Ankara, June 11, 2025 — Indonesia has signed a contract with Turkey to procure 48 KAAN fifth-generation fighter jets, becoming the first international buyer of the aircraft currently under development by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). The agreement was formally announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan via social media on Tuesday.
“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,” President Erdoğan stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The announcement signals the first confirmed export order for the KAAN program and marks a significant milestone for Turkey’s indigenous defense manufacturing ambitions.
While Erdoğan noted that Indonesia’s defense industry will be involved in the program, details regarding technology transfer, industrial participation, or potential local production have yet to be disclosed.
Strategic Partnership Emerges Following High-Level Talks
The contract follows bilateral discussions held in April 2025 between Erdoğan and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, during which defense cooperation and Indonesia’s potential involvement in the KAAN program were reportedly explored. The agreement positions Indonesia as a strategic partner in one of Turkey’s most advanced defense initiatives to date.
About the KAAN Fighter Jet Program
Previously known as TF-X, the KAAN is Turkey’s flagship fifth-generation multirole fighter aircraft project. Designed to incorporate stealth technology, advanced avionics, AESA radar, internal weapons carriage, and supercruise capability, the aircraft aims to fulfill both air-to-air and air-to-ground roles.
The program gained momentum after Turkey’s exclusion from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2019, following its acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system. Since then, KAAN has become central to Ankara’s efforts to establish a self-reliant and export-capable aerospace sector.
The aircraft completed its maiden flight in February 2024, and initial production models are expected to be powered by General Electric F110 engines, with a transition to an indigenous engine projected in the early 2030s. Deliveries to Indonesia are anticipated to begin in 2028.
Indonesia’s Expanding and Complex Fighter Fleet
The KAAN acquisition adds another layer to Indonesia’s multifaceted and sometimes fragmented fighter procurement strategy. Jakarta is currently engaged in parallel procurement efforts, including:
- A planned purchase of Rafale multirole fighters from France
- Ongoing participation in South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae program as a junior partner
During a state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron on May 28, 2025, France and Indonesia signed a letter of intent encompassing various defense acquisitions. Reports, including one from La Tribune, suggest Indonesia may acquire between 8 and 16 Rafale jets.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s commitment to the KF-21 program has faced scrutiny due to delays in financial contributions. As of mid-2025, Indonesia has paid only $437 million of a committed $1.16 billion, prompting South Korea’s DAPA to slow down aspects of technology transfer. Despite this, the first production KF-21 entered final assembly at Korea Aerospace Industries on May 20, 2025.
Turkey’s Export Ambitions and the Road Ahead for KAAN
The KAAN contract with Indonesia highlights Turkey’s growing role as a defense exporter, transitioning from a historically import-dependent nation to a producer of advanced military platforms. Over the past two decades, Turkey has significantly expanded its defense industrial base, achieving export success with drones, armored vehicles, and naval platforms.
The KAAN represents a more ambitious leap into manned fighter jet production, a domain traditionally dominated by established aerospace powers. Despite the export success, the program remains in development, with several key milestones ahead:
- Achieving full operational capability
- Meeting international certification standards
- Transitioning to a domestically produced engine
If successfully delivered, the KAAN will not only represent a new capability for the Indonesian Air Force, but also a major strategic and commercial breakthrough for Turkey’s defense industry.
Turkey TAI TF-X Fighter Jet by Talhaaisk
