Turkey Strikes First Export Deal for KAAN Fighter Jets with Indonesia
Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed by Turkish officials, but local media reports cited by AP estimate the deal to be worth around $10 billion.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Turkey has secured its first international buyer for the domestically developed KAAN fighter jet, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announcing on Wednesday that 48 of the advanced aircraft will be exported to Indonesia, according to the Associated Press (AP).
The landmark defense deal, revealed by Erdoğan in a post on X, will see the fifth-generation KAAN jets manufactured in Turkey, while incorporating components from Indonesia’s own defense industry. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed by Turkish officials, but local media reports cited by AP estimate the deal to be worth around $10 billion.
“This agreement showcases the progress and achievements of our domestic and national defense industry,” Erdoğan said, commending Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s instrumental role in finalizing the deal. The announcement came during the Indo Defense 2025 Expo held in Jakarta.
Indonesia’s Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Turkish Defense Industry Secretary Haluk Görgün signed the agreement as part of the event, with President Subianto in attendance, AP reported. The deal marks a significant step in both nations’ efforts to bolster military cooperation and domestic arms production.
Subianto has made defense modernization a top national priority, aiming to equip the Indonesian military with submarines, frigates, and advanced fighter aircraft. “No sane nation wants war,” Subianto said in his speech at the arms expo. “But history has taught us that a nation that does not want to invest in its defense will lose its independence and become a slave nation.”
Indonesia’s Air Force currently operates a diverse fleet of foreign-made fighter jets, many of which are aging and in need of replacement or upgrades. The KAAN purchase aligns with Jakarta’s broader strategy to rejuvenate its military capabilities and strengthen local defense manufacturing, as highlighted by the AP.
The KAAN fighter jet, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), successfully completed its maiden flight in 2024. As Turkey’s first homegrown fifth-generation stealth fighter, KAAN is expected to enter service in 2028.
The deal also reflects growing economic and strategic ties between Turkey and Indonesia. Earlier this year, the two countries agreed to jointly establish a Baykar combat drone production facility in Indonesia.
Beyond Indonesia, Turkey’s KAAN fighter jet has attracted interest from other allies, including Pakistan and Azerbaijan, both of which maintain close defense relationships with Ankara.
As of Wednesday, Indonesia’s Defense Ministry had yet to officially confirm the financial scope of the agreement or offer additional details.
