The Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) company is preparing for a significant increase in testing activity for the national KAAN fighter and HÜRJET jet trainer, as new prototypes move into assembly and testing stages. The company’s general manager, Mehmet Demiroğlu, said the aim is to conduct simultaneous test campaigns involving three KAAN aircraft and six HÜRJET aircraft in the coming period.
KAAN Prototypes Enter the Core Testing Phase
Demiroğlu explained that the first KAAN prototype had already completed a flight, while the second and third prototypes are undergoing intensive work dedicated to the main tests. The first of these has begun ground-taxi tests, while the second has moved to the final assembly line. TUSAŞ aims to prepare both prototypes for flight during 2026.
The two aircraft will initially be used for tests to expand the performance envelope, before moving to configurations involving the integration of weapons and systems. According to the statements, the armed version is scheduled to appear during 2027, and an intensive test campaign using approximately three KAAN aircraft is planned for around the same period next year.
Demiroğlu estimated the proportion of domestic components in KAAN at approximately 90%, excluding the engine and ejection seat, noting that other parts have been produced domestically or will be manufactured as part of the second and third prototype stages. He also said that tests of the domestic engine are targeted for around 2032, without providing additional details about the schedule or engine specifications.
HÜRJET: Six Prototypes and Certification Tests
The HÜRJET program continues flight testing and certification procedures, after two prototypes accumulated approximately 550 hours of test flight time. TUSAŞ is currently working on four additional prototypes; the first two of these are expected to begin flying during 2026, followed by two more prototypes.
The company links this process to an announced delivery schedule beginning with the Turkish Air Force at the end of 2027, followed by the Spanish Air Force in 2028. Demiroğlu described the agreement with Spain as an export success to a member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He also noted that talks are continuing with the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Malaysia and other countries, without confirming that new agreements have been concluded.
A Different Naval Version of HÜRJET
TUSAŞ is also working on a version that can be deployed aboard an aircraft carrier. Demiroğlu said this version will not be identical to the current HÜRJET, because the requirements for operating from a ship are different, and the design of the aircraft carrier itself will help determine the requirements. The source did not mention a date for the first flight or technical details about the naval version.
Expanding Platforms for Naval Missions and Firefighting
Alongside the two aircraft programs, TUSAŞ is developing naval applications for the AKSUNGUR platform, including the integration of sonar buoys, torpedoes and various radars. The company aims to increase the platform’s payload from 750 to 1,250 kilograms during the coming year, while increasing its flight endurance from more than 50 hours to approximately 60 hours; these are targeted maximum figures rather than publicly reported achieved performance.
Sonar integration has also begun on the GÖKBEY helicopter and on a new helicopter in the 10-ton class, whose first flight is planned for 2027. TUSAŞ aims to deliver eight helicopters of this class in 2028 for firefighting missions, with a carrying capacity of up to 4 tons of water. The company said that AKSUNGUR and ANKA aircraft are used for the early detection of fires, while three T-70 helicopters are held in the inventory of the General Directorate of Forestry.
Why Does This News Matter?
The actual change is not the launch of a new platform, but rather the transition of the KAAN and HÜRJET programs to testing a larger number of prototypes simultaneously, a stage that will practically reveal the programs’ ability to address performance, certification and delivery requirements. However, the dates cited remain announced targets stated by TUSAŞ management, while the test results, the readiness date of the domestic engine and details of the naval version of HÜRJET remain open questions.