KAAN is the largest and most strategic project that the Turkish defense industry has ever undertaken. With its technology and international cooperation dimensions, it attracts the attention of not only Turkey but also the global defense balance.
Anıl Şahin, Editor-in-Chief of Savunmasanayist.com, made the following assessments to Haber7 reporter Yavuz Selvi on the subject: “Especially the possible participation of Indonesia in the project transforms KAAN from just an aircraft into a multinational technology platform that increases Turkey’s diplomatic power.”
KAAN May Acquire Some Capabilities Earlier
KAAN is actually a very big project. It is one of the largest projects in terms of value and financial value carried out within the Turkish defense industry.
Generally, these types of projects are carried out with partnership techniques around the world. For example, there is the USA. There is the F-35 project carried out by the USA. But there are many developer partner countries in the F-35 project. We were one of them before the CATSAA sanctions.
Therefore, these partner countries bear the costs of the aircraft’s development activities and R&D costs. They share these expenses. But in return, they have a say in the production of the aircraft, take delivery of the aircraft early, take delivery at a lower cost, and later recoup the expenses they spent during the development. There are various returns. Of course, since KAAN is a very large project, every country that joins the KAAN project will positively affect the development process of KAAN. Turkey will spend at lower costs. Therefore, the development period will be shortened. Some capabilities will be reached much earlier.
KAAN’s Diplomatic Power Will Increase
At the same time, for example, in the current versions of KAAN, the F-110 engine is supplied from the USA. Turkey is requesting engines from the USA only for the KAAN warplanes that Turkey will use. This is a separate equation. But at the same time, when Indonesia and Azerbaijan have needs, if there is a demand for engines for them as well, the possibility of approving engine-like other systems I mean here, these demands will be strengthened even more.
In fact, the participation of other countries in KAAN will strengthen KAAN’s diplomatic power and its power in international politics. Indonesia was actually a partner in South Korea’s KF-X project, which we can consider as KAAN’s equivalent, even with slightly lower features than KAAN. However, there are various disagreements between Indonesia and South Korea there. In fact, Indonesia’s participation in KAAN also means that South Korea is withdrawing from the KF-X project, or rather the KF-21 project. This is an important step.
Malaysia May Join the Project
On the other hand, Azerbaijan had previously joined the KAAN project. At low levels.
With Indonesia, the first participant in KAAN in Asia Pacific will have arrived. This can actually create a milestone effect. After Indonesia, Malaysia may also join the KAAN project. Therefore, international participation in KAAN may increase. Because we are talking about Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, and Malaysia. None of these are in the F-35 program. It is very difficult for these countries to procure an F-35, that is, a 5th generation warplane. Because there is no aircraft they can supply. That is, they will either buy Su-57 from Russia, or F-35 from the USA, or J-20 from China. But if they do not want to buy anything from 3 countries, they have to join a 5th generation warplane program. Currently, the most logical program they can join due to their bilateral relations is Turkey’s 5th generation warplane program. That is why many countries, especially Indonesia, are showing interest in this program. At the same time, it should not be perceived only as an aircraft supply.
The participation of these countries in the KAAN program means that in their local defense industry ecosystems, their engineers will gain knowledge on how to make airplanes and what 5th generation warplane technologies are, and perhaps enable them to develop their own air platforms in the future. This is also a very important component.
Source: https://m.haber7.com/ekonomi/haber/3522005-kaana-asya-cikarmasi-endonezya-ve-malezya-projeye-dahil-olabilir
