Turkish Aerospace Completes Taxi Tests for KAAN Fighter Prototype

Turkish Aerospace Industries completed the first low-speed taxi tests of the P1 prototype for the KAAN, Türkiye's first indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet, on July 31, 2026. The twin-engine multirole platform is designed for air superiority and precision strikes to eventually replace the Turkish Air Force's aging F-16 fleet. Following the taxi trials in Ankara, CEO Mehmet Demiroglu stated that the P1 prototype could fly within the next two months, while the P2 prototype is expected to fly by the end of 2026.

The P1 and P2 prototypes feature improved aerodynamics and advanced systems architecture compared to the initial P0 prototype that first flew in February 2024. To power the aircraft, the U.S. Congress and President Donald Trump approved a reported $700 million sale of F110 engines. Simultaneously, TUSAS Engine Industries Inc. is accelerating the development of the domestic TF35000 engine, expected by 2033, to reduce reliance on U.S. technology.

In May 2026, the Savunma Sanayii Müstesarligi contracted 20 Block 10 aircraft, with deliveries to the Turkish Air Force scheduled between 2028 and 2030. Indonesia is currently the program's only export customer, having signed for 48 aircraft in July 2025.