TR TF-X KAAN Fighter Jet

[uçuyorum]

Here is great interview with ex fighter pilot and advisor at Saab from Millennium 7. He talks in detail about Sensor fusion, stealth and Modern A2A in general. (PS: title of video is clickbait.)

All his titles are clickbait but his content is nice. I heard clickbait is just needed to succeed in youtube

 

[YeşilVatan]

SAAB guy basically says passive sensors are way more important than previously thought, especially combined with sensor fusion. He also throws away the idea that stealth is the end-all-be-all solution. Especially western defence enthusiasts would hate this take.

 

[UkroTurk]

Ground radar might detect a stealth fighter at close distance however active radar seeker of missiles can not detect.

 

[Umigami]

Can I ask a bit?
When is 2nd prototype roll out?
Is it the same design (shape) as the first?

 

[Samba]

Can I ask a bit?
When is 2nd prototype roll out?
Is it the same design (shape) as the first?

And when will it be flying?

 

[Umigami]

And when will it be flying?

I don't know, I'm asking

 

[Spitfire9]

I wonder when the claim that TuAF will receive KAAN in 2028 will be shelved and a revised schedule will be announced. I don't see how the necessary testing can be completed, production started, aircraft built and delivered with no flight testing of production-representative aircraft until 2025 at the earliest. Several flying airframes will be needed to compress the time required for flight testing. Zero (I discount the first prototype) exist today.

 

[uçuyorum]

I wonder when the claim that TuAF will receive KAAN in 2028 will be shelved and a revised schedule will be announced. I don't see how the necessary testing can be completed, production started, aircraft built and delivered with no flight testing of production-representative aircraft until 2025 at the earliest. Several flying airframes will be needed to compress the time required for flight testing. Zero (I discount the first prototype) exist today.

Well it could be a pre acceptance

 

[Yasar_TR]

Can I ask a bit?
When is 2nd prototype roll out?
Is it the same design (shape) as the first?

As far as I can recall, this current KAAN will probably make another flight before the end of the year. The second prototype is being built. It should be ready to fly early next year with all the necessary alterations made with the information and data gathered from the initial flights of the current prototype.
According to media reports:
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is nearing completion of the second prototype of its fifth-generation fighter jet, KAAN, which it is developing to commence flight testing.

According to Avionot.com, assembly of the second KAAN prototype and engine integration are expected to be finalized in June and July.

Subsequently, this prototype will begin comprehensive flight tests followed by the other KAAN prototypes.

According to TAI, there will be 14 prototypes of KAAN. Last two that will be built in 2028, will have indigenous engines powering them.
So there will be 11 more prototypes from which TAI will receive data to build the serial production units of block 10.

 

[Umigami]

As far as I can recall, this current KAAN will probably make another flight before the end of the year. The second prototype is being built. It should be ready early next year with all the necessary alterations made with the information and data gathered from the initial flights of the current prototype.
According to media reports:
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is nearing completion of the second prototype of its fifth-generation fighter jet, KAAN, which it is developing to commence flight testing.

According to Avionot.com, assembly of the second KAAN prototype and engine integration are expected to be finalized in June and July.

Subsequently, this prototype will begin comprehensive flight tests followed by the other KAAN prototypes.

According to TAI, there will be 14 prototypes of KAAN. Last two that will be built in 2028, will have indigenous engines powering them.
So there will be 11 more prototypes from which TAI will receive data to build the serial production units of block 10.

If I remember correctly, the second and so on will have different canopy and radome design than the first prototype.

But I can't find the source anymore

 

[Spitfire9]

As far as I can recall, this current KAAN will probably make another flight before the end of the year. The second prototype is being built. It should be ready to fly early next year with all the necessary alterations made with the information and data gathered from the initial flights of the current prototype.
According to media reports:
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is nearing completion of the second prototype of its fifth-generation fighter jet, KAAN, which it is developing to commence flight testing.

According to Avionot.com, assembly of the second KAAN prototype and engine integration are expected to be finalized in June and July.

Subsequently, this prototype will begin comprehensive flight tests followed by the other KAAN prototypes.

According to TAI, there will be 14 prototypes of KAAN. Last two that will be built in 2028, will have indigenous engines powering them.
So there will be 11 more prototypes from which TAI will receive data to build the serial production units of block 10.

So, first near production-representative prototype will start test flights 2025. In 2026 3/4(?) aircraft will be conducting test flights?

Will TAI start production before testing is complete?

 

[uçuyorum]

So, first near production-representative prototype will start test flights 2025. In 2026 3/4(?) aircraft will be conducting test flights?

Will TAI start production before testing is complete?

Well as you saw hürjet prototype is doing whatever it wants at such early stage, i'd imagine they could do a sort of lrip of the prototype before tests are done

 

[Yasar_TR]

So, first near production-representative prototype will start test flights 2025. In 2026 3/4(?) aircraft will be conducting test flights?

Will TAI start production before testing is complete?

As you probably know a jet fighter like this being produced from scratch is an ever evolving project. Every single prototype produced will serve the purpose to improve upon the previous one; until it is decided it is mature “enough” to be applied to serial production. Whilst serial production is being realised, the plane’s design and evolution doesn’t stop. It is carried on and new ideas and parts are added to the next block.

