TAI General Manager Temel Kotil made statements in the Mind Circle program moderated by Fulya Öztürk on CNN Türk. Kotil announced that the National Combat Aircraft KAAN will take to the skies on December 27.
"1500 ENGINEERS ARE WORKING"
"Everything was done in the quality it should be," Kotil said: In fact, we could have flown it in May. What we lacked was that the flight computer, ejection seat and landing gear were not ready. Hürjet completed 12 flights. We will deliver the Hürjet in 2025. Our self-confidence stems from the young people we have trained. 1,500 engineers are working on the National Fighter.
WHY ARE FLIGHTS PLANNED BEFORE THE GIVEN DATE?
We build airplanes block by block. We are also building the 2025 aircraft. Why is it flying early? The quality of the engineers is high. We have put all we have learned so far on this. We want it to fly in the air and let the airplane inform us. In 2016, this project had 60 engineers. Now there are 1500 engineers and 1500 people from the technical team. They did not sleep and worked. It went faster than we thought. Turkey needs to cut time in the defense industry. The most important part of an aircraft is its ability to survive. The 5th generation's ability to survive is quite high. We are currently building two more National Fighters. The geometry is changing a little more. We learn something from every airplane we build. We have to deliver the aircrafts to the Air Force in 2028.
IS THERE ANY SPECIAL MEANING TO THE DELIVERY ON DECEMBER 27?
We chose a day in December. The days when the liberation began. It coincides with those days. And now the power that saved Turkey will stand up. The first flight will be in Akıncılar. The Air Force is letting us use it there.
ENGINE SYSTEM
We're using the F-110 engine for the F-16. We have 5 in stock. 5 more will come. In the coming days, the engines will be made in Turkey. The National Combatant will fly with a Turkish engine in 2028. We have received the materials, we are building it. Work has started. In 2028, the engine will lift the aircraft into the air, but it will not be delivered to the National Defense in 2028. These engines will need an extra five years to develop.
WHICH MISSILE SYSTEMS WILL BE USED?
Kaan can use whatever ROKETSAN produces. He is also working closely with ROKETSAN. Whatever Turkey makes can be integrated.
F-35 AND KAAN CONFUSION
The US Air Force has the F-22 and the F-35. The F-35 can take off vertically and is an air-to-surface aircraft. KAAN has nothing to do with the F-35, J-20 and SU-57. It is its own plane. The radar does not see these planes. We want to get it in the air as soon as possible. HÜRJET has shown this well. KAAN will also show us good things. Our airplane will be number 10. I remember how I used to beg TAI to send experts abroad. Now TAI has 6,000 engineers.
HOW MANY ARE PRODUCED?
In the hangar where we produce, two airplanes can be built at the same time. As TAI, our plan is to deliver two per month. We did this with the ATAK. 5 in ANKA
