TR Air-Force TF-X KAAN Fighter Jet

[Huelague]

The bottom (fuselage) Kaan is flat, which reduces the stealth ability. Are there any solutions?

 

[Iskander]

The bottom (fuselage) Kaan is flat, which reduces the stealth ability. Are there any solutions?

The solution, apparently, is precisely in the plane of the bottom. All 5th generation fighters have such a flat bottom. Apparently, the roundness of the fuselage will not reduce stealth

 

[Huelague]

The solution, apparently, is precisely in the plane of the bottom. All 5th generation fighters have such a flat bottom. Apparently, the roundness of the fuselage will not reduce stealth

Look at F-35, its anything else than flat.

 

[Iskander]

Look at F-35, its anything else than flat.

Yes, not quite flat.
The KAAN and the Chinese fighter have flatter bottoms.
The 5th generation aircraft are remarkably similar to each other.
There is something related to geometry, in which I am, to put it mildly, far from an expert.

 

[boredaf]

The bottom (fuselage) Kaan is flat, which reduces the stealth ability.

Do you have any source on that other than "but F-35 is bumpy" ?

 

[Yasar_TR]

The bottom (fuselage) Kaan is flat, which reduces the stealth ability. Are there any solutions?

Bro, flat belly generally means better stealth.
f35’s slightly rounded belly has been argued to compromise it’s stealth.
Rounded surfaces reflect back radar sigoals. Where as flat and 90degree surfaces scatter radar signals.

The thing about flat panels is that incident radar energy is reflected away from the radar aerial that emitted it, so the searching radar does not receive a return. Only if the radar energy arrives perpendicular to the flat panel will it be reflected back and received. In that situation, the ground radar will get a brief ‘glint’ return, a high-energy spike - and one contact is no use for tracking a moving target.

The B-2 manages to do that with curved surfaces. Some very clever engineering went into that, assisted by the extra computer power available to the designers of the B-2 compared to that available to the designers of the F-117.

F35 : still fairly flat but some curvature under belly apparent.

F22: distinctly flat belly

F117: totally flat belly

B2 bomber: rounded belly - but read above explanation

KAAN : flat belly like F22

 

[Boykaz]

The KAAN AESA radar will probably be like the (F-22) AN/APG-77."

 

[Turkic]

The KAAN AESA radar will probably be like the (F-22) AN/APG-77."

View attachment 73884 View attachment 73885

I assume you're only talking about the shape ?

 

[Boykaz]

Sanırım sadece şekilden bahsediyorsunuz?

Yes

 

[Spitfire9]

Could anyone update me on when the remaining development prototypes are scheduled to fly, please? If the aim is still to have the aircraft design finalised, tested, in production and 20 delivered in 2028, that is an extremely demanding schedule.

Another thing: how many of the prototypes will be for testing the finalised design?

 

[Iskander]

Could anyone update me on when the remaining development prototypes are scheduled to fly, please? If the aim is still to have the aircraft design finalised, tested, in production and 20 delivered in 2028, that is an extremely demanding schedule.

Another thing: how many of the prototypes will be for testing the finalised design?

Defense Industries President Haluk Görgün announced that a total of 6 KAAN prototypes will be produced. Görgün said, “We will deliver KAAN in 2028. It will be used with a domestic engine in the 2030s.” January 15, 2025

According to the latest information, the second prototype will fly at the end of this year or early next year.

 

[Spitfire9]

Defense Industries President Haluk Görgün announced that a total of 6 KAAN prototypes will be produced. Görgün said, “We will deliver KAAN in 2028. It will be used with a domestic engine in the 2030s.” January 15, 2025

According to the latest information, the second prototype will fly at the end of this year or early next year.

Thanks. With testing of one prototype not starting until 2026 by the sound of things, delivery in 2028 looks extremely ambitious to me. Perhaps the other four will fly early 2026 and start testing soon after that?

