{"id":15236902,"date":"2026-07-31T22:33:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T02:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/second-prototype-of-turkeys-kaan-begins-taxi-trials\/"},"modified":"2026-08-01T06:33:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T10:33:33","slug":"second-prototype-of-turkeys-kaan-begins-taxi-trials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/second-prototype-of-turkeys-kaan-begins-taxi-trials\/","title":{"rendered":"Second Prototype of Turkey\u2019s Kaan Begins Taxi Trials"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"259\" src=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Turkey-Kaan-Second-Prototype-1-460x259.jpg\" class=\"webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"display: block;margin-bottom: 5px;clear:both;max-width: 100%\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>The Kaan\u2019s second prototype is undergoing taxi testing, with Turkish officials indicating that the aircraft may begin flight testing before the end of 2026.<\/h2>\n<p>One of the two new prototypes of Turkey\u2019s Kaan fifth generation fighter, P1, finally began taxi trials on <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TUSAS_TR\/status\/2083117322240213415\">Jul. 31, 2026<\/a>. The aircraft was first revealed at the facility of its manufacturer Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI\/TUSA\u015e) in <a href=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/2026\/02\/18\/second-third-prototypes-turkeys-kaan\/\">February 2026<\/a> along with P2.<\/p>\n<p>TAI released a video showing the aircraft already parked outside the hangar on the apron, before it began rolling down the taxiway on its own power. This test represents the first step in the run up to the first flight, checking the aircraft\u2019s systems and ground handlings at various speeds.<\/p>\n<p>P1 and P2 are supposed to be production representative airframes, learning from the experience and lessons learnt from prototype P0. For P1, TAI officials and Turkish defense commentators have indicated that the flight testing will begin before the end of this year.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The KAAN P1 design lines is now fully revealed from many different angles. Compared to the P0, the fuselage has taken on a much more aerodynamic and aesthetically pleasing form. The KAAN will be a true masterpiece. Congratulations to our TUSA\u015e engineers <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sR5BAlFRXM\">https:\/\/t.co\/sR5BAlFRXM<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bUqGHXnQ5Z\">pic.twitter.com\/bUqGHXnQ5Z<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 TR_tech (@T_Nblty) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/T_Nblty\/status\/2083122702827520408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>We had reported about a second prototype in September 2025, when it was spotted behind P0 in official footage of a Turkish military veterans organization. The fact that Turkish defense <a href=\"https:\/\/turdef.com\/article\/first-peek-at-the-second-prototype-of-kaan-fighter\">media\u2019s<\/a> earlier <a href=\"https:\/\/tolgaozbek.com\/savunma\/kaan-p1-boy-gosterdi\/\">claims<\/a> that a third prototype (P2) was under construction were confirmed in February 2026 underscores Ankara&#8217;s determined effort to field an indigenous fifth-generation fighter capability.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"qme\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/1f609.png\" alt=\"\ud83d\ude09\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/KAAN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#KAAN<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wWXXweP4af\">pic.twitter.com\/wWXXweP4af<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 T\u00fcrk Havac\u0131l\u0131k Uzay Sanayii (@TUSAS_TR) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TUSAS_TR\/status\/2083117322240213415?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3><strong>Kaan P1 prototype<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>This is what we had written in our previous report comparing the design of prototypes P1, P2 and P0:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201c[&#8230;] the P1\u2019s nose section appears to be wider, while the engine intake also appears to be taller, overshooting the chine line on the fuselage, and a little closer to the canopy. A major spot is the Tulgar Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD) fifth generation headgear [&#8230;]&nbsp; seen through the cockpit canopy on the seat [of the P1].\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"tr\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/1f4cd.png\" alt=\"\ud83d\udccd\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/> Ankara | TUSA\u015e Tesisleri<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/2708.png\" alt=\"\u2708\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/1f1f9-1f1f7.png\" alt=\"\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf7\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mill\u00ee Muharip U\u00e7ak KAAN Projemiz kapsam\u0131nda, KAAN hangar\u0131m\u0131z\u0131 ziyaret ederek tam boy statik test u\u00e7a\u011f\u0131m\u0131zda gelinen son a\u015famaya ili\u015fkin kapsaml\u0131 bilgi ald\u0131k ve sahadaki \u00e7al\u0131\u015fmalar\u0131 yerinde inceledik.<\/p>\n<p>2024 y\u0131l\u0131nda ilk u\u00e7u\u015funu icra eden ve ilk\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/mipIGkTtSs\">pic.twitter.com\/mipIGkTtSs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Prof. Dr. Haluk G\u00f6rg\u00fcn (@halukgorgun) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/halukgorgun\/status\/2022332319466451177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cOne difference in the design between the P0 and P1 is that the engine intake has been moved much behind in the fuselage, and is exactly under the boundary line of the cockpit hinges. This creates more space for self-defensive sensors like missile proximity, radar warning, directional infrared countermeasures or other arrays concerned with giving all-round 360 degree visibility, like the F-35\u2019s Distributed Aperture System (DAS). The main landing gears are also moved a little further to the side, now emerging only partly from the underbelly. This also provides some space for both external and internal ventral weapons stores. Most importantly, a top view shows that the distance between the both engines in the P1 has also increased.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/1f6e9.png\" alt=\"\ud83d\udee9\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/> Comparison of the KAAN P1 prototype with the P0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/27a1.png\" alt=\"\u27a1\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/>There has been some change in the fuselage back geometry. You can see the changes in the slope lines. (Image-1)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/27a1.png\" alt=\"\u27a1\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/>At P1, the air intake has been moved back towards the cockpit level. We have seen this before in the visuals\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iAdNAJ9mnr\">https:\/\/t.co\/iAdNAJ9mnr<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qwII1TW7Yl\">pic.twitter.com\/qwII1TW7Yl<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 TR_tech (@T_Nblty) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/T_Nblty\/status\/2022592441681916033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Most importantly, the P1 has a prominent forward-looking sensor outside the canopy above the nose &#8211; a positioning suited for a multipurpose Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) and an Infrared Search and Track (IRST). These are used for passive target tracking and discrimination.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_105978\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-105978\" style=\"width: 706px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Turkey-Kaan-Second-Prototype-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-105978\" src=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Turkey-Kaan-Second-Prototype-2-706x397.