TR Air-Force TF-X KAAN Fighter Jet

[IC3M@N FX]

Internal and External Weapon Integrations for KAAN | TURDEF

TÜBİTAK SAGE has performed integration work of both internally and externally carried munitions for the KAAN fighter jet in 2025, according to the activity report.

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Internal and External Weapon Integrations for KAAN​

TÜBİTAK SAGE has performed integration work of both internally and externally carried munitions for the KAAN fighter jet in 2025, according to the activity report.
TÜBİTAK’s 2025 activity report included the ongoing integration work for external weapons of the KAAN fighter jet. KGK winged guided bombs, HGK GNSS guided bombs, and SOM cruise missiles are the first externally carried munitions to be integrated on the KAAN fighter. HGK is a GNSS/INS guidance kit available to all Mk-80 GPBs, while KGK, available from Mk-82 to Mk-84, provides extended range through the wing kit. Baseline SOM variants, unlike SOM-J, are too large to fit inside KAAN’s internal bays.
Considering the time it will take to ready the internal weapon bays, and the fact that external weapons testing is less complicated, it is expected that the first weapon tests for KAAN will be performed with the externally carried munitions.
SOM-J, GÖKDOĞAN, BOZDOĞAN, and GÖKHAN will be carried internally; the integration work was previously announced by the Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacır.

 

[Gaucho]

KAAN Block-10 Fighters to be Introduced Between 2027-2029


"Turkish MoD stated that the initial production variant of the KAAN fighter jet, KAAN Block-10, will be introduced to the inventory between 2027 and 2029.

The 2025 activity report of the Turkish MoD includes that KAAN Block-10 fighter jets, as the low-rate initial production (LRIP) batch, will be taken into the Turkish Air Force inventory between 2027 and 2029."

 

[Zafer]

Kaan in TurAF inventory in 2027, this was not even promised. I want to see Kaan in the TurAF inventory with the TF35k engine in 2029, this is possible.

 

[inthrustwetrust]

Kaan in TurAF inventory in 2027, this was not even promised. I want to see Kaan in the TurAF inventory with the TF35k engine in 2029, this is possible.

No, it isn't possible, even in the wildest of imaginations.


It took 11 years for the F119 to go from ground test to production model. This engine was developed by the most experienced engine producer in the world, which had already developed eleven jet engines before this one. The same company developed the F135 based on the F119, and it still took them 9 years to go from ground test to a complete production model. There are hundreds of unique parts in a turbofan engine—tens of components, and each one is a whole world in itself. Such an engine is more complex and harder to develop than anything the Turkish arms industry has done so far.


They could deliver an operational engine with a wet thrust of 35,000 lbf by 2035. Will its dry thrust match the F119's 26,000 lbf? Probably not. It will also have a low TBO at first.

God, you are ‘optimistic’.

*Typo

 

[Huelague]

To be honest, @Zafer has a point. The whole world laughed at us, even our people, as we talked to develop a 5. Gen. Fighter Jet out of nowhere, same goes for Tf-2000. Now, look where we are. And how fast we go.

 

[hugh]

people should stop writing 2027 as if it's a distant time in future. write "next year". now should we expect KAAN in inventor next year? like seriously? the first real prototype hasn't even flown yet but the aircraft will be delivered to the force next year? I mean there are delusional and then there is this.

and then don't even get me started on TF35K. that engine will not be fired before 2028. we haven't even started building it yet. the latest TEI rendering shows that the design needs time to mature.

 

[Yasar_TR]

A modern stealth plane’s engine TIT value has not got much to do with it’s IR signature.
A plane like F35 has an engine that is at the limit of current engineering capability. Because of that, the engine keeps breaking down.
The engine’s exact TIT at 1980degrees Celsius is a guesstimate as it is a classified information and not released by US sources. But it is not too far out of that figure. However the plane has very good cooling systems and shielding to camouflage the high heat it‘s engine generates. Consequently it has a relatively low IR signature.
In fact the IR signature of F15 planes are much higher than f35s.

Twin engines don’t help IR signature. It is how well the heat sources are shielded and camouflaged.

A TIT value nearing 2000 degrees Celsius of the f35’s engine, brings with it many problems. Hence f135 engine falters quicker than a f119 engine that powers f22. (F119 has a TIT value of less than 1650 degrees Celsius).
F22, due to it’s superlative nozzle geometry and very good heat shielding together with it’s lower TIT has a lower IR signature than F35 inspite of it’s twin engines.

