KAAN — national fighter jet

The KAAN programme (formerly TF-X) was launched to replace the Turkish Air Force's ageing F-16s. TUSAŞ (Turkish Aerospace) in Ankara is developing the aircraft together with hundreds of domestic companies.

KAAN is a twin-engine aircraft with a low-observable (stealth) airframe, an internal weapons bay and domestic avionics and sensors. The prototype completed its first flight on 21 February 2024.

The programme aims to put Türkiye among the few countries able to develop a fifth-generation fighter. A first export agreement for KAAN was signed with Indonesia in 2025, and the move to series production is planned.