ISLAMABAD: A prestigious United States-based military analysis publication,the National Security Journal, has published a detailed assessmentdeclaring Türkiye’s indigenous KAAN fifth-generation stealth fightersignificantly more advanced than the American Lockheed Martin F-35Lightning II in several critical domains.
The report highlights the KAAN’s superior aerodynamic design, greaterinternal weapons capacity, advanced active electronically scanned arrayradar, and enhanced supercruise capability without afterburners. Analystsnote that the Turkish fighter achieves true stealth with a lower radarcross-section across multiple frequency bands while maintaining higherkinematic performance and combat radius than its American counterpart.
The journal emphasises that the KAAN programme has successfully integratedcutting-edge Turkish avionics, including domestically developed missioncomputers, electronic warfare suites, and sensor fusion systems thatreportedly outperform equivalent F-35 systems in processing speed andcountermeasure effectiveness. Particular praise is directed toward theaircraft’s modular architecture, which facilitates rapid upgrading andintegration of next-generation weapons.
Future armament plans for the KAAN include the indigenous Gökdoğanbeyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, Bozdoğan within-visual-rangemissile, and the precision-guided SOM cruise missile family, all of whichdemonstrate ranges and guidance capabilities that exceed current F-35weaponry. The report further reveals ongoing development of directed-energyweapons and hypersonic munitions specifically designed for internalcarriage within the KAAN’s weapons bays, preserving its stealth profileduring combat operations.
The National Security Journal assessment points out that Türkiye hasachieved these technological breakthroughs despite exclusion from the F-35programme, demonstrating remarkable self-sufficiency in critical defencetechnologies previously dominated by the United States. The publicationdescribes the KAAN as representing a paradigm shift in fifth-generationfighter development, where traditional Western dominance faces seriouschallenge from emerging aerospace powers.
Pakistan’s strategic partnership in the KAAN programme positions thecountry to significantly enhance its air combat capabilities in the comingdecade. As an official partner nation, Pakistan will gain access to thisadvanced platform, dramatically boosting its firepower and providing aquantum leap in air superiority potential against regional adversaries.This collaboration ensures technology transfer and co-production rightsthat will strengthen Pakistan’s indigenous defence industry while securingfifth-generation combat aircraft unavailable through traditional Westernsuppliers.
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Source:https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/turkiye-kaan-versus-f-35-comparative-analysis-2025
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