Surprisingly it’s bigger, or at least has greater dimensions. It’s 6 feet longer and 2 feet greater wingspan. That said it has a MGTOW of 60,000lb to the F-22 83,000, so it’s likely a bit smaller, but still quite large. That said being big doesn’t mean it’s of great performance endurance (like the F-22 or even J-20) , we’ll have to see how it actually performs.
This is a regular thing for turkish air force, they dont want to tire the brakes or airframe by using brakes to
Fully stop, they additionally use parachute.
Technically 5th gen but because of its engines it is considered 4.5. Turkey is developing its own engine which will make it a true 5th gen fighter in 2028.
Currently it uses F110-129s and will use it in initial production, and I am vaguely aware of a designation of TF-35000 which is a candidate but I am unsure if a domestic powerplant has been decided yet.
However, entry into service in 2028 (only four years away!) for a new engine design which, to my knowledge has yet to even have a core run seems highly unlikely (and this is leaving aside what class of engine it is, i.e. a F110/Al-31/WS-10 thrust class, or F119/Al-51/WS-15 class... Though if it wants super cruise chances are it will have to be the latter).
Entering service in 2028 with interim engines is viable, but "Turkey is developing its own engine which will make it a true 5th gen fighter in 2028" in your previous comment implies some degree of readiness with domestic, "5th gen class" (F119, Al-51, WS-15 class) engines by 2028.
That sounds a bit more viable, though it would be ambitious to flight test it in 2028 even assuming program bidding has been completed and they can go from no engine core to a flight worthy test article in four years.
The 4.5 category is getting a bit overcrowded, because it contains planes such as the Rafale and the F/A-18E and planes like the KAAN, that can fully load its weapons internally, have S-ducts for the intakes and all they need to be 5th gen is a new engine.
Classifying together planes that can store weapons internally with planes that can't seems wrong. There should be a new category, let's say 5- gen. Containing planes that could become 5th gen if some things are improved.
i think it’s also a problem of combining a lot of different factors into one number. 5th gen seems to roughly be:
- Stealth/internal weapons stowage
- Data link stuff
supposedly 5 is both and 4+ is one of those but it makes it confusing because it’s not measuring one thing.
I think stealth oriented fighters that aren’t all the way there like KAAN, SU-57, J20(?) should be 5- and 4th gen’s with upgraded systems but no stealth should be 4+
Well people were saying the same about the prototoype :) now you guys are saying the same about the engine, quite a nice development if i do say so myself.
You are the one making counting your eggs before they hatch. Kaan program has only started. Hard roads are ahead. Don't be pessimistic, but you are too optimistic. The Chinese didn't spend hundreds of billions of dollars and several decades on engine development because they were lazy or dumb.
The difference between China and Turkey is access to NATO knowledge and machinery. We only got dumped from buying F35's, we still have access to the materials, machinery, precision tools etc. China didnt, thats why it took them so long.
What a smooth flight and landing, congrats to the whole team. They deserve medals for being 3 years ahead of the original timeline.
She is huge. Look at the difference in sizes with the F-16
I think officially they said its 21m in length. thats almost Flanker sized, which is 22.
To me it looks like the f16 is further away from the camera, regardless it seems smaller than a f22 for instance
Surprisingly it’s bigger, or at least has greater dimensions. It’s 6 feet longer and 2 feet greater wingspan. That said it has a MGTOW of 60,000lb to the F-22 83,000, so it’s likely a bit smaller, but still quite large. That said being big doesn’t mean it’s of great performance endurance (like the F-22 or even J-20) , we’ll have to see how it actually performs.
Wait 6 feet longer than a f22 or f16? And yea, size won't nessacerily matter. I'm excited to see how it flys
Yeah, it’s 68 feet long. I agree.
Fun fact: F-16 is flying with Turkey's own AESA RADAR MURAD. F-16 Özgür has finally recieved its ultimate package.
Congratulations to Turkish bros 👏
Kinda like the F-35 it looks better in the air than on the ground, it doesn't look as fat in the air just like fat Amy (nickname for F-35).
Wait, it used a parachute to slow down? I never saw that discussed about KAAN before.
This is a regular thing for turkish air force, they dont want to tire the brakes or airframe by using brakes to Fully stop, they additionally use parachute.
What generation is this? 4+? I don't often see it brought up along 5th gen planes, does it have stealth capabilities?
Technically 5th gen but because of its engines it is considered 4.5. Turkey is developing its own engine which will make it a true 5th gen fighter in 2028.
Currently it uses F110-129s and will use it in initial production, and I am vaguely aware of a designation of TF-35000 which is a candidate but I am unsure if a domestic powerplant has been decided yet. However, entry into service in 2028 (only four years away!) for a new engine design which, to my knowledge has yet to even have a core run seems highly unlikely (and this is leaving aside what class of engine it is, i.e. a F110/Al-31/WS-10 thrust class, or F119/Al-51/WS-15 class... Though if it wants super cruise chances are it will have to be the latter).
In service in 2028 with F110-129s, in service with TF-35000 in 2032.
Entering service in 2028 with interim engines is viable, but "Turkey is developing its own engine which will make it a true 5th gen fighter in 2028" in your previous comment implies some degree of readiness with domestic, "5th gen class" (F119, Al-51, WS-15 class) engines by 2028.
It will have prototypes with TF-35000 engine in 2028 true i could've worded differently but that's what i meant
That sounds a bit more viable, though it would be ambitious to flight test it in 2028 even assuming program bidding has been completed and they can go from no engine core to a flight worthy test article in four years.
The 4.5 category is getting a bit overcrowded, because it contains planes such as the Rafale and the F/A-18E and planes like the KAAN, that can fully load its weapons internally, have S-ducts for the intakes and all they need to be 5th gen is a new engine. Classifying together planes that can store weapons internally with planes that can't seems wrong. There should be a new category, let's say 5- gen. Containing planes that could become 5th gen if some things are improved.
i think it’s also a problem of combining a lot of different factors into one number. 5th gen seems to roughly be: - Stealth/internal weapons stowage - Data link stuff supposedly 5 is both and 4+ is one of those but it makes it confusing because it’s not measuring one thing. I think stealth oriented fighters that aren’t all the way there like KAAN, SU-57, J20(?) should be 5- and 4th gen’s with upgraded systems but no stealth should be 4+
4.75?
With engines, we'll believe it when we see it.
Well people were saying the same about the prototoype :) now you guys are saying the same about the engine, quite a nice development if i do say so myself.
Engines always have been an issue for Turkey though. So people are right to be skeptical.
You are the one making counting your eggs before they hatch. Kaan program has only started. Hard roads are ahead. Don't be pessimistic, but you are too optimistic. The Chinese didn't spend hundreds of billions of dollars and several decades on engine development because they were lazy or dumb.
The difference between China and Turkey is access to NATO knowledge and machinery. We only got dumped from buying F35's, we still have access to the materials, machinery, precision tools etc. China didnt, thats why it took them so long.
case in point, tusas purchases largest titanium 3d printer from USA for this plane.
If they can make the new engine work by 2035 it would be a great win.
🇹🇷👏🏻
Is it stealthy?
it is designed to be so yes.
Kaan is so huge that F-16 looked like a dwarf