Turkey is developing, under the MMU (Turkish acronym for National Combat Aircraft) program, its own fifth-generation fighter aircraft to replace its F-16s beyond 2030/2035.
The first MMU prototype rolled out of the hangar for the first time yesterday, to begin its runway taxi tests. Today it went back out in the open air and Ismail Demir, the chairman of the Defense Industry Agency, released the first good quality photos of the Turkish fighter on the runway.
The MMU rollout ceremony is planned for tomorrow, an event that will be attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, senior government representatives and local and international press envoys.
If the forecasts are met and no problems arise, the maiden flight of the first prototype should take place by year’s end.
