While the West has not been able to bring F-16 fighters to Ukraine, some Kiev officials have set much larger ambitious goals.
Ambassador of Ukraine to Turkey, Mr. Vasyl Bodnar, announced Kiev’s plan to buy Ankara’s new Kaan multi-role stealth/air superiority fighter after this potential fighter line entered production. manufacture.
“We will not only buy it but also use it. We also know where to use it,” Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar told CNN in an interview in which he praised the country’s military equipment. Turkey was transferred to Ukraine.
Mr. Bodnar stated that Ukrainian defense companies are studying Kaan’s engines and supplying them to the Kaan project, emphasizing that this promising new aircraft has the potential to compete with world-class aircraft. America’s 5th F-35 and F-22 systems.
“If we turn this into a success story and prevent the influence of third parties in both East and West, we will be one of the strongest powers in the region,” Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar declared. dad.
What is Kaan?
Work on Turkey’s ambitious fifth-generation aircraft officially began in late 2010, with the project led by Turkish Aerospace Industries and TUSAS Engine Industries (engine manufacturer General Electric licensed design) made.
The project received development and technical support from the UK group BAE Systems, and also relied on Eurofighter Typhoon engine manufacturer Eurojet and Rolls Royce to assist with the aircraft’s electrical equipment.
The Kaan program was officially announced in 2021 and is expected to be completed in 2029, roughly coinciding with the retirement of Turkey’s F-16 fighter fleet in the 2030s.
Preliminary specifications include one or two seat configurations, twin engines, advanced stealth features, latest generation avionics and radar…
Kaan is expected to be equipped with a series of air-to-air, air-to-ground missiles, bombs and radar/electronic warfare kits produced by Türkiye.
Unrealistic ambition
Commenting on Kaan, Major Andrei Krasnoperov, a veteran and military expert of the Russian Aerospace Forces, said: “Currently, Kaan has only run tests along the runway and it is too early to talk about the timing.” program success score”.
The major also pointed to Russia’s experience in developing the Sukhoi Su-57 jet.
“The fifth generation aircraft needs a long testing period. It must meet all the standards of the fifth generation aircraft,” the observer emphasized, pointing out features such as stealth capabilities ( i.e. absorption of radio waves) and speed.
“The announced speed of the Turkish plane is about 1,800 km/h. But that is what was planned….But in reality, things are not that simple.
The fifth generation aircraft must meet all the requirements for speed, avionics and all types of aeronautical equipment, along with stealth capabilities. However, currently the plane is only seen moving along the runway.
To prove that an aircraft has stealth capabilities and superior combat capabilities, it must at least successfully make its first flight. Otherwise, it will be too early to talk about the project’s success,” Krasnoperov said.
Russian Army Colonel and military analyst Viktor Litovkin also agreed with the above statement and said that it is difficult to talk about Kaan’s ultimate success at this stage and that talking about characteristics and prospects Kaan’s will only be possible when the plane takes off successfully.
“We have the Su-57, which made its first flight in 2010. But we currently only have about 15 of these aircraft in service, because we are still looking for advantages and disadvantages.” Its points, what needs improvement, especially the engine,” the Russian colonel said.
The problem for Kiev, as former Swedish Armed Forces officer Mikael Valterron told RIA on February 16 when discussing long-term security treaties with NATO countries, is that Ukraine urgently needs national equipment. prevent the West’s proxy war against Russia, not 10 years from now.
“It’s…an easy way out for NATO countries. They promised they would do a lot of things for Ukraine in the next 10 years but what’s important for Ukraine is what’s going to happen on the battlefield next year.” “, Mr. Valterron said.
Does Türkiye agree to sell stealth fighters to Kiev?
After all the technical issues come financial questions. Where will Kiev get the finances to buy fifth-generation fighter jets from Türkiye without NATO support? Would Ankara agree to sell aircraft to Ukraine before equipping its Air Force first?
Currently, Ankara plans to deliver the first 10 Block-1 Kaan jets to the Air Force between 2030 and 2033, and mass production of additional aircraft is planned for 2034-2040.
Mr. Viktor Litovkin said that Ambassador Bodnar’s comments about the plan to buy new fifth-generation jets are highly ambitious and unrealistic, unless Kiev envisions the current proxy war becoming a war. Hundred years of NATO against Russia.