Türkiye to export 48 KAAN fighter jets to Indonesia, President Erdogan announces

Türkiye will produce and export 48 fighter jets, named KAAN, to Indonesia under a new defense agreement, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Wednesday.

In a post on X, Erdogan hailed contributors to the KAAN project, particularly the Secretariat of Defense Industries (SSB) and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), as a record export deal is signed.

Indonesia's local capabilities will be utilized in the production of KAAN, he said.

"I hope this agreement, which highlights the progress and achievements of our domestic and national defense industry, will be beneficial for both Türkiye and Indonesia," Erdogan added.

KAAN, a 5th-gen fighter jet by TAI, made its maiden flight last year at 230 knots and 8,000 feet.

Türkiye is now among the few nations with this advanced tech.

According to a statement from TAI, the deal for 48-unit fighter jets was signed in the capital Jakarta, as part of the defense industries event INDO Defense 2025.

Under the deal, 48 KAAN fighter jets will be delivered within 120 months, TAI said, adding that the KAAN jets to be delivered will be equipped with engines manufactured domestically in Türkiye.

The agreement will cover not only the delivery of KAAN but also technology transfer to Indonesia in the field of aviation.

The agreement will also aim to promote knowledge sharing and the development of local capabilities through strategic cooperation between Türkiye and Indonesia.

Haluk Gorgun, the president of the SSB, said on X: "In our aviation journey spanning over a century, we are now proud to share our 5th generation fighter jet with friendly countries."

The signature of Turkish engineering is now shaping the global security architecture, he stressed.

This project, led by TAI as the main contractor and carried out in collaboration with Indonesia's leading defense industry firms, will serve as one of the most concrete examples of joint production, technology sharing, and strategic cooperation, Gorgun said.

"We will continue to work as an industry toward achieving even greater heights and beyond," he said.

Mehmet Demiroglu, the general manager of TAI, said that with this agreement, Türkiye is now becoming a source of trust for its friends and allies.

The rise of KAAN is a testament to Türkiye's global vision, self-confidence, and engineering prowess, he added.