Today is a historic day for Erdogan and the Turkish defense industry.
Today, June 11, 2025, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) secured the largest defense export deal in the country’s history, as Indonesia signed a $10 billion contract for 48 fifth-generation KAAN multi-role fighter aircraft.
The agreement in question was finalized at the Indo Defence 2025 exhibition in Jakarta.
This unprecedented arms deal not only reshapes Ankara’s role in global defense exports, but also signals a significant strategic realignment in the Indo-Pacific region.
With Indonesia aiming to differentiate itself from Western suppliers, acquiring KAAN jets brings both technological autonomy and geopolitical depth.
KAAN- Technical specifications-Shipments
The KAAN, formerly known as the TF-X, is a Turkish-developed fifth-generation fighter aircraft designed by TAI to replace Turkey’s aging F-16s and directly compete with advanced platforms such as the US-made F-35 and China’s J-20.
Featuring stealth capabilities, dual engines and a modular architecture, the aircraft has a maximum speed of Mach 1.8, a combat radius of 600 nautical miles and integrated sensor fusion, including AESA radar and infrared search and track systems.
Designed for multiple air superiority roles and strike missions, KAAN also includes future capabilities for artificial intelligence integration and drone teaming, key features of next-generation air combat systems.
Development history
The aircraft made its first flight in February 2024 and will transition from American-made F110 engines to Turkish-made engines by 2030.
KAAN development began in earnest in 2016, gaining critical momentum after Turkey’s expulsion from the US F-35 program in 2019.
With TAI leading the effort and support from BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce in the early stages, the KAAN program gained strategic autonomy as Ankara turned towards indigenous defense solutions.
The second test flight of KAAN took place in May 2024 and six prototypes are currently in production.
Turkey plans to deliver the first 20 KAANs to the national air force by 2028.
The export version for Indonesia will be jointly produced using Turkish and Indonesian industrial inputs, incorporating domestic Indonesian capabilities within a technology sharing model.
Indonesia’s decision to acquire KAAN marks a bold shift in its airpower doctrine.
Compared to the $8.1 billion Rafale deal with France or the canceled $1.14 billion Su-35 purchase from Russia, the $10 billion KAAN deal presents a future alternative.
With stealth, drone integration, and modular avionics, the KAAN surpasses the Rafale in radar avoidance and system flexibility, while avoiding the export controls and political burden that often accompany Western platforms like the F-35.
With a unit cost of approximately $208 million, KAAN offers a cost-effective path to next-generation airpower, especially when compared to the life-cycle costs of the F-35, which can exceed $400 million per jet.
The agreement builds on previous cooperation with Turkey, including joint drone development and missile co-production projects signed earlier in 2025.
The agreement also sets the stage for future exports to countries such as Saudi Arabia, which is reportedly considering purchasing 100 KAAN units, Azerbaijan, Qatar and Malaysia.
As Turkish Defense Industry President Haluk Görgün expands Ankara’s military diplomacy network, KAAN is becoming both a commercial and geopolitical asset.
Significant impacts
In conclusion, we would say that the agreement to export the KAAN to Indonesia could act as a benchmark for other nations weighing their options beyond the F-35 or Chinese offers.
The $10 billion KAAN deal marks more than just a business success, reshaping the balances
Turkey has now entered the elite of nations exporting fifth-generation fighters.
As global defense alliances shift, KAAN stands as a symbol of strategic autonomy, technological ambition, and the emergence of new poles of military power.
This deal will not only strengthen Turkey’s aerospace future, but could redefine its arms procurement strategies to a significant extent.
