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Turkey In development Turkish Aerospace Industries
TAI Kaan
Turkey's indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter program, intended to replace the Turkish Air Force's F-16 fleet with a twin-engine, low-observable multirole aircraft. The prototype first flew in February 2024, with serial production planned toward the end of the decade.
Planned service entry 2024
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
2,037
km range
16,800
m ceiling
1.1
T/W
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed; program in development
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Türkiye export-licensed
SSB-administered; growing export programme, some Western sub-component dependencies.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Development status
Operator data not public
Planned service entry 2024. Status: announced.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the TAI Kaan can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Powerplant
The TAI Kaan's engine has its own full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 1.8 Mach |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 2,037 km |
| Combat radius Distance an aircraft can fly, complete its mission and return without refueling. Roughly a third of ferry range. | 1,111 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 16,800 m |
| Thrust-to-weight Engine thrust divided by loaded weight. Above 1.0 the aircraft can accelerate going straight up. On a standalone engine record, this is the engine's own thrust divided by its dry weight, the standard figure of merit for jet engines. | 1.1 |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts. | 6 |
|---|
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 21 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 12 m |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 27,200 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 1 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | 2× General Electric F110 (interim); domestic engine planned |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbofan, afterburning |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Radar Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art. | AESA radar (domestic, in development) |
|---|---|
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | internal weapons bay, sensor fusion suite |
Specifications compiled from public Turkish Aerospace Industries and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
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Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the Turkish Aerospace Industries TAI Kaan? +
The Turkish Aerospace Industries TAI Kaan has a maximum range of 2,037 km.
How much does the Turkish Aerospace Industries TAI Kaan weigh? +
The Turkish Aerospace Industries TAI Kaan has a combat weight of 27,200 kg.
How many crew does the Turkish Aerospace Industries TAI Kaan require? +
The Turkish Aerospace Industries TAI Kaan requires a crew of 1.
What engine does the Turkish Aerospace Industries TAI Kaan use? +
The Turkish Aerospace Industries TAI Kaan is powered by the 2× General Electric F110 (interim); domestic engine planned.
What is the Turkish Aerospace Industries TAI Kaan used for? +
The Turkish Aerospace Industries TAI Kaan is a fighter aircraft typically used for air superiority.
How much does the Turkish Aerospace Industries TAI Kaan cost? +
Turkish Aerospace Industries TAI Kaan: Unit cost not publicly disclosed; program in development. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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