In this handout photo taken and released on May 1, 2023, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gets into the cockpit of Türkiye's national combat aircraft TF-X, which he named "KAAN" as he attends the "Century of the Future" at the Turkish Aerospace Industries Headquarters to introduce new aircraft in the Kahramankazan district of Ankara. (PHOTO / PRESS OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY OF TÜRKIYE / AFP)
ANKARA – Türkiye will be one of the five countries to produce the 5th-generation warplanes, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after the combat aircraft made its debut on Monday.
Named KAAN, a historic title used by the rulers of Turkic and Mongolian states, the warplane is "one of the great achievements of the defense industry," said Erdogan.
Hurjet, a trainer and light combat aircraft developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries, will also join the inventory of Turkish air forces, and "partially replace" Türkiye's F-16s warplanes, the president said
"Türkiye will complete all the tests and deliver KAAN to air forces within a couple of years," Erdogan said, adding the national combat aircraft will make its maiden flight in 2025.
Hurjet, a trainer and light combat aircraft developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries, will also join the inventory of Turkish air forces, and "partially replace" Türkiye's F-16s warplanes, the president said.
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He noted Türkiye will soon sell the first aircraft of Hurjet to Niger and Chad.
The Turkish Anka-3 reactive strike unmanned aerial vehicle will also make its maiden flight in the upcoming days, Erdogan said.