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"706\" height=\"397\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-105978\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Front view of the P1 Kaan prototype during the taxi trials showing the sensor above the radome outside the canopy. | Source: TAI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Another faceted sensor on the chin is in a position consistent with an air-to-ground tracking role. The shape of these optical systems are nearly identical to the Karat IRST and the Toygun Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS) tested on a new Kizilelma prototype. It is possible the one on Kaan P1 could be their derivatives.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Kaan, F-35, S-400 and geopolitics<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The country is also hedging against a future disruption in the supply of the U.S.-origin General Electric F110-GE-129 by accelerating the development of the&nbsp;&nbsp; indigenous Tusa\u015f Engine Industries (TEI) TF35000 engine, which is hoped to come online and be certified for future production batches. This reflects the premium placed on reducing Western leverage on strategic defense technology.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_105979\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-105979\" style=\"width: 706px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Turkey-Kaan-Second-Prototype-3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-105979\" src=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Turkey-Kaan-Second-Prototype-3-706x397.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"706\" height=\"397\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-105979\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Side view showing the optical system under the chin. | Source: TAI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The F110s are assembled under license in Turkey but are still subject to U.S. export control restrictions. Even with the ongoing development of a new engine, Turkey will still need the F110 for the initial prototype fleet and the early low-rate initial production airframes.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Reporter: T\u00fcrkiye wants the F-110 jet engines, and they want their F-35 fighter jets. Are you going to T\u00fcrkiye with a big gift bag?<\/p>\n<p>Trump: I think so. He&#8217;s a member of NATO. Some people don&#8217;t consider himself, but he really is.<\/p>\n<p>He is a strong member of NATO. Yeah, I&#8217;m going to\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/O2Yda1Vs3n\">pic.twitter.com\/O2Yda1Vs3n<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/clashreport\/status\/2069881877163602148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><em>Reuters<\/em> reported in June 2025 that President Donald Trump has decided to green light a $700 million sale of F110s to Turkey. Turkey has also been <a href=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/2024\/11\/26\/turkey-resubmits-offer-to-purchase-f-35-jets\/\">lobbying to be admitted back<\/a> into the F-35 program after being booted out in 2019 over its acquisition of the Russian S-400 system.<\/p>\n<p>There are periodic reports about Turkey reaching an understanding with the U.S. over mothballing the S-400 and sending it to Ukraine, with the latest being agreeing to send it to an unidentified Gulf monarchy. Some <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/defence\/international\/turkeys-s-400-gamble-how-a-gulf-sale-could-redraw-west-asias-air-defence-map\/articleshow\/132406402.cms\">reports claim it is the UAE<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"fr\">Le turc <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/TUSA%C5%9E?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#TUSA\u015e<\/a> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/1f1f9-1f1f7.png\" alt=\"\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf7\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/> annonce que le chasseur <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/KAAN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#KAAN<\/a> recevra le moteur national TF35000 d\u00e8s 2033.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/s1z6VPAPjO\">https:\/\/t.co\/s1z6VPAPjO<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iiF9tcfVTu\">pic.twitter.com\/iiF9tcfVTu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Juan Agullo <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/1f989.png\" alt=\"\ud83e\udd89\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/> (@JuanAgulloNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JuanAgulloNews\/status\/2081709577863647642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Kaan\u2019s development is partly motivated by wielding a domestic option before the Americans and threatening its leverage over a major NATO ally that has long been a vital tool against Russian interests in West Asia. Likewise, Turkey\u2019s S\u0130PER surface-to-air missile (SAM) system is also being touted as an alternative to the S-400 itself.<\/p>\n<p>This is beside an impressive array of other homegrown aircraft, armed drones and advanced munitions programs driving Turkey\u2019s strategic rejuvenation in West and Central Asia.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inmi-source\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/2026\/08\/01\/second-prototype-kaan-taxi-trials\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Travel \u2013 theaviationist<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Kaan\u2019s second prototype is undergoing taxi testing, with Turkish officials indicating that the aircraft may begin flight testing before the end of 2026. One of the two new prototypes of Turkey\u2019s Kaan fifth generation fighter, P1, finally began taxi\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15236904,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[199],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15236902","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1.jpg",2000,1124,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1-620x348.jpg",620,348,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1-768x432.jpg",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1-940x528.jpg",940,528,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1-1536x863.jpg",1536,863,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1.jpg",2000,1124,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1-998x665.jpg",998,665,true],"ignition_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1-670x446.jpg",670,446,true],"ignition_item_lg":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1-1340x894.jpg",1340,894,true],"ignition_article_media":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1-510x510.jpg",510,510,true],"ignition_minicart_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1-160x160.jpg",160,160,true],"profile_24":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1-24x24.jpg",24,24,true],"profile_48":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1-48x48.jpg",48,48,true],"profile_96":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1-96x96.jpg",96,96,true],"profile_150":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"profile_300":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/15236902-turkey-kaan-second-prototype-1-300x300.jpg",300,300,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"news.iNthacity","author_link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/author\/atombo\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/articles\/travel\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Travel<\/a>","tag_info":"Travel","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15236902","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15236902"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15236902\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15236903,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15236902\/revisions\/15236903"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15236904"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15236902"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15236902"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15236902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}