President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced Wednesday that Türkiye will export 48 KAAN fifth-generation fighter jets to Indonesia, marking a major milestone in the country’s defense and aerospace industry.

The announcement came alongside the signing of a landmark defense agreement between Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Indonesian authorities at the Indo Defence 2025 Expo, Asia-Pacific's largest defense exhibition, held in Jakarta.

“Under the agreement signed with our friendly and brotherly nation, Indonesia, 48 KAAN jets will be produced in Türkiye and exported to Indonesia,” Erdoğan stated via the social media platform X, adding that Indonesia's local capabilities would also contribute to the project.

A Decade in the Making

KAAN, Türkiye's first indigenously developed fifth-generation combat aircraft, has been in development since 2016 under the TF-X national fighter jet project. The jet was unveiled in 2023 and completed its maiden flight in February 2024. Serial production is set to begin in 2028.

Developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries, the KAAN jet positions Türkiye among a select group of nations with the capacity to design and build fifth-generation warplanes — joining the ranks of the U.S., Russia, and China.

Technical Features and Strategic Goals

Initially powered by General Electric F-110 engines, the same used in the Lockheed Martin F-16s, the KAAN is expected to transition to domestically produced engines in future production phases. The aircraft is designed for air-to-air combat and precision strike missions, featuring internal weapon bays, stealth capabilities, supersonic speeds, and AI-assisted targeting and decision systems.

KAAN is set to replace Türkiye’s aging fleet of F-16s beginning in the 2030s, a move aimed at enhancing national defense autonomy and export potential.

Strengthening Bilateral Defense Ties

The agreement reflects growing defense cooperation between Türkiye and Indonesia, both emerging as regional powers with ambitions to strengthen indigenous military capabilities. In April, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto expressed his country’s interest in joining Türkiye’s fighter jet program, a step that now appears to be materializing.

Ankara has consistently emphasized its openness to collaborating with allied and friendly nations in strategic defense projects. The KAAN deal represents not only a commercial success but also a diplomatic win for Türkiye’s expanding defense diplomacy.

With this agreement, Türkiye not only cements its status as a global defense exporter but also deepens its strategic partnership with Indonesia in a region where technological sovereignty and regional security are increasingly prioritized. (ILKHA)