 

[Zafer]

 

[Iskander]

No, it isn't possible, even in the wildest of imaginations.


It took 11 years for the F119 to go from ground test to production model. This engine was developed by the most experienced engine producer in the world, which had already developed eleven jet engines before this one. The same company developed the F135 based on the F119, and it still took them 9 years to go from ground test to a complete production model. There are hundreds of unique parts in a turbofan engine—tens of components, and each one is a whole world in itself. Such an engine is more complex and harder to develop than anything the Turkish arms industry has done so far.


They could deliver an operational engine with a wet thrust of 35,000 lbf by 2035. Will its dry thrust match the F119's 26,000 lbf? Probably not. It will also have a low TBO at first.

God, you are ‘optimistic’.

*Typo

Türkiye, as we know, was not a pioneer in aircraft and engine production. It is simply following the path blazed by other, more developed countries with vast experience. Therefore, Türkiye engineers will have a much easier time; they won't have to repeat the mistakes of aircraft and engine pioneers.
Ten years ago, we could only dream of a Türkiye fighter, but today it already exists and flies.
Russians have been producing fighters for over a hundred years. The Su-57 first flew in 2010. In 16 years, they have produced 35-40 aircraft.
The KAAN made its maiden flight just two years ago.
This may seem like fantasy to many, but I am confident that in a few years, Türkiye will produce more KAAN than Russia produces Su-57.

 

[Zafer]

Türkiye, as we know, was not a pioneer in aircraft and engine production. It is simply following the path blazed by other, more developed countries with vast experience. Therefore, Türkiye engineers will have a much easier time; they won't have to repeat the mistakes of aircraft and engine pioneers.
Ten years ago, we could only dream of a Türkiye fighter, but today it already exists and flies.
Russians have been producing fighters for over a hundred years. The Su-57 first flew in 2010. In 16 years, they have produced 35-40 aircraft.
The KAAN made its maiden flight just two years ago.
This may seem like fantasy to many, but I am confident that in a few years, Türkiye will produce more KAAN than Russia produces Su-57.

"Necessity is the mother of invention"; some take their time doing things and some does their best.

There was no reliable simulation software before 2003 or so, but who cares.

 

[Gaucho]

The TF35000 Turbofan Engine is being developed in partnership with TRMOTOR

KAAN engine

 

[Spitfire9]

How is the afterburning version of TF6000 progressing? As I understand things, a lot of the knowledge gained from TF10000 development was supposed to feed into TF35000 development.

 

[inthrustwetrust]

How is the afterburning version of TF6000 progressing? As I understand things, a lot of the knowledge gained from TF10000 development was supposed to feed into TF35000 development.

"TF6000 still has a few years of testing and development ahead" September 2025.

It needs to reach a production ready variant before TF10000 can be developed based on it. We need to see TF6000 integrated into a UCAV before we can even start expecting TF10000.
Some defense companies tend to start publicity even before projects properly begin, and then people come here claiming that TF35000 could be installed on Kaan and delivered to the Turkish Air Force by 2029. Meanwhile, we haven’t even seen Kaan P1 fly, let alone Kaan Block 20 or TF10000 tested, let alone TF35000.
I wouldn’t hold my breath for these engines. Kaan will still be the third best fighter in the world even without TF35000. These engines will happen eventually, but TF10000 is unlikely to power any UCAV before the 2030s.

 

[hugh]

"TF6000 still has a few years of testing and development ahead" September 2025.

It needs to reach a production ready variant before TF10000 can be developed based on it. We need to see TF6000 integrated into a UCAV before we can even start expecting TF10000.
Some defense companies tend to start publicity even before projects properly begin, and then people come here claiming that TF35000 could be installed on Kaan and delivered to the Turkish Air Force by 2029. Meanwhile, we haven’t even seen Kaan P1 fly, let alone Kaan Block 20 or TF10000 tested, let alone TF35000.
I wouldn’t hold my breath for these engines. Kaan will still be the third best fighter in the world even without TF35000. These engines will happen eventually, but TF10000 is unlikely to power any UCAV before the 2030s.

TF6000 and TF10000 are not different engines. TF10000 is an afterburner extension to TF6000 albeit with some small structural changes due to the added axial loads. TF10000 is probably is being built right now(speculating). The core engine has reached its rated thrust but it needs time to mature before powering any aircraft. Engine maturation is a lengthier process than reaching mere thrust targets.