Key Points and Summary – Turkey is developing its own fifth-generation fighter, the TAI TF Kaan, to achieve strategic independence after being removed from the U.S. F-35 program.
-The ambitious aircraft is a blend of American designs, physically resembling an F-22 Raptor while aiming to replicate the F-35’s advanced sensor fusion capabilities.
-However, the Kaan’s true stealth credentials remain a major question mark. The prototype uses non-stealth General Electric F110 engines, which lack key features to reduce its infrared and radar signatures, casting significant doubt on its low-observability claims.
TAI TF Kaan, Turkey’s Blend Of F-22 and F-35 Might Not Work
Turkey has been operating US-made aircraft since World War II. Currently, the primary fighter for the Turkish Air Force is the F-16, and the primary fighter-bomber is a modified version of the F-4 Phantom “Terminator,” armed with Popeye air-to-surface missiles.
After joining NATO, Turkey has received continuous support from the US, fielding the largest army in NATO, second only to the United States.
However, under President Erdogan, Turkey has been moving away from the US and NATO, and increasingly trying to assert its power in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Erdogan is attempting to hold onto power, facing a tough re-election battle.
Turkey was a partner in the US F-35 program, however, after acquiring Russian S-400 SAM installations, Turkey was removed from the program.
Currently, the Turkish government is developing its aircraft to reduce its reliance on foreign-made aircraft.
The Tai TF Kaan Looks Familiar
The TAI TF Kaan, meaning Ruler or Master in Turkish, looks like a clone of the F-22 Raptor.
With dimensions of 20.3 meters (66 ft, 7 in) long and a 13.4-meter (44-ft) wingspan, there’s not much difference in size between them.
Initial plans called for Rolls-Royce to supply jet engines for the FX program. Had the deal gone through, it would have carried the same Eurojet EJ200 the Eurofighter Typhoon still uses.
However, Rolls-Royce and TAI had issues that prevented orders from being delivered throughout the late 2010s. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) itself sought full access to the FX-1 program, including the engines, for further domestic advances in Turkey.
Ultimately, these efforts on TAI’s part aimed to establish an advanced jet engine fabrication operation in Turkey. This infighting, combined with a desire to exceed a Eurofighter’s 115.6 kN (26,000 lbf) of thrust, ultimately necessitated that an altogether different engine would have to suffice for the prototype.
Turkey opted to utilize a General Electric F110 turbofan, used in the F-16, F-15EX Eagle II, and later variants of the Grumman F-14 Tomcat. With 131 kN (29,000 lbf) of thrust on offer at full afterburner, the F110 is marginally more powerful than the Eurojet. With the GE engine, the Kaan platform can top Mach 1.8 in a straight line with a service ceiling of 16,764 m (55,000 ft).
The TAI TF Kaan Is Also Similar To The F-35
The aircraft’s inlets, rounded front, and curved, blended wing-body shape resemble those of the F-35, and its dual-engine design gives the back a resemblance to that of the F-22.
Also similar to the F-35 is TF Kaan’s intent to replicate the F-35’s sensor fusion computer system, designed to aggregate, pool, analyze, and display sensor information from otherwise disparate sources into a single, integrated picture.
Turkey is incorporating Integrated Electro-Optical Systems such as Infrared Search and Track (IRST), EW, AESA, Synthetic-aperture radar, and various other RF technologies.
Is The TF Kaan A Stealth Fighter? That 1 Problem…
While the body of the aircraft closely resembles that of US fifth-generation fighters, it features stealth characteristics built into the airframe, internal weapons bays, and advanced radar and sensor systems to minimize its radar cross-section and enhance its low observability.
However, it is unknown whether the seams are tight enough, given that the body and wings are coated with radar-absorbing materials.
The Kaan’s two F110-GE-129 engines (the same General Electric jet engines used on F-15s and F-16s), for instance, were never designed for stealth aircraft and lack features such as specially designed exhaust systems and nozzles, which would reduce both high infrared signatures and radar reflections.
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey has said that it is developing “Radar Absorbing Multilayered Thin Film Surface Coating” for the Kaan, and TAI and Turkish officials have said that the Kaan has advanced technologies that make it stealthy.
However, Turkey has yet to officially announce it has constructed the stealth coatings quality or development, other than the statement that it was a stealth aircraft.
The TF Kaan Is Going On the International Market
Turkey plans to sell the aircraft on the international market, particularly to its allies, Pakistan and Azerbaijan, both of which are currently blocked from purchasing the F-35.
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are also potential customers. The UAE tried to buy the F-35, but the US and Israel have an agreement where Israel retains a qualitative edge in the Middle East.
It will be very intriguing to see how well the TF Kaan operates. It could one day rival the F-35.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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