Military relations between Turkey and Spain continue to grow closer, as the government seeks to distance itself from the United States in the face of European rearmament. In recent days, rumors have been growing in the Turkish media and military-related websites that Spain is considering purchasing the new TAI Kaan fifth-generation fighter jets , scheduled to enter service in 2030.
These speculations have gained momentum since the government announced in August that Spain will not purchase Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II . American fifth-generation fighters are the most advanced in the West, and the F-35B model is the only one on the European market capable of landing and taking off on aircraft carriers such as the Juan Carlos I, the flagship of the Navy. Without them, naval aviation capabilities will be diminished , and the majority of the combat aircraft fleet will depend on a single model: the Eurofighter Typhoon .
Spanish-Turkish relations
As NATO allies , both Ankara and Madrid share military doctrines, although the Turkish arms industry has maintained a strong sense of independence throughout its history. In recent years, its developments have gained notoriety due to the deployment of drones and missiles used in various operations in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
At the Feindef Defense Fair, held in May in Madrid, this newspaper witnessed the prominent role played by the Turkish arms industry . The Ottoman country has long sought to secure better military contracts with Spain now that rearmament is increasing injections into the defense industry. At Feindef, the government signed the agreement to purchase Hurjet aircraft , designed to serve as training aircraft to replace the aging F-5s.
The Turkish press has seen these moves as a sign, on the one hand, of the Eurasian country’s interest in Spain and, on the other, of the government’s possible intentions to acquire the Kaan fighter jets . This newspaper has attempted to contact the Ministry of Defense to confirm the news without receiving a response so far.
Transition to FCAS
The Kaan fighter jet is poised to be the next fifth-generation fighter on the market and the second from a European country after Russia. Current models among NATO allies are the Swedish Saab Gripen , the French Dassault Rafale , and the international Typhoon , developed by Germany, Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
All of these aircraft are considered advanced fourth-generation models, smaller than the American F-35, the Russian Su-57, or the Chinese J-20 , but still competent for current conflicts. The introduction of drones into modern warfare through the Ukrainian conflict and the Middle East conflicts has accelerated production plans for various combat aircraft models. The Turkish TAI Kaan is one of the new developments in this field.
The Kaan, whose first test flights are already underway, is intended to be an air superiority fighter to replace Turkey’s F-16s. This type of aircraft is designed to eliminate other opponents in aerial combat rather than ground bombing operations. For Spain, its purchase would serve as a complementary model to the current Eurofighters available to the Spanish Air Force. It would allow time until the new sixth-generation aircraft , the FCAS, is ready.
With this hypothetical deal, Turkey would strengthen its position in Europe now that it has managed to close a deal to purchase a batch of Typhoons to strengthen its air force. The Old Continent is seeking new contractors outside the EU to increase its independence from the United States . Countries like Poland, which has the largest relative expenditure on defense in NATO, are acquiring weapons from South Korea to complement their military industry. According to Turkish media, Spain could begin to do the same beyond the European Union perimeter with Ottoman industry.
