Turkey has signed a contract with Turkish Aerospace Industries for the production of the first batch of 20 domestically developed KAAN stealth fighter jets.
According to Turkish outlet ULU Savunma, deliveries to the Turkish Air Force are expected to take place between 2028 and 2030.
The initial production aircraft will be equipped with twin General Electric F110-GE-129 engines, while later variants are planned to feature indigenous engines currently under development.
The agreement comes after a separate deal signed with Indonesia in June 2025 covering the export of 48 KAAN fighter jets.
Under that arrangement, deliveries are expected to begin within two years and continue over a 10-year period, with the reported value of the agreement estimated at around $10 billion.
KAAN Stealth Fighter
The KAAN stealth fighter is a fifth-generation twin-engine combat aircraft developed for air-superiority and precision-strike missions in contested environments.
The platform incorporates stealth characteristics, advanced sensor fusion, and network-centric warfare capabilities designed to enhance survivability and combat effectiveness.
Development of the fighter began in 2010 as part of Turkey’s broader effort to replace the aging F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet operated by the Turkish Air Force.
The aircraft completed its maiden flight in February 2024, while work on integrating advanced avionics and weapons systems continues in phases.
Its internal weapons bays are intended to carry domestically developed munitions, including the Gökdoğan medium- and long-range air-to-air missile, Bozdoğan short-range air-to-air missile, the Gökhan missile, and SOM-J cruise missiles.
