The European defense press has put KAAN, the flagship of the Turkish aviation industry, under the spotlight. The Spanish defense analysis platform Defensa y Seguridad, in its comprehensive dossier titled "KAAN: Turkish Passion or the New Black Horse of the Aeronautical Board," described Türkiye's 5th-generation fighter jet project as an "unexpected success." The article defined KAAN not as an alternative to the F-35, but as a force multiplier designed for Air Dominance, playing in the same league as the American F-22 Raptor.
The successful first flight of the National Combat Aircraft KAAN and its speed in the prototyping process continue to resonate in the world press. Finally, the Spanish Defensa y Seguridad published a remarkable analysis examining the KAAN project from technical, industrial, and geopolitical perspectives. The metaphor Caballo Negro (Dark Horse) used in the article was the expression that best summarized Türkiye's position in the aviation league.
The Surprise Leader of the Race: The Dark Horse Metaphor
The term Dark Horse, used in the title of the article, is used in racing and politics to describe competitors who are given no chance, stay in the background, but surprisingly win by overtaking the favorites at the end of the race.
Spanish analysts emphasize that Türkiye has stepped onto the stage like a Dark Horse with KAAN at the 5th-generation fighter jet table dominated by giants like the USA, Russia, and China. According to the analysis, Türkiye played its strongest card with its unique design at a moment when everyone thought aviation dreams were over after being removed from the F-35 program.
KAAN In the Class of F-22, Not F-35
The most striking technical part of the analysis regards the classification of KAAN. Contrary to the Turkish F-35 analogy frequently made in the Western media, Spanish experts draw attention to KAAN's dimensions and mission definition, making the following determination:
"With its dimensions and twin-engine structure, KAAN is much larger and more imposing than the F-35. With its design philosophy and the 'Air Dominance' role it undertakes, it plays in the same league as the US Air Force's most elite aircraft, the F-22 Raptor."
This determination is of great importance in explaining to the international public that KAAN is not just a bombardment platform, but a hunter that will hunt enemy aircraft in the air and dominate the airspace.
F-35 Embargo Turned into a Blessing
The article argues that Türkiye's removal from the F-35 program following the S-400 purchase was not a destruction for the Turkish defense industry, but rather created a catalyst effect.
According to the author; TUSAŞ's (TAI) massive engineering infrastructure and production capability turned this moment of crisis into an opportunity. The necessity for Türkiye to build its own aircraft accelerated the schedule of the KAAN project, and instead of a country dependent on the F-35, a game maker producing its own technology emerged.
Not Just a Plane, A Geopolitical Message
Defensa y Seguridad interprets KAAN not just as a machine made of metal and composite, but as the embodiment of Türkiye's claim to be a regional power.
Analizde, “KAAN, Türk tutkusunun ve stratejik bağımsızlık arzusunun gökyüzündeki yansımasıdır” ifadelerine yer verilirken, bu projenin tamamlanmasıyla Türkiye’nin sadece kendi hava sahasını korumakla kalmayıp, küresel silah pazarında ABD ve Rusya’ya alternatif arayan ülkeler için de yeni bir kapı yani sürpriz at olacağı öngörülüyor.
