Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TUSAŞ), the leading company in Turkey’s defence and aerospace sector, has shared an exciting new development regarding the country’s first indigenous fighter jet, KAAN. A newly released video on social media shows the jet engine ignition and moments from its flight tests.
Turkey’s First Indigenous Fighter Jet Takes to the Skies
Developed by TUSAŞ, the National Combat Aircraft KAAN marked a milestone in aviation history with its maiden flight on 21 February 2024. The aircraft remained airborne for 13 minutes, reaching an altitude of 8,000 feet and a speed of 230 knots. A second successful test flight followed on 6 May 2024, during which KAAN climbed to 10,000 feet and again reached 230 knots, staying aloft for 14 minutes.
New Video Released: Jet Power Meets Turkish Engineering
TUSAŞ’s latest video release provides the public with the most recent visuals from KAAN’s testing phase. Shared with the message “We follow a passion written in the sky”, the footage includes the jet engine start-up, runway preparations, and the take-off sequence.
Next Goal for KAAN: Final Phase Before Mass Production
Still in its prototype development and flight testing phase, the KAAN project represents a concrete step toward Turkey’s vision of developing a 5th-generation fighter jet. Flight durations and altitude limits are being gradually extended during testing. According to TUSAŞ sources, KAAN will undergo more advanced tests in the near future, including evaluations of its weapon systems, avionics capabilities, and radar performance.
A Symbol of National Aerospace Achievement
KAAN is being developed with the aim of replacing F-16s in the Turkish Air Force fleet and becoming a cornerstone of Turkey’s independent defence industry. The aircraft’s design, production, and testing processes are being carried out entirely by Turkish engineers.
Gökyüzüne yazılmış bir sevdanın izindeyiz.#KAAN ❤️ pic.twitter.com/s6MGINJn2N
— Türk Havacılık Uzay Sanayii (@TUSAS_TR) May 22, 2025
