Affordable Kaan fighter jet from Turkey gains attention as financially viable substitute for F-35, according to a recent report
Turkey's Kaan Fifth-Generation Stealth Fighter Jet: A Game Changer in the Global Defense Landscape
Turkey's homegrown Kaan fifth-generation stealth fighter jet is making significant strides in its development, with multiple prototypes undergoing evaluation and a promising future in the global defense market.
The Kaan aircraft, designed with advanced stealth features, multirole capabilities, and a digital backbone for sensor fusion and real-time battlefield data integration, completed its maiden flight on February 21, 2024, reaching 8,000 feet at 230 knots. Turkey aims to replace aging aircraft in its own air force, such as the F-16 and F-4, with the Kaan from 2030 onward, forming the backbone of its air combat capabilities.
The sixth prototype was procured by Turkey in mid-2025 for critical testing, including stress and avionics tests, with the goal of achieving full operational capability and phased induction into the Turkish Air Force starting in 2028. By 2029, production is expected to ramp to two aircraft per month, producing over 100 Kaans for Turkey's use through the 2030s.
Regarding exports, Turkey has secured multiple promising markets. Indonesia became the first foreign customer in June 2025, ordering 48 Kaan jets as part of a significant defense deal. Egypt received official approval in mid-2025 to join the Kaan program as a co-producer, marking an expanded defense partnership which includes technology transfer, collaborative production, and future procurement plans. Saudi Arabia has expressed interest, reportedly eyeing purchase quantities around 100 aircraft, indicating strong Gulf market potential.
The Kaan is positioned to rival other fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35, Su-57, and J-20, featuring stealth coatings, a low radar cross-section, internal weapons bays maintaining stealth, and advanced avionics. It has a maximum speed of around Mach 1.8, exceeding the F-35's Mach 1.6, and a range over 3,000 km. Currently, it operates with a General Electric F110 engine, but Turkey aims to replace it with a fully indigenous, high-thrust, fuel-efficient engine using local advanced materials and technology by 2032.
The Kaan project, initiated in 2010, was awarded to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) as the main contractor. The success of the Kaan program not only reshapes Turkey's role in the global defense landscape, but as a competitive supplier, it positions Turkey to fill the market gap created by the U.S. hesitation to transfer advanced systems to Middle Eastern allies.
President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia has expressed his country's intent to cooperate with Turkey not only on the Kaan aircraft but also in submarine development. Other potential markets include Ukraine and Azerbaijan, countries looking to phase out Soviet-era aircraft and integrate into NATO-compatible ecosystems, who could potentially buy the Kaan aircraft.
By 2028, the Turkish Air Force is set to receive the first deliveries of the Kaan aircraft, marking a new era for its air force and Turkey's emergence as a significant player in the advanced fighter jet export market.
- The Kaan fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, designed and developed in Ankara, Turkey, could potentially threaten the market dominance of NATO's F-35 fifth-generation fighter jet, especially considering Turkey's planned production of over 100 Kaan jets by 2029.
- In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has shown interest in the Turkish Kaan aircraft, expressing a possible interest in purchasing around 100 fighter jets, highlighting the strong Gulf market potential.
- Beyond the Kaan aircraft, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto has expressed interest in cooperating with Turkey on submarine development, potentially expanding Turkey's role in the global defense market.
- As Turkey aims to replace aging aircraft like the F-16 and F-4 with the Kaan, the government under President Erdogan has also shared the Kaan's technology with Egypt, signifying an expanded defense partnership between the two countries.
- In the long run, Turkey hopes to produce a fully indigenous, high-thrust, and fuel-efficient engine for the Kaan aircraft, using local advanced materials and technology by 2032, further solidifying Turkey's position in the global defense industry and technology sector.
