Indonesia has signed a contract with Turkey to acquire 48 KAAN fighter jets, becoming the first confirmed international customer of the fifth-generation aircraft currently under development by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). The agreement was announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on June 11, 2025.
“As part of the agreement signed with our friendly and brotherly country, Indonesia, 48 KAAN fighter jets will be produced in Turkey and exported to Indonesia,” Erdogan said in a post on X.
Erdogan added that Indonesian industrial capabilities would be involved in the program, though further details on technology transfer or production roles have not yet been made public.
The announcement follows an earlier meeting between Erdogan and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in April 2025, during which defense cooperation and potential involvement in the KAAN program were reportedly discussed.
KAAN’s first international order
The KAAN, formerly known as TF-X, is designed as a fifth-generation multirole fighter with stealth features, internal weapons bays, AESA radar, supercruise, and advanced networking capabilities.
Initially envisioned in 2010, the program saw renewed momentum after Turkey was excluded from the US-led F-35 program in 2019 due to its procurement of the Russian S-400 air defense system. Since then, the KAAN has become a centerpiece of Turkey’s domestic fighter development ambitions.
Its first flight took place in February 2024. TAI plans to equip early production aircraft with General Electric F110 engines, with a switch to an indigenous powerplant targeted for the early 2030s. Deliveries to Indonesia are expected to begin in 2028.
Indonesia’s fragmented fighter procurement strategy
The KAAN acquisition adds to a complex and somewhat fragmented modernization strategy pursued by the Indonesian Air Force. Jakarta is currently engaged with multiple fighter jet programs, including a planned purchase of Rafale fighters from France and participation in South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae project.
During French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Jakarta on May 28, 2025, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu signed a letter of intent with Indonesia for a range of defense equipment. A report by La Tribune suggested Indonesia may acquire eight to 16 Rafale aircraft.
Indonesia is also a junior partner in South Korea’s KF-21 program but has faced criticism for delayed financial contributions, having paid only $437 million of an agreed $1.16 billion. This has led South Korea’s DAPA to slow technology transfer while awaiting payments. Meanwhile, the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet entered production on May 20, 2025, with the first unit in final assembly at Korea Aerospace Industries.
Export ambitions and questions ahead for Turkey’s first indigenous fighter jet
The KAAN deal reflects a broader shift in Turkey’s defense posture, from a country historically reliant on foreign suppliers to one increasingly developing and exporting its own military equipment. Over the past two decades, Ankara has invested heavily in building a domestic defense industrial base, aiming to reduce dependence on imported platforms and technologies.
While systems like drones, armored vehicles, and naval assets have already seen success on the export market, the KAAN represents a more complex and ambitious step into manned fighter jet production. The aircraft remains in development, with key milestones, such as achieving full operational capability, meeting certified production standards, and transitioning to an indigenous engine, still ahead.
