Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) marked the second anniversary of the maiden flight of Türkiye’s National Combat Aircraft, KAAN, by unveiling three prototypes together for the first time.
In a video released by the company, the KAAN P0 technology demonstrator, the KAAN P1 flight prototype, and the KAAN TBST-P ground test article were shown side by side outside the hangar. The images underscore that flight and ground test campaigns are advancing in parallel.
The P1 and TBST-P prototypes were first publicly displayed during a recent visit by Defense Industry Agency head Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün to TUSAŞ facilities. The release of footage featuring all three aircraft in a single frame signals an acceleration in the program’s testing tempo.
First Flight: February 21, 2024
KAAN conducted its maiden flight on February 21, 2024, departing from the TUSAŞ main campus at 08:50 local time.
Piloted by test pilot Barbaros Demirbaş, the aircraft remained airborne for 13 minutes and climbed to 8,000 feet.
The flight marked the formal start of the flight-test campaign. The P0 prototype, serving as a technology demonstrator, represented a critical milestone toward the aircraft’s Block 1 configuration.
Fifth-Generation Ambition and Testing Roadmap
Developed to meet Türkiye’s fifth-generation fighter objectives, the KAAN program is pursuing a multi-prototype development strategy. This approach enables simultaneous flight testing, structural evaluation, and systems validation, reducing risk and compressing the overall development timeline.
The display of three prototypes together reflects the program’s transition from symbolic milestones to sustained, structured testing.
