Turkey's Home-Built Fighter is More than a Weapon

Take a look at this domestically produced Turkish delight the new 5th generation Tal Kaan MMU fighter jet. . It’s maiden flight on February 21st 2024 felt like a bold statement from the Eurasian country stating they didn’t need any of your foreign technology. What we’re observing right now is an increasing wave of domestically designed advanced fighter jets appearing around the world. This is because Countries are pursuing a concept known as military self-sufficiency where you are beholden to no foreign power for your defense. We’ll also learn how Advanced fighter programs are more than just weapons; they are a sign of national pride within your country and a strong symbol of deterrence against your would-be enemies. So What does the Kaan fighter jet’s mission and weapon systems tell us about their greater military strategy? What geopolitical and diplomatic factors lead to its development? I’m your average infantryman chris cappy fire off a foxtrot 2 at the like and subscribe button and lets find out.

Written by: Chris Cappy & Armando Duarte Galán
Edited by: Max

Turkey’s search for independence

With this comes the risk of return fire because one of their 3rd generation F-4 phantom jets was shot down by the Syrian air force. 3 years later a 4th generation Turkish F-16 shot down a Russian Su-24M near their border with Syria that they claimed had violated their air space. In 2023 alone the Turkish air force executed 128 air strikes inside northern Syria. So Considering how active their air force is in the feild it’s clear why from a combat tactical point of view it’s important. We’ll also dive into why it’s important on a political and operational level too later. Safe to say there is a lot riding on the program. To safely deliver ordnance in the modern world that’s lousy with anit-air defense, you need a 5th generation aircraft.

In the realm of military aviation, Turkey’s emergence as a player in indigenous fighter jet development has garnered significant international attention. Headlines covering the Kaan’s maiden flight included words and expressions like “impressive,” “history-shattering”, “a pivotal point”, and “a new titan takes into the skies”. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) designed the Kaan to reach all modern fighter performance benchmarks which includes: a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 to 2.2, a service ceiling of 55,000 ft, a range of 700 miles on internal fuel, and a tolerance for maneuvers exerting up to 9 Gs. What makes a fighter 5th gen as opposed to 4th gen? Low radar visibility, high agility and the ability to conduct network centric warfare. So far, only three countries have successfully developed a fifth-generation fighter: Russia, China and the US. Among them, only China and the US have managed to manufacture the fighters in significant numbers. So if Turkey becomes the fourth nation to develop a fifth-generation fighter, that’s no small feat.

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[picco_only]

As a Kurd, I feel the responsibility to fix one thing in your video, our country which is Türkiye is not in war with the Kurds. We are fighting with the terrorists called ypg-pkk. It doesn't matter that America distinguishes between those two, but we know and they internally know that these are the same terrorist organization. They are active in different countries though it doesn't change anything.

[operaatio]

US : Since you brought some S400s, we ain't selling you F35s
Turkey : Fine, I'll do it myself.

[Al.Avalin]

Турция молодцы ❤ Турецкий военно промышленный комплекс на высшем уровне ❤Турция доказали всему миру что они могут выпускать конкурентные вооружения ❤Всем мира и добра ❤❤❤

[emrememis]

We Turkish people have an idiom regarding this topic, “Bad landlord makes you buy a home”

[Worldshero]

For everyone who doesn’t know Turkish engineers helped design and had key roles in many 5th gen programs here in the USA. F135 engine for the f35 and the F119 engine for the F22. I worked with Turkish engineers daily on the engine line as I’m a jet engine mechanic on both of those platforms. I remember the day they were no longer working with us and out of the program but that’s after 10 or 15 years. I 1000% know they can build a good jet. Because they helped build ours.

[wisikahn]

Congrats Turkiye Air Force from Korea.

[climate-moneymakingcampaig]

I hope one day the world hear my heart words about turkey, im a history enthusiast and i fell in love with the history of turkey, this nations elites have always been on the side of peasants of the world and endured war and losses to maintain it, meanwhile they didnt need it

[Ghost-rooy]

You forgot to mention :
- Türkiye was also building the main body frame of the F35.
- It all started because the US refused to sell the Patriot system, even after years of negotiations. So Türkiye had to buy Russian equipment.

- Greece, which is also part of NATO, has bought Russian defense systems, but the US didn't bother. It was clearly targeting Türkiye to not let them have an effective defense system.

[killman]

Honestly being self sufficient in defense just seems like extremely basic "defense 101" stuff to me even if your in a military alliance. So i can't blame them for wanting the ability to defend themselves on their own.

[blinko]

If one thing being a military history nerd has taught me is NEVER underestimate the Turks

[FMG]

Hello. You used the phrase "Kurdish Forces" in the content. This is very wrong and misleading information. Turkish armed forces only fight against "PKK and YPG" terrorists. Millions of Turkish citizens of "Kurdish" origin in my country. We have thousands of citizens of "Kurdish" origin in the Turkish army. Turkish Armed Forces are fighting against Terrorists to whom the US government has provided thousands of trucks of weapons and training.

[mochi.]

Congrats Turkiye Air Force from Jordan.

[kennyjohnson]

Turkish people are great people, honest, and when say they mean it. I have many Turkish friend.

[delfean]

8:58 are we just gonna ignore the fact that there's a city called Batman?

[podcastler]

This is the whole summary of the s400 crisis. The Americans first tried to sell the old versions at a very high price, then when the s400 issue came up, this time Turkey asked for technology transfer, which was rejected, which I think was stupid. Today the US gives technology transfer to Israel and Korea, if Turkey had given some technology transfer for patriots, this would not have happened.

[mserhatgunes]

I am shocked with the quality of the followers of this channel. It is very rare these days to see such amount of logical comments.

[ametos]

Wow... This was the far most objective review of the MMU Kaan Project I've seen on YT. You did really great job reading both nation's interests&goals and how other international experts view about the project 👌Let's see if all this work and money spent on Kaan will pay off in the future of the Turkish Air Force

[Dave-tyqp]

Turkey has always been a stragic partmer with us and has been a good partner. They live in a tough neighborhood, and have mostly been the adult in the room. They probably just want our support, but not our control. Understandable. America hasn't been there for our partners interest in the past. I wish them luck.

[paulusmeyer]

Mostly people dont know That Turkey was working by F35 and F22 Jet engine. They are able to build self jet engine for Kaan fighter jet and could be not only 5. Generation could be 5.5 generation and 6. Generation fighter jet.
That is the realty that world dont know about it
They showed allready thems power and independent.
Be proud Turkey.

[manzoorhashmi]

Turkey's history is just brilliant. From tribes to castle to mansions.Osman bey built the foundation of state and orhan bey was the first sultan called sultan orhan who conquered bursa.Then, sultan mehmat fateh conquered Constantine and now they become from land to the sky i.e, from horses to fighter jets.JUST MIND BLOWING.