Turkey is advancing the development of the fifth-generation Kaan fighter by completing two new prototypes, designated P1 and P2, which are scheduled to enter the test phase during 2026.
The planes were spotted in official photos published during a visit by the President of the Directorate of Defense Industries, Haluk Görgün, to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). The program is considered a strategic priority, especially after the country was excluded from the F-35 project in 2020.
The new images show significant changes compared to the first prototype, the P0. The P1 variant has changes to the design of the fuselage, including relocation of the engines’ air intakes, increased space for self-defense sensors and adjustments to the landing gear, which may facilitate the integration of both internal and external armament.
The Tulgar helmet with helmet-mounted display (HMD) system was also identified, underscoring the focus on technologies typical of fifth-generation aircraft, such as enhanced situational awareness and sensor fusion.
According to Görgün, the schedule includes carrying out full-scale static tests and new flights as the prototypes progress through the validation phases. He highlighted that the project includes features such as stealth, electronic warfare, internal weapons bays and an advanced avionics architecture. The strategy followed by the Turkish industry is to carry out development, testing and production in parallel to reduce timelines and speed up the introduction into operational service.
In parallel, Turkey is investing in the development of the national TF35000 engine, which will replace the American engines currently used in the prototypes. The aim is to ensure greater technological autonomy and strengthen the local defense industry. Ankara is also working on integrating Kaan with unmanned aerial vehicles, such as the Anka 3 and Kizilelma drones, thus expanding the concept of cooperation between manned platforms and autonomous systems.
Source: The Aviationist | Photo: @alpha_defense | This content has been created with the help of KI and reviewed by the editors
📍 Ankara | TAI Facilities
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Within the scope of our National Combat Aircraft KAAN Project, we visited our KAAN hangar and received comprehensive information about the final stage of our full-size static test aircraft and examined the work in the field.
It will make its first flight in 2024 and be the first… pic.twitter.com/mipIGkTtSs
— Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün (@halukgorgun) February 13, 2026
