TF-X / KAAN / Hürjet Turkish Fighter & Trainer Aircrafts News & Discussions

[Pioneer]

I see you got a Chinese flag, so you're naturally going to defend your country China.
But here're some facts:

China’s WS‑15 timeline is roughly 15–18 years depending on where you start the clock. Early development began in the mid‑2000s, the first credible flight tests were in 2017, and operational integration happened in 2023. China did receive some material and metallurgy support from Russia, but the engine still took well over a decade to mature.

What makes Turkiye’s situation different is that it receives no engine technology transfers at all. No materials support, no turbine blade know‑how, no hot‑section metallurgy, no compressor IP, and no access to Western or Russian high‑temperature alloys(NYET). Despite that, Turkiye launched the TF35000 program from zero and has already completed core design, compressor testing, turbine testing, and material qualification. First ignition is approaching without any foreign assistance.

So while China needed 15–18 years with external help(Russia, remember), Turkiye is pushing a 5th‑gen engine program under full embargo conditions and still hitting milestones at a competitive pace. The hurdles are far higher, yet the progress is real.

Turkiye is doing something that's never been attempted before and winning.

bro, if you want news instead of thinking, give it up.

Ankara taps Pakistan’s China ties in search of war tech: report

Ankara taps Pakistan's China ties in search of war tech: report - Turkish Minute

Turkey's push to manufacture warplanes and missiles with Pakistan can be a hookup that could also give it access to war technology from China, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

turkishminute.com

 

[Ali_Baba]

bro, if you want news instead of thinking, give it up.

Ankara taps Pakistan’s China ties in search of war tech: report

Ankara taps Pakistan's China ties in search of war tech: report - Turkish Minute

Turkey's push to manufacture warplanes and missiles with Pakistan can be a hookup that could also give it access to war technology from China, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

turkishminute.com

Is China going to share military technology with a NATO country? I know Turkieye toyed with the Chinese FD-2000 (HQ-9) some time back, but a product is different from core technology?

 

[Pioneer]

Is China going to share military technology with a NATO country? I know Turkieye toyed with the Chinese FD-2000 (HQ-9) some time back, but a product is different from core technology?

The probability is highly "NO". But Pakistan is the variable.

 

[hyperman]

What word on if(in light of the Iran war etc)/when the Qatari Typhoons will turn up to Turkieye ? Has Qatar changed its priorities, or is the transfer still on schedule ?

No idea what happened there, it was supposed to arrive, then this Iran war started and we haven't heard anything since.

 

[Anatolia]

bro, if you want news instead of thinking, give it up.

Ankara taps Pakistan’s China ties in search of war tech: report

Ankara taps Pakistan's China ties in search of war tech: report - Turkish Minute

Turkey's push to manufacture warplanes and missiles with Pakistan can be a hookup that could also give it access to war technology from China, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

turkishminute.com

Is China going to share military technology with a NATO country? I know Turkieye toyed with the Chinese FD-2000 (HQ-9) some time back, but a product is different from core technology?

The probability is highly "NO". But Pakistan is the variable.

Every time Turkiye has an internal debate about engines or any other defence technology, the same cycle appears: a few loud voices say “let’s go with China,” "Should just leave NATO"and then… nothing. It never materialises. Not once.

There’s a simple reason for that: Turkish decision makers consistently choose Europe/West when it comes to core military technology. Not because of ideology, but because of integration, standards, logistics, and long term strategic alignment.

When Erdogan said Turkiye might “join ASEAN” or “join the SCO,” it was political signalling. We didn’t join either.Right?

We have a genuinely strong relationship with Pakistan, but alignment does not equal an alliance shift.

Turkiye is deeply embedded in NATO systems, doctrine, and interoperability. That’s not something you can casually swap out.

And the idea that Turkiye could buy Chinese jets or major Chinese weapons. even indirectly via Pakistan, is simply not realistic. Turkiye’s entire defence ecosystem is integrated with Western avionics, datalinks, IFF, munitions standards, logistics chains, and NATO command‑and‑control. You can’t plug a PLAAF jet into that environment. You can’t even plug a Chinese SAM into it without major isolation.

So yes, every time there’s a disagreement or frustration, people say “let’s go with China.” especially on forums like this one. But the outcome is always the same. Turkiye stays aligned with NATO, buys Western systems, and develops its own indigenous tech.

 

[MMM-E]

Local and national details

The TAAC logo is featured on KAAN's landing gear, and the PETLAS logo on its tire.

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[air marshal]

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[RealNapster]

Forty years ago, the U.S. could land on the Moon. Now it suddenly can't.

A prototype that flew two years ago has since undergone major structural and dimensional changes. Whether it can still take off is anyone's guess.

In the end, only real-world results can prove the truth

The first thing a kid do after being born is start to learn walking, not running. Its a new prototype with modifications w.r.to its older version. Obviously you need to take it through the static testing first, then taxing, then flight. You are on a defence forum for a long time. You should know this.

Or maybe you do know this. Anyways

 

[Aziqbal]

Redirect the billions from Typhoon and F35 onto KAAN

KAAN is needed and it should be accelerated

 

[hyperman]

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[hyperman]

Redirect the billions from Typhoon and F35 onto KAAN

KAAN is needed and it should be accelerated

An interim solution is needed between now and when the KAAN engine goes into mass production.

 

[Aziqbal]

An interim solution is needed between now and when the KAAN engine goes into mass production.

I agree but with the new defence agreement and Pakistan getting J35 and I think Turkeys defence is well in hand

wait those few years out get a stop gap solution with partnerships and defence agreements and by 2035 KAAN will be entering service if not sooner

also Typhoon and F35 are not on fast track delivery either

UK 4 extra F35B are not not due until 2030 and next batch is post 2030

New Tranche 5 German Typhoons are beyond 2032 and close to 2034

 

[Harbyharb]

The F-22 is the best stealth Fighter Jet ever built with single piece canopy with absolutely no internal framing or metal support arches

The F-22 has also gold canopy that scatters radar waves to prevent them from getting an accurate fix

The F-35 and KAAN have almost same canopy
the F-35 and KAAN utilize the same geometric approach with a front hinged canopy design reinforced by a structural frame

F-35

KAAN

J-20 has worse canopy than the F-35 and KAAN

Just, perhaps, entertain the thought that both the F-35 and J-20 incorporate lessons learned from the F-22, which predates the two...

Canopy conductivity coating matters just as much to the F-35 and J-20 as the F-22, if not more - They just switched from Au coating to Indium-Tin-Oxide coating, which ensures conductivity while being more durable with greater translucency.

Frameless homogenous canopies gave pilots unmatched visibility, yes, but as it has been gone through countless times, without internal metallic support, the canopy needs to endure greater structural stress - the F-22 canopy is 2 centimetres thick in most parts and weighs half a metric ton. During an ejection, the canopy had to be jettisoned with rocket boosters, and during ground mishaps, cutting it open took 5 hours...


Both the F-35 and the J-20 ditched homogeneous canopies (yes, the J-20 had homogeneous frameless canopies during the prototype phase too look it up) for good reasons - a lighter, thinner canopy means less dead weight, safer, simpler ejections, and better servicability and repairability. And the slight loss in visibility in the BVR and EODAS age doesn't really matter.

As for the KAAN... well... I would keep my fingers crossed

 

[Ali_Baba]

Redirect the billions from Typhoon and F35 onto KAAN

KAAN is needed and it should be accelerated

Seems like Türkiye can do all three. The issue with Kaan is not money, but time it takes to validate, certify, is the time for the engineering process itself.