KAAN’s new fighter prototype clears key test
Türkiye’s first indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet, KAAN, has reached another key milestone as its P1 prototype successfully completed its maiden taxi test, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) announced on July 31.
The successful trial marks the latest stage in the development of one of Türkiye’s flagship defense technology programs. Footage released by TUSAŞ showed the new prototype carrying out its first taxi test on the runway.
KAAN made its maiden flight on Feb. 21, 2024, after completing an extensive series of pre-flight evaluations, including ejection seat tests, full-scale static testing, control surface inertia and structural assessments, landing gear drop tests, avionics integration trials, fuel system verification and other ground-based validation procedures.
Before its inaugural flight, the aircraft also underwent low- and high-speed taxi tests, paving the way for its successful takeoff from TUSAŞ facilities in the capital Ankara.
