In a landmark moment for the Turkish defense industry, Türkiye and Indonesia have finalized a major defense agreement for the sale of 48 KAAN fighter jets, marking the first international export of Türkiye’s indigenous fifth-generation warplane. The deal was officially signed on Saturday during the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul.
The agreement positions Indonesia as the first buyer of the KAAN, a next-generation combat aircraft developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). The deal, which includes delivery of the jets over a 10-year period, is estimated to be worth around $10 billion, according to Turkish media reports. Financial terms have not yet been publicly disclosed.
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz celebrated the milestone in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), crediting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership and political stability for enabling such large-scale projects. “May our national combat aircraft KAAN agreement with Indonesia be auspicious,” Yılmaz said, praising the collaboration and thanking all parties involved.

The deal extends beyond just aircraft delivery. As part of a broader industrial partnership, new production facilities are expected to be established in Indonesia to support localization efforts. TAI, which already maintains a presence in the country, will work closely with Indonesian partners to enhance local capabilities and transfer critical defense technology.
The KAAN jet represents the pinnacle of Türkiye’s defense innovation—a fifth-generation stealth fighter developed over nearly a decade. First revealed to the public in 2023, KAAN completed its maiden test flight in early 2024. It features advanced avionics, stealth capabilities, internal weapons bays, and is designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations.

According to project insiders, the second and third KAAN prototypes are currently in development, with test flights scheduled for April and July 2026. These updated versions will include internal weapons bays, aerial refueling systems, and refined aerodynamic design tweaks aimed at improving performance and stealth characteristics.
Serial production of the KAAN is expected to begin in 2028, signaling Türkiye’s entry into the elite club of countries capable of producing fifth-generation fighter jets. The deal with Indonesia not only cements KAAN’s role as a strategic defense platform but also reflects Türkiye’s growing influence in the global defense market.

This agreement marks a significant leap in defense diplomacy and industrial cooperation between Ankara and Jakarta, opening the door for deeper ties and future collaborations in aerospace and defense technology.
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