Exuberant after “finalizing” an export deal for its KAAN fighter jet with Indonesia, Turkey has indicated that it is in talks with several other prospective buyers. But here’s a catch: While Turkey is building on the success of the maiden agreement, Jakarta says it is yet to finalize a contract for KAAN.
Mehmet Demiroglu, CEO of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), recently told reporters at the Paris Air Show 2025 that negotiations for export are ongoing with multiple countries, adding, “I don’t want to name names, but I can say from the Gulf. Nothing is finalized yet. I hope we hear news as big as Indonesia this year or early next year.”
While the CEO did not name the Gulf countries in question, previous reports have indicated that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have shown interest in the Turkish aircraft as an alternative to the American F-35 Lightning II, which they have been unsuccessful in acquiring due to the US administration’s reservations.
Last year, local Turkish media reports indicated that Saudi Arabia was mulling the purchase of at least 100 KAAN fighter jets. Representatives from both sides met in December 2024 to discuss an array of defense projects, including KAAN. On the other hand, the UAE showed interest in the IDEX 2025 defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi in February 2025.
Speaking at the IDEX 2025, the TAI chief also discussed the potential for Saudi Arabia’s participation in the KAAN program and expressed hope that other countries, including the UAE, could also join the ambitious project.
In addition, Turkey’s close allies—Azerbaijan and Pakistan—have also reportedly been keen on the acquisition of the aircraft. During the eighth Pak-Turk Industrial Expo Joint Working Group meeting in Pakistan earlier this year, the two sides discussed bilateral defense and industrial cooperation, including a possible deal on Turkey’s fifth-generation fighter jet.
It is noteworthy that while Turkey has been making concerted efforts to market the aircraft to potential buyers, its export potential has received a fresh impetus after it announced that Indonesia had signed a deal for the purchase of 48 KAAN fighter jets.
The public messaging by the TAI suggests that it is now attempting to build trust in KAAN and attract buyers by leveraging the agreement with Indonesia.
Demiroglu emphasized at the Paris Air Show that Indonesia’s KAAN order is “a reflection of confidence in Türkiye, Turkish aviation, and KAAN.
“What we have done in the past and what we have delivered to our security forces showed that they can trust us. The fact that the Turkish Air Force has decided to purchase the aircraft also shows that everyone can trust this aircraft,” the CEO added.
However, Turkey’s narrative regarding the sale of KAAN to Indonesia might be a gross exaggeration aimed at positioning the aircraft as an affordable and more accessible alternative to the American F-35 Lightning II.
Indonesia’s Purchase Of KAAN Is Not Final
Announcing the deal on X, Turkish President Erdogan said, “As part of the agreement signed with our friendly and brotherly country, Indonesia, 48 Kaan (fighter jets) will be produced in Turkey and exported to Indonesia. Indonesia’s local capabilities will also be utilized in the production of Kaan jets.”
However, contrary to the narrative amplified by Turkish media, the Indonesian government has clarified that it has not finalized the agreement to purchase 48 KAAN fighter jets, as the numbers and terms of the agreement were still under discussion.
Indonesian publication Jakarta Globe recently reported that Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Turkish Defense Industries’ secretary Haluk Gorgun signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the acquisition of the jet on June 11.
However, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Defense Ministry clarified that a deal had not been signed.
“The MoU doesn’t determine the number [of KAAN jets that we will buy]. The number will be decided in the contract,” said the Defense Ministry spokesperson, Frega Ferdinand Wenas Inkiriwang, who was quoted as saying by the Jakarta Globe.
“We can only hope that the number meets our needs, but what we wish to highlight is the opportunity to cooperate. … Without a contract, the deal is not legally binding. I would only disclose the amount once we have signed the contract,” the spokesperson further added.
Frega emphasized that the 48 units that Erdogan mentioned were the number of such aircraft needed for the Indonesian Air Force, and not the number purchased.
Typically, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) opens the doors to further negotiations to finalize a contract, and is not akin to a purchase. For instance, in 2022, Indonesia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with American aerospace giant Boeing for the potential purchase of up to 24 F-15EX fighters.
No deal for the aircraft has been finalized, and Boeing has been courting Indonesia with more favourable terms, such as the production of 85% of the aircraft locally. This reinforces the idea that a final decision has not been made.
However, the TAI CEO stated at the ongoing Paris Air Show that issues such as the number of aircraft and technology transfer related to the order had been resolved, and that discussions continue for details, which they aim to complete within a few months.
The EurAsian Times could not independently verify whether the number and terms of technology transfer have been finalized. We have reached out to the Indonesian Ministry of Defense via email, and this report will be updated with a response.
Nevertheless, Indonesia’s acquisition of 48 KAAN fighters has raised eyebrows within the strategic community, as the Southeast Asian country reels with budgetary constraints.
In fact, after Erdogan’s announcement, analysts were quick to predict that the procurement of Turkish fighters would mean that Jakarta’s collaboration on the South Korean KF-21 is finally coming to an end.
However, springing a surprise the next day, Indonesia signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI), reiterating its commitment to KF-21.
In addition to this, Indonesia has already signed a deal for 42 Rafale fighter jets with French Dassault Aviation. It could acquire an additional batch of Rafales from France, as indicated by the letter of intent (LoI) signed by the government recently.
This means that Jakarta’s hands are currently full, especially as it tries to strike a balance between economic constraints with the need to modernize its aging air force.
Its economic difficulties have been evident in repeated delays in fulfilling its payment obligations for the KF-21 fighter. Indonesia’s defense budget for 2024 was approximately $9 billion, making large-scale acquisitions, such as the Rafale deal, a significant financial commitment.
Adding the KAAN could end up straining resources, as operating multiple fighter types increases logistical, training, and maintenance costs. Additionally, local production could initially put extra financial strain on the setting up of production infrastructure.
Thus, the Indonesian government would ideally like to take its time, explore options, and do an extensive cross-budgeting with all relevant agencies before arriving at a decision.
When probed on the feasibility of buying the KAAN, veteran journalist and foreign affairs commentator Prakash Nanda told the EurAsian Times: “Indonesia has got a limited budget. Naturally it is exploring available fighters and considering their respective strength and weakness. And “considering” is miles away from “signing or clinching deals”.
As previously reported by the EurAsian Times, Indonesia is also evaluating the Chinese J-10CE and the Russian Su-35E fighters for potential purchase.
Additionally, elaborating on the issues related to the purchase of KAAN, Nanda said: “These planes (KAAN) are going to have American GE engines for a considerable time, thereby restricting the freedom of how and when to use them by the buyer countries, as that will need American approval.”
According to reports, KAAN will enter flight testing early next year. “Our goal is to finish the first prototype in the first quarter of next year and to start flight tests,” said Demiroglu. Following that, a second prototype is expected to take to the air in mid-2026, and a third is scheduled to follow early in 2027.
EurAsian Times understands that while Indonesia is actively exploring the purchase of the Rafale, KAAN, F-15EX, J-10C, and Su-35E, none of these options is currently set in stone.
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