In a significant milestone for Turkey's aerospace industry, the country's first domestically produced fighter jet, named Kaan, has completed its maiden flight. The successful test flight, which occurred at Akinci air base, saw the aircraft reaching an altitude of 8,000 feet in just 13 minutes.

The development of the Kaan fighter jet represents over a decade of effort by the Turkish Air Force to create a fifth-generation combat aircraft. Turkey's aspirations are aimed at eventually replacing its existing F-16 fleet with fifth-generation fighter jets. The completion of Kaan's maiden flight is seen as a crucial step forward in Turkey's pursuit of advanced military capabilities.

Turkish Aerospace Industries confirmed the successful flight on Wednesday, a move that has been lauded by President Recep Erdogan as clearing a "very critical stage" in Turkey's journey towards producing its own fifth-generation warplane. The achievement is expected to inspire confidence among allies and instill fear in adversaries.

The milestone comes after Turkey was removed from the US-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2019 due to its purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system. This decision cost Turkey an estimated $9 billion over the life of the program, with the US halting the transfer of F-35 jets to Turkey and expelling all Turkish personnel involved in the program.

While the future of Turkey's involvement in the F-35 program remains uncertain, the successful maiden flight of the Kaan fighter jet signals progress towards establishing Turkey as a key player in the development and production of advanced military technology. The road to fielding this homegrown fifth-generation fighter may still be years ahead, but Turkey's recent achievements mark a significant leap towards that goal.