Turkey finalizes contract to sell KAAN fighter jets to Indonesia
In a significant milestone for Turkish aerospace, the serial production of the KAAN stealth multirole fighter is set to commence in 2028. This announcement follows the finalization of a defense agreement between Turkey and Indonesia on July 26, 2025, during the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul. The deal, valued at approximately $10 billion, marks a significant leap for Turkey's defense industry [1][2][3][4][5].
The agreement, which includes the sale of 48 KAAN fighter jets to Indonesia, also encompasses technology transfer and the establishment of new production and development facilities in Indonesia. This comprehensive partnership is aimed at fostering industrial collaboration and localization efforts [1][3][5].
Indonesia becomes the first international customer for Turkey’s domestically developed fifth-generation fighter jet, the KAAN. The aircraft, which has been in development for nearly a decade, was officially revealed in 2023 [1][3][5].
The Kaan jet completed its first test flight in early 2024. As part of the production process, there are three prototypes of the KAAN jet. One will be used for land tests, while the other two are expected to fly as of April 2026, with the second prototype flying in April and the third in July of the same year [1][2].
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) will lead the industrial cooperation and localization efforts for the KAAN fighter jet project. Early production models will utilise General Electric F110 engines, with plans to switch to a Turkish-made engine within the next decade [3].
Mehmet Demiroğlu, CEO of TUSAS, stated that there will be some surprises regarding the KAAN project [6]. The aircraft will be delivered to Indonesia over a 10-year timeline, with the first deliveries expected in 2028 [1][5].
This sets a significant precedent as it marks Indonesia as the launch export customer for a Turkish fifth-generation combat aircraft. The growing collaboration between Turkey and Indonesia across multiple defense programs is evident in this historic deal [2].
References:
- Anadolu Agency
- Defense News
- Defense Aerospace
- Tai
- Hurriyet Daily News
- Daily Sabah
The initial sale of 48 KAAN fighter jets to Indonesia is expected to stimulate the growth of Turkey's aerospace industry, as the deal encompasses technology transfer and the establishment of new production facilities in Indonesia. The comprehensive partnership aims to foster industrial collaboration and localization efforts, with Indonesia becoming the historic first international customer for Turkey’s domestically developed fifth-generation fighter jet, the KAAN.
