KAAN Jet Deal Boosts Indonesia & Turkey Defense Ties

In a historic step, Indonesia has agreed to buy 48 KAAN fifth-generation fighter aircraft from Turkish Aerospace Industries, representing a major stride in its military modernization drive.

The deal, which was made public at the IDEF 2025 defence fair in Istanbul, is worth around USD 10 billion, Turkey's biggest defence export contract in history.

Shipments are set to start in 2028 and run for 10 years. The agreement involves technology transfer, common production, and engineering cooperation, which underscores intensifying strategic cooperation between Indonesia and Turkey.

Key Highlights:

• Indonesia to buy 48 KAAN stealth jets in a $10B defense deal, Turkey’s largest-ever arms export
• Deal includes tech transfer, joint production, and local assembly to boost Indonesia’s defense sector
• Marks Indonesia’s strategic pivot away from Western defense reliance, reshaping Asia-Pacific security ties

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan underlined the importance of the collaboration by saying, "Within the agreement with our brotherly and friendly country, Indonesia, 48 KAAN jets will be manufactured in Turkey to be exported to Indonesia. Indonesia's domestic capacities will also be used in KAAN's production.”

Indonesia's engagement extends beyond procurement, to local assembly and integration, which is in pursuit of the nation's aspiration to emerge as a regional defense manufacturing center. This deal makes Indonesia the first export buyer of the KAAN, whose first flight was done in 2024.

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Proudly described as a multirole, stealth-capable aircraft, the KAAN is being developed to match Western-produced jets in terms of performance and cost, providing a choice for those countries that want advanced air capabilities without Western limitations.

The deal also fits the strategic plan by Indonesia to diversify its military alliances and lessen reliance on its traditional Western partners. The sale is viewed as a strategic shift likely to change defense dynamics across the Asia-Pacific region.