TAI Kaan: Turkey’s Strategic Leap into the Fifth-Generation Fighter Elite
AviationNews Article - The TAI Kaan (formerly known as TF-X) represents Turkey’s most ambitious engineering project to date. Launched by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), the program aims to provide Turkey with strategic autonomy following its removal from the F-35 program in 2020. As of early 2026, the Kaan has transitioned from a proof-of-concept demonstrator to a series of flight-capable prototypes, with Turkey positioning it as a competitive alternative for nations seeking high-end "ITAR-free" defense solutions.
