakes are designed with stealth considerations in mind, featuring serpentine ducting to block direct line-of-sight radar reflections from the engine face. Exhaust nozzles may be equipped in the future with thrust vectoring for enhanced agility and possibly infrared signature reduction features, depending on the evolution of the domestic engine variant.

• Avionics and Onboard Equipment

  The avionics suite of the KAAN fighter jet is a centerpiece of its fifth-generation credentials, built around an open architecture to ensure long-term upgradability and systems integration flexibility. The core sensor of the aircraft is the MURAD active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar developed by ASELSAN. This radar system offers multi-mode functionality, enabling simultaneous tracking of multiple airborne targets, high-resolution synthetic aperture ground mapping, and integrated electronic warfare capabilities such as jamming and signal disruption.

  Complementing the radar is a comprehensive set of electro-optical sensors, including an advanced Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) for precision targeting and a Distributed Aperture System (DAS) that provides full spherical situational awareness. These systems allow the pilot to detect and engage threats without emitting radar signals, preserving stealth in passive tracking scenarios. An Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system further augments the aircraft’s ability to detect heat-emitting targets like aircraft and missiles at long ranges.

  In terms of electronic warfare and survivability, the KAAN is fitted with a layered suite of defensive aids. These include a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) that detects and classifies radar emissions, Missile Warning Sensors (MWS) for detecting incoming infrared-guided missiles, Laser Warning Receivers (LWR), and countermeasure dispensers capable of deploying chaff, flares, and potentially active decoys. These systems work in concert with an advanced mission computer that performs real-time sensor fusion, presenting the pilot with a clear, prioritized view of the battlespace.

  The KAAN also features a high-bandwidth, secure communication and data link system capable of integrating into NATO and indigenous command-and-control networks. The onboard Integrated Communication Navigation and Identification (ICNI) system supports encrypted voice/data transmission, GPS/INS navigation, and IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) functionality. Additionally, the KAAN is equipped to serve as a command platform for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), coordinating swarms of drones in a manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) paradigm.

  Together, these systems not only equip the KAAN with competitive edge in modern air combat but also future-proof it for roles in network-centric warfare, electronic suppression, and intelligence gathering.