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By Amira El-Fekki
Middle East News Reporter
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Turkey's first homegrown fifth-generation fighter plane, KAAN, from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), is generating increased global attention and buying interest, according to defense publications.
Newsweek has reached out to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for comment.
Why It Matters
Turkey's exclusion from the F-35 program in 2019 over its purchase of Russian S-400s accelerated its drive for strategic autonomy and potential competition with the U.S.-made F-35 and F-22. Turkey is already becoming an increasingly important exporter of drones.
Read More on World
Turkey's rising role, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, could change global defense dynamics.
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What To Know
Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and Indonesia have shown interest in the KAAN fighter jet program, Mehmet Demiroglu, CEO of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) said this week, according to the Bulgarian Military News.
He added that the agreement phase has been reached with some countries, according to the Defense Mirror.
According to TAI's website, KAAN achieves air superiority with long-range strikes, internal weapons, supersonic speed, and artificial intelligence enhanced combat power. It performed its maiden flight in February 2024.
Demiroglu announced earlier this year that both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have shown interest in the KAAN fighter jet project. While Saudi Arabia may be looking to acquire 100 jets, the UAE's interest lies in the program itself, with potential for joint platform development, according to Forbes.
U.S. Curbs Alienate Allies
The UAE's planned purchase of U.S.-made F-35s—following the signing of the Abraham Accords—was cancelled due to concerns about the UAE's military ties with China under the Biden administration. A recent report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) also noted that the UAE has been a major recipient of Chinese arms exports.
Saudi Arabia, still distant from normalizing ties with Israel, signed $142 billion arms during Trump's recent visit, but uncertainty over F-35s is driving it to seek alternatives to American defense reliance.
"This shift is driven by complex political dynamics, especially with US restrictions on the sale of advanced fighters such as the F-35 and Washington's prioritization of maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge," Ali Bakir, nonresident senior fellow with the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council's Middle East programs, wrote in January.
Although Trump's Gulf allies have recently secured more arms deals, the U.S. is not viewed as the sole supplier. Arms restrictions have pushed other traditional U.S. allies such as Egypt, which borders Israel, to look to China for advanced fighter jets.
What People Are Saying
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) CEO Mehmet, as quoted by the Defense Mirror: "Saudi Arabia has been interested for a long time, their interest is at the highest level right now. the Indonesian side is also doing well."
What Happens Next
Turkey's new fighter aircraft aims at replacing the Turkish Air Force's aging F-16s starting in the 2030s.
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