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Aselsan Integrates Sixth-Generation Air Combat Vision Across The Kaan Fighter Jet And Turkish Drones.
Aselsan showcased its sixth-generation air combat vision for Türkiye’s KAAN fighter jet and drone programs during a media event in Ankara. The integration highlights Türkiye’s push toward advanced networked defense capabilities and autonomy in air warfare.
On 7 October 2025 at Aselsan’s Gölbaşı facilities in Ankara, during a press day attended by Army Recognition Group, the company presented how Türkiye’s sixth-generation air-combat vision is already being reflected in the development of the KAAN fighter. The program overview was delivered through technical briefings, a meeting session with Aselsan’s CEO, and an exclusive tour of key facilities. Army Recognition was honored to be part of this press day and to report first-hand on the progress and intent described by Aselsan.
Türkiye’s next-generation air-combat ambitions are moving from concept to implementation within KAAN’s ongoing evolution. With prototypes advancing in production, critical subsystem deliveries in train and validated lab-based integration reducing program risk, Aselsan is anchoring the electronics, sensing and communications pillars required for a fighter designed to operate in stealth, fuse data at scale and team with Kızılelma and Anka-3 (Picture generated with AI)
Aselsan emphasized that core attributes associated with sixth-generation operations, manned-unmanned teaming, stealth, and advanced command and mission systems are being incorporated from the outset into KAAN’s development path. This positioning aligns with the official statement from the Presidency of Defence Industries confirming that Türkiye has initiated work toward a sixth-generation combat-air effort, within which Aselsan places itself at the center of enabling technologies across electronic and combat-system architecture. The core of this technological leap lies in the Indigenous Flight Datalink (IVDL) developed by Aselsan, which enables KAAN to communicate with the stealthy ANKA-3 flying-wing drone and the jet-powered KIZILELMA unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV). In parallel, the IVDL concept reflects a doctrinal shift from platform-centric to network-centric warfare, with KAAN envisioned not only as a fighter but also as an airborne command-and-control node orchestrating unmanned assets.
A central theme of the briefings was the teaming construct around KAAN. Aselsan foresees Baykar’s Kızılelma and TAI’s Anka-3 as the principal unmanned platforms designed to operate in close connection with the fighter, enabling a crewed aircraft to coordinate networked effects with loyal-wingman-class assets. To support this, Aselsan confirmed that “stealth-mode” communications, intended for low-probability-of-detection and low-probability-of-intercept operations, have been completed for both Kızılelma and KAAN, with further refinement underway to strengthen resilience in contested electromagnetic environments. In this division of roles, ANKA-3 is characterized as a stealth flying-wing with a likely strike-reconnaissance profile, while Kızılelma trends toward a higher-speed loyal-wingman UCAV, providing complementary effects alongside KAAN.
Programmatically, Aselsan stated that new KAAN prototypes are now in production and that it will deliver several critical subsystems to the aircraft, echoing its earlier provision of crucial components to the Altay main battle tank. Among the named elements are TULGAR, TUYGUN and an integrated electro-optical targeting capability, forming a cohesive mission-system backbone that links sensing to effects and supports survivability and lethality in highly contested airspace.
Risk reduction and maturity were also underscored. Aselsan explained that all subcomponents it delivers to the KAAN program, and, by analogy, to Altay, are certified and validated through rigorous laboratory and high-fidelity simulation campaigns. This artificial-environment verification allows functional performance to be confirmed without requiring immediate airborne trials, shortening feedback loops and smoothing subsequent integration on the aircraft and its connected unmanned platforms.
The Gölbaşı press day made clear that Türkiye’s next-generation air-combat ambitions are moving from concept to implementation within KAAN’s ongoing evolution. With prototypes advancing in production, critical subsystem deliveries in train and validated lab-based integration reducing program risk, Aselsan is anchoring the electronics, sensing and communications pillars required for a fighter designed to operate in stealth, fuse data at scale and team with Kızılelma and Anka-3. Army Recognition was honored to witness these developments on site and convey the substance of Aselsan’s briefings to our readers.
The Gölbaşı press day made clear that Türkiye’s next-generation air-combat ambitions are moving from concept to implementation within KAAN’s ongoing evolution. With prototypes advancing in production, critical subsystem deliveries in train and validated lab-based integration reducing program risk, Aselsan is anchoring the electronics, sensing and communications pillars required for a fighter designed to operate in stealth, fuse data at scale and team with Kızılelma and Anka-3. Operationally, the manned-unmanned framework is designed to enable KAAN to direct SEAD, electronic jamming, and deep-strike missions via its UAVs. Strategically, this mesh-network model bolsters sovereign C4ISR independence for operations across the Eastern Mediterranean, the Caucasus, and Northern Syria.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.