Ukraine to develop and purchase Turkish Kaan fifth-generation stealth fighter jet.

During an interview on CNN Türk on February 15, 2024, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Türkiye, Vasyl Bodnar, revealed that Ukraine has expressed its intention to acquire and deploy the Turkish Kaan ('King') fifth-generation stealth fighter jet. Ambassador Bodnar discussed the partnership, noting that Ukrainian engineers are also involved in the development of a jet engine for the Kaan aircraft.
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The Ukrainian Ambassador to Türkiye, Vasyl Bodnar, suggested that the Kaan could be competitive with other advanced aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor. (Picture source: TAI)

This initiative is part of a wider collaboration, reflecting a history of defense and technological cooperation between Türkiye and Ukraine. To supply the engine for the Kaan jet, Ukrainian companies have established a consortium to compete with other global and Turkish firms.

The collaboration on the Kaan engine between Ukraine and Türkiye is described by Ambassador Bodnar as mutually beneficial. He mentioned the advantages of domestic production capabilities, which are intended to improve the global competitiveness of both nations. Additionally, Bodnar suggested that the Kaan could be competitive with other advanced aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor. Ukraine's approach to the acquisition of Kaan jets is described by the ambassador as comprehensive, planning for both purchase and effective deployment to enhance national defense.

The Kaan fighter is part of Türkiye's National Combat Aircraft program, which began in 2017, aimed at enhancing the nation's defense infrastructure. It is designed with the intention to surpass the capabilities of the American F-35 jets and is planned to replace the Turkish Air Force's existing F-16 fighters. The program has faced delays, with the initial flight of the Kaan prototype postponed from late December 2023 or early January 2024 to March, due to unspecified reasons requiring further ground tests. Serial production is anticipated to start in 2028.

The TAI TF Kaan, initially referred to as TF-X or Turkish Fighter (TF) and also known as Milli Muharip Uçak (National Combat Aircraft), is being developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) with assistance from BAE Systems. The project aims to create a stealth, twin-engine, all-weather, air superiority fighter to succeed the Turkish Air Force's F-16 Fighting Falcons and to operate alongside contemporary aircraft like the F-35 Lightning II, with potential for international sales.

The project was initiated by Turkey's Defence Industry Executive Committee on December 15, 2010, with the aim to develop a next-generation fighter. This led to an agreement in 2011 between Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (now known as the Defence Industry Agency) and TAI, as well as TUSAŞ Engine Industries (TEI). TEI has been collaborating with the Ukrainian company Ivchenko Progress on the development of the engine for the Kaan since 2022.

TAI initially proposed three designs for the aircraft: the twin-engine FX-1, the single-engine FX-5, and the single-engine FX-6, a canard-delta design. The decision was made to proceed with the twin-engine configuration, according to the 2016 Performance Report by the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries.

The TF Kaan is intended to be a fifth-generation aircraft, incorporating features such as advanced aerodynamics, supercruise capability, stealth, and the integration of sophisticated internal sensors and precision weapons. The design emphasizes low radar visibility and internal weapons storage. The aircraft's development benefits from TAI's experience with the F-35 program, particularly in creating an Advanced Carbon Composite fuselage.

The Turkish company Aselsan is developing an advanced active electronically scanned array radar for the TF Kaan using gallium nitride technology. The aircraft's avionics are intended to enable integration with unmanned aerial vehicles through secure data links.

Initially, the TF Kaan will be equipped with General Electric F110 engines, with a plan to transition to the domestically developed TAEC engine, resulting from collaboration between Turkish KALE and British Rolls-Royce, in addition to another engine from an unspecified source. The aircraft's armament is expected to include various air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, alongside different bomb types to fulfill diverse mission requirements.