Turkey is progressing with its fifth generation national combat aircraft, KAAN, and the project recently drew attention through its appearance in the TV series TEŞKİLAT. The storyline focuses on operations of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and positions KAAN within the country’s broader defense narrative.
The message highlighted that the KAAN fighter had already completed its first flight, and new visuals of the aircraft circulated online, underscoring the program’s public profile and media interest around a platform primed for future development.
Turkish media has noted that the deployment of a modern, domestically produced combat aircraft could elevate Ankara’s aerospace capabilities, potentially elevating Turkey to a more prominent position in regional and global defense circles.
Within the National Combat Aircraft program, KAAN has been under development since 2017, with initial plans suggesting that serial production might begin around 2028. Officials have argued that KAAN is being designed to outperform existing counterparts in tactical and technical benchmarks and could eventually replace older platforms like the F-16 in service with the Turkish Air Forces, reflecting a strategic shift toward domestically produced airpower.
There have also been historical discussions within Turkey about NATO alignment, with debates focusing on the balance between national defense priorities and alliance commitments as the project progressed.