TUSAŞ General Manager Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu stated that work on KAAN’s flight prototypes continues.
TUSAŞ General Manager Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu explained TUSAŞ’s latest breakthroughs in the defense industry during the SAHA Sohbet YouTube program. The program covered various systems from KAAN to ANKA III, ATAK-2 to HÜRJET, and Demiroğlu also discussed TUSAŞ’s future-oriented efforts.[1] In his 2025 assessment, Demiroğlu said: *”I can say 2025 passed very well in one sentence. Because we have reached the stage of mass production of what we have done so far, and we have also achieved export success in many areas. We achieved export success with our own platforms; with our KAAN, HÜRJET, AKSUNGUR, and ANKA. It was really an important year for us; it passed beautifully from TUSAŞ’s perspective.”
KAAN’s Current Status
Demiroğlu provided updates on ongoing tests for KAAN. He noted that work on the second and third prototypes continues, stating: *”KAAN is our ‘crown’ project, not just TUSAŞ’s but Turkey’s as well; our most cherished project. Because with KAAN, we’re not just building an airplane. We’re developing an ecosystem. KAAN had one prototype…. We flew it, but currently, it’s undergoing ground tests. We’re not using that KAAN for flight tests. Its main purpose was as an engineering prototype. We are currently producing three as flight prototypes…. We planned the first for late April, but in May, at latest June, we will fly it, God willing. There can always be last-minute tweaks or hiccups in such big projects. I can confidently say that by June, we will see the first prototype of KAAN having flown.”
*”The second prototype will follow it; because we have an intensive test campaign. The third prototype after that; we plan to put the second into testing by the end of this year, and the third either at the end of this year or early next year. I’m talking about flying all these emerging prototypes. Additionally, they have ground tests; 2-3 months of ground tests; system, resonance, fuel, electrical—all tests must be done so we can safely release them to flight with peace of mind. These can take a long time. The current progress on KAAN is in this direction.”
Engine Supply and Mass Production Target
Addressing engine supply, Demiroğlu indicated that serial production deliveries are targeted for 2029. He explained the engine supply and delivery process as follows: *”We first got F110 engines as interim, temporary engines. Why? It’s an existing engine, a known engine, one we have on hand. It’s used in F-16s. It’s close to our requirements. We want 35,000 lbs, but they are in the 29-30 thousand range…. So, let’s complete the development phase using them, get to a certain point; meanwhile, our own engine designs and developments continue. In serial production, we will make about 20 to 40 aircraft in what we call Block 10 and 20, with F110 engines…. These are our Block 10 and 20s, not our main engine. Why? Because it’s an existing engine, with all our infrastructure, test infrastructure, MRO infrastructure, etc. It was the most logical to use it.”
*”We had planned all of this. There’s no difference between our plan from two years ago and today. The only differences stem from doing something new for the first time, something challenging. What we needed to finish 3 months ago, we finish 3 months later…. That’s the kind of differences we’re talking about, knowing how long the F-35 took to make or couldn’t be made. 2-3 months in such big projects is not a delay to discuss or worry about. The possibility of our target slipping to 2029 is high…. So, it stays at 2029. Why? Because this 3-month delay here, that 3-month delay there pushes you a bit. By 2029, we will have passed this serial production phase and started deliveries, we say. We expect to receive the official order for these 20 soon.”*[1]
Source: Defence Turk