Here the important point is, when TAI will say the block 10 is ready for serial production. We have nearly 3.5 to 4 years for this to happen according to the last timeline given to us. Once BURFIS and air to air missiles with major avionics are integrated to the plane it can start it’s interceptor role. Then other missiles and munitions can be integrated in time until block 20 comes along.
There is no completion of testing. This plane will evolve during testing and manufacturing towards being 6th generation , or at least 5.5 generation.
Once it can pass through the basic requirements it could start serving the airforce in one form or another as a 4.5 generation aircraft.

 

[Huelague]

If I remember correctly, the second and so on will have different canopy and radome design than the first prototype.

But I can't find the source anymore

Yes, the final design will have some design changes. From canopy, to size to a 30 mm canon. And more matured lines.

 

[TheInsider]

TAI is trying hard to conduct the first test flight of the second KAAN prototype by the end of 2024. The second prototype won't have combat systems at the first flight of the second prototype but those systems will be integrated as the tests continue. Combat system integration will be completed by the second half of 2026. Delivery of block 10 configuration will start by the end of 2028. This is the current rough roadmap till the delivery of block 10.

 

[Quasar]

Ground radar might detect a stealth fighter at close distance however active radar seeker of missiles can not detect.

@Yasar_TR @Nilgiri could we say that hypothetical or lets say theoretical detection ranges of radars against different targets with differing RCS values has higly relevant but yet limited importance since capabities of your air to air missiles with far smaller and less power radars even with data link and GPS is equally important if not more important... and this area is the main play gound of low RCS targets.

 

[Zafer]

TAI is trying hard to conduct the first test flight of the second KAAN prototype by the end of 2024. The second prototype won't have combat systems at the first flight of the second prototype but those systems will be integrated as the tests continue. Combat system integration will be completed by the second half of 2026. Delivery of block 10 configuration will start by the end of 2028. This is the current rough roadmap till the delivery of block 10.

Seems like the time between second half of 2026 and the end of 2028 is compressible. Just add a domestic engine to make it work earlier.

 

[Saithan]

TAI is trying hard to conduct the first test flight of the second KAAN prototype by the end of 2024. The second prototype won't have combat systems at the first flight of the second prototype but those systems will be integrated as the tests continue. Combat system integration will be completed by the second half of 2026. Delivery of block 10 configuration will start by the end of 2028. This is the current rough roadmap till the delivery of block 10.

I can remember, but did we get the engines we need and did we get any additional engine as backup ? (a couple of extra in the hand would be nice).

Also if you have any info on any additional test we're going to be conducting with the first prototype, it'd be greatly appreciated.

My shortterm memory only remembers KAAN's flights. I need to have my daily flight injection in order to function....

 

[Yasar_TR]

I can remember, but did we get the engines we need and did we get any additional engine as backup ? (a couple of extra in the hand would be nice).

Also if you have any info on any additional test we're going to be conducting with the first prototype, it'd be greatly appreciated.

My shortterm memory only remembers KAAN's flights. I need to have my daily flight injection in order to function....

KAAN needs to start resuming flying tests like Hurjet is doing, in order to develop in to a plane that can become a block 10 aircraft. That is number one issue.

A second issue is the finalisation of license production agreement of f404 and f110 engines between TAI and GE. If we are to produce 11 more prototypes and 20 block 10 planes until 2028, we need over 60 units of f110 engines in the short term. And if we are to have 2 or even 3 squadrons of KAAN With f110s, then we need between 100 to 150 engines before indigenous engines are ready.
We also need at least 90 units of f404 engines for Hurjet to replace the 68 T38 trainers and 12 F5s in the aerobatic team.
It is not viable to buy them, when we can manufacture them at TEI.

As per below news piece video which has Bloomberg as the reference point of news, Türkiye has applied for permission to manufacture the KAAN’s and 40 F16 V70 jets’ engines in house at TEI. According to this video, currently 2 new KAAN prototypes are in the process of being built. There will be a further 10 units of KAAN prototypes to be produced until initial low rate serial production will start.

 

[Saithan]

KAAN needs to start resuming flying tests like Hurjet is doing, in order to develop in to a plane that can become a block 10 aircraft. That is number one issue.

A second issue is the finalisation of license production agreement of f404 and f110 engines between TAI and GE. If we are to produce 11 more prototypes and 20 block 10 planes until 2028, we need over 60 units of f110 engines in the short term. And if we are to have 2 or even 3 squadrons of KAAN With f110s, then we need between 100 to 150 engines before indigenous engines are ready.
We also need at least 90 units of f404 engines for Hurjet to replace the 68 T38 trainers and 12 F5s in the aerobatic team.
It is not viable to buy them, when we can manufacture them at TEI.

As per below news piece video which has Bloomberg as the reference point of news, Türkiye has applied for permission to manufacture the KAAN’s and 40 F16 V70 jets’ engines in house at TEI. According to this video, currently 2 new KAAN prototypes are in the process of being built. There will be a further 10 units of KAAN prototypes to be produced until initial low rate serial production will start.

If I recall correct. There was a limited number of engines we could acquire under the "prototype"/ testbed clause or something without senate etc. approval, wasn't that number 20 or something ?