Saudi Arabia Eyes Investment in Türkiye’s Kaan Fighter Jet Program

The potential Saudi partnership would mark a significant expansion of defence cooperation between Ankara and Riyadh, while reinforcing Türkiye’s push for strategic autonomy in advanced military aviation.

Erdoğan Signals Imminent Decision

Speaking to journalists on Thursday while returning from official visits to Egypt and Saudi Arabia, President Erdoğan said defence industry cooperation with Riyadh was entering a new phase.

“We are signing significant defence industry cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia, and we are determined to further strengthen them,” Erdoğan said.
He added that a joint investment in the Kaan fighter jet program was under active consideration and “could be realised at any moment.”

Kaan Program Accelerated After F-35 Exit

Türkiye has been developing the Kaan fifth-generation fighter jet since 2010, but the program gained momentum after Ankara was removed from the US-led F-35 project in 2019. The decision followed Türkiye’s purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system, which also triggered US congressional sanctions.

Since then, Ankara has prioritized the Kaan program as a cornerstone of its long-term air power strategy.

Growing International Interest

International interest in the aircraft has steadily increased. In June, Indonesia signed a deal to purchase 48 Kaan fighter jets in an agreement valued at more than $10 billion. The 10-year deal includes the co-production of certain Kaan components in Indonesia.

Qatar and Azerbaijan have also publicly expressed interest in acquiring the aircraft, according to Turkish officials, as Ankara looks to broaden the program’s financial base and export reach.

Technical Development and Engine Challenges

Kaan completed its maiden flight in February 2024, flying with two General Electric F110-GE-129 engines—the same engines used on Turkish F-16 fighter jets. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), the lead contractor on the project, is developing a domestically produced engine to replace foreign powerplants in future variants.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said last year that the US Congress had blocked the delivery of F110-GE-129 engines intended for the first batch of Kaan aircraft, underlining the strategic importance of engine localization.

Delivery Timeline and Outlook

TAI aims to deliver the first Kaan jet to the Turkish Air Force by the end of 2028, though some defence analysts caution that the timeline could slip to 2030.

Under current plans, the first 10 Kaan Block-1 fighter jets are scheduled for delivery between 2030 and 2033. A Saudi investment could help stabilize funding, mitigate delays, and accelerate production as Türkiye positions Kaan as a flagship of its defence exports.