In the inaugural flight of KAAN, it reached a speed of 230 knots! President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made statements after the first flight of the National Combat Aircraft KAAN. President Erdoğan stated, "Our national combat aircraft Kaan successfully completed its first flight this morning. Thus, Turkey has passed a critical milestone in producing its own 5th generation fighter jet." indicating a significant moment in Turkish aviation history. When KAAN enters service, we will gain a new strategic capability. President Erdoğan also stated regarding the matter:

"Despite the self-confident naysayers who said 'they can't do it' and the indigestible critics who said 'it looks like a radiator,' our national combat aircraft, thankfully, took to the skies today, despite collaborators trying to undermine the Kaan project from the very beginning.

We will intensify our efforts to swiftly complete the remaining tests of our Kaan, which instills trust in friends and fear in enemies.

In the coming period, we will continue to deliver new good news to our nation in the defense industry."

The National Combat Aircraft KAAN, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), conducted its first flight on February 21, 2024, in the morning hours in Ankara. During the first flight, it remained in the air for 13 minutes, reaching a speed of 230 knots at an altitude of 8000 feet. Prior to the first flight, KAAN underwent ejection seat tests, full-scale static tests, inertial and static tests of control surfaces, landing gear deployment tests, avionic system tests in the system integration laboratory, and fuel tests. These tests were completed by the end of 2023. After high-speed taxi tests, approval was given for the first flight. The project moved to a new phase with the historic first flight, recorded as a proud day in Turkish aviation history. Two more test aircraft are being produced in the project, with one expected to be ready by mid-2024. The first delivery to the Turkish Air Force is planned for 2028. TUSAŞ CEO Temel Kotil, stating that KAAN will be a stealth fighter jet, mentioned that a special coating was developed by TUSAŞ to absorb radar waves, but this coating was not included in the first flight as it is still in the testing phase.

KAAN's request for domestic production of U.S.-origin engines According to a report by Bloomberg, Turkey requested permission from the United States to jointly produce GE Aerospace engines used in F-16 fighter jets for use in the National Combat Aircraft KAAN. In this context, KAAN currently utilizes GE-produced F110 engines.

As part of the National Combat Aircraft project, the first batch of F110 engines for prototypes was delivered in 2022. Speaking at the 9th Air and Avionics Systems Seminar, SSB Aircraft Department Head Abdurrahman Şeref CAN stated that the F110 engines were delivered to Turkey by the U.S. and six F110 engines were procured for use in the first 3 KAAN prototypes.