Türkiye and Indonesia have made official their plan to work together to develop, produce, and export the fifth-generation KAAN combat aircraft.
During the Indo Defence 2024 Expo & Forum in Jakarta, an agreement was made between the Presidency of Defence Industries of Türkiye (SSB) and the Ministry of Defence of Indonesia. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Indonesian President Praboo Subianto and attended by Turkish Ambassador Achmad Rizal Purnama, SSB President Haluk Görgün, and other senior officials.
The agreement includes working together to produce and share technology for the KAAN fighter jet. The KAAN is Turkey’s first combat aircraft developed domestically that is fifth generation. This deal means that Indonesia is now officially part of the KAAN program. It is doing this through its government-owned aerospace company, PT Dirgantara Indonesia.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan shared on social media that Türkiye will make 48 KAAN fighter jets and send them to Indonesia. He said that the agreement will also include Indonesia’s ability to produce things in the country in the plan for the project.
Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır praised the agreement, saying it was an important step in the “Türkiye Century” vision. He also talked about how it will be important in the global defense arena.
Trade Minister Ömer Bolat said that the deal was a big success in exports, and an example of how countries can work together to make weapons and plan their defense.
Haluk Görgün, the president of the Defense Industry Agency, shared key details about the delivery schedule for Türkiye’s fifth-generation KAAN fighter jet.
“We plan to deliver the first KAAN in the 48th month,” he stated. “The full delivery process is scheduled over 84 months. In the initial phase, 48 aircraft will be produced, with the option to increase the order to 60 units.”
This delivery framework is a significant step toward realizing Türkiye’s ambition of fielding a domestically developed, next-generation combat aircraft and reflects the nation’s growing defense capabilities.
Deliveries to Expect Over the Next 10 Years
The signing ceremony on June 11 was also attended by TUSAŞ Board Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan, CEO Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu, Deputy Minister of National Defense Şuay Alpay, and Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) will be the main contractor for the project.
The delivery of 48 KAAN jets is scheduled to be completed within 120 months (10 years). The aircraft will have engines developed in Indonesia, and there will be plans to share technology and build up local production in Indonesia.
KAAN is seen as one of the most significant advancements in Turkish aviation history. As President Erdoğan said, this agreement is also one of the biggest defense export contracts in the country’s history.
