ANKARA- Turkey has signed a contract with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the first batch of 20 indigenous KAAN stealth fighter jets. The aircraft will be delivered to the Turkish Air Force between 2028 and 2030, with operations supported by airbases near Ankara (ESB) and Istanbul (IST).
The deal follows an earlier export contract signed with Indonesia in June 2025 for 48 KAAN aircraft. That agreement, reportedly valued at around $10 billion, includes deliveries connected to Jakarta (CGK) beginning within two years and concluding over a decade.
Turkey’s First Production Order for KAAN
The contract represents the first production order for Turkey’s domestically developed fifth-generation fighter program. TAI CEO Mehmet Demiroglu confirmed the initial sale covers 20 Block 10 aircraft, with further orders anticipated as the program scales.
According to Turkish outlet ULU Savunma, deliveries will run from 2028 through 2030, supporting the Turkish Air Force’s modernization roadmap. The KAAN program is positioned to gradually replace the aging F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet currently in service.
Demiroglu stated that the deal marks only the first order, with production volumes expected to grow as the platform reaches operational maturity and additional variants enter service.
Engine Configuration and Future Upgrades
The initial batch of 20 aircraft will be powered by two General Electric F110-GE-129 engines per airframe. These powerplants offer proven reliability and performance for early operational use of the platform.
Turkey plans to transition future KAAN variants to domestically developed engines as part of its broader push for aerospace self-sufficiency. The shift to indigenous powerplants is expected to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and strengthen the country’s defense industrial base, Breaking Defense News reported.
Indonesia’s $10 Billion KAAN Order
Indonesia became the first international customer for the KAAN platform in June 2025, signing an agreement for 48 aircraft. The contract is reportedly worth approximately $10 billion, making it one of the largest defense export deals in Turkey’s history.
Deliveries to Indonesia are scheduled to begin within two years of the contract signing and will conclude over a 10-year period. The export order reflects growing international interest in alternatives to Western fifth-generation fighter platforms.
About the KAAN Stealth Fighter
The TAI KAAN is a fifth-generation, twin-engine multirole fighter designed for air superiority and precision-strike missions. The aircraft incorporates stealth shaping, advanced sensor fusion, and network-centric warfare systems for operations in contested airspace.
Development of the KAAN began in 2010 as part of Turkey’s strategy to replace its F-16 fleet with an indigenous platform. The aircraft conducted its maiden flight in February 2024, marking a significant milestone in the program’s testing and validation phase.
Integration of weapon systems and avionics continues in phases, with each block introducing expanded operational capabilities.
Weapons Integration
The internal weapons bays of the KAAN are designed to accommodate a range of indigenous Turkish munitions. These include the Gökdoğan medium to long-range air-to-air missile and the Bozdoğan short-range air-to-air missile, both developed for modern air combat scenarios.
The aircraft is also planned to carry the Gökhan missile and SOM-J cruise missile, providing flexibility across air-to-air and precision-strike missions. Internal carriage of these weapons supports the KAAN’s low-observable profile during high-threat operations.
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