 

[hugh]

delivery in 2028 looks extremely ambitious to me.

yes, it's extremely ambitious and almost certainly won't happen. if a "simple" hürjet with no mission capabilities take 3 years from ff to deliveries, KAAN has no chance to be delivered in 2028. they will adjust the calendar this year or the next year, imo.

 

[Mis_TR_Like]

To be completely honest I've been out of the loop with KAAN for some time, busy with work, but also frustrated with our government in Türkiye which has really taken the taste out of recent defence industry accomplishments.

But the recent decline in relations between the US and European nations makes me wonder if we could see more cooperation on the KAAN project. If I remember correctly, we're using GE engines for prototypes, then transitioning to indigenous engines once they're ready. We know that in the early stages of the project, British Aerospace assisted, along with using Dassault digital twin software. I wonder if Rolls Royce could enter the program again, perhaps not to replace our indigenous engine program, but assist in speeding it up and perhaps even supplying its own engines for European buyers of KAAN. Would be the biggest finger up to the US.

Imagine nations all the way from western Europe to Central Asia and beyond being armed with KAAN jets. US hegemony would end, Russia and China would be spooked. Time for the small fish to unite.

For this to happen, EU needs to stop treating Turkey like it does, but simultaneously we need to fix our own problems. EU and Turkey may hate each other, but for the next 30 years they will need eachother.

 

[Afif]

To be completely honest I've been out of the loop with KAAN for some time, busy with work, but also frustrated with our government in Türkiye which has really taken the taste out of recent defence industry accomplishments.

But the recent decline in relations between the US and European nations makes me wonder if we could see more cooperation on the KAAN project. If I remember correctly, we're using GE engines for prototypes, then transitioning to indigenous engines once they're ready. We know that in the early stages of the project, British Aerospace assisted, along with using Dassault digital twin software. I wonder if Rolls Royce could enter the program again, perhaps not to replace our indigenous engine program, but assist in speeding it up and perhaps even supplying its own engines for European buyers of KAAN. Would be the biggest finger up to the US.

Problem is RR doesn't have any suitable ready made engine to offer for KAAN. They originally wanted to develop something based on Pearl for KAAN with Kale JV.

As for the one they are developing for Tempset, I don't think they will offer it for KAAN.

Though technical assistance to speed up Turkey's own engine program sound realistic.

Imagine nations all the way from western Europe to Central Asia and beyond being armed with KAAN jets. US hegemony would end, Russia and China would be spooked. Time for the small fish to unite.

US hegemony is unlikely to end like this. Small European countries have already chosen F35 in masses to replace their 4th gen fleet. By the time KAAN will be available I suspect there will be more F35 operators in Europe. KAAN doesn't offer generational leap over F35 to justify new purchases unless you have extra money. F35's biggest advantage today right now is full interoperability within NATO and with USAF. As long as NATO is relevant I see F35 being the mainstay of Small European countries. Still KAAN may have market in Europe. At this point it is too early to say IMO.

 

[uçuyorum]

Problem is RR doesn't have any suitable ready made engine to offer for KAAN. They originally wanted to develop something based on Pearl for KAAN with Kale JV.

As for the one they are developing for Tempset, I don't think they will offer it for KAAN.

Though technical assistance to speed up Turkey's own engine program sound realistic.




US hegemony is unlikely to end like this. Small European countries have already chosen F35 in masses to replace their 4th gen fleet. By the time KAAN will be available I suspect there will be more F35 operators in Europe. KAAN doesn't offer generational leap over F35 to justify new purchases unless you have extra money. F35's biggest advantage today right now is full interoperability within NATO and with USAF. As long as NATO is relevant I see F35 being the mainstay of Small European countries. Still KAAN may have market in Europe. At this point it is too early to say IMO.

Funny enough the country that would benefit most from KAAN in eu could be France. Being probably the largest force in EU its the one that wont have a stealth fighter for next 15 years. Also spain could be, but they will need F35B at some point I think.