Türkiye’s KAAN fighter jet draws Gulf interest, TAI official confirms

Türkiye’s fifth generation fighter jet, KAAN, has attracted significant foreign interest, including from an unnamed Gulf nation that is “seriously considering” joining the project, according to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) General Manager Mehmet Demiroglu.

Speaking to Breaking Defense at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Demiroglu confirmed that while there is currently no official international participation, discussions are ongoing with multiple countries.

“There is a lot of interest from several nations, but these processes take time and require high-level decisions,” he said.

Accelerated testing and development timeline for KAAN

Demiroglu revealed that Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) expects the testing process for KAAN to conclude sooner than originally anticipated, thanks to newly produced prototypes.

The first KAAN prototype completed its maiden flight in 2024, and the second and third prototypes are expected to be airborne by the end of this year and early next year. “We will be heavily testing these prototypes,” he noted.

TAI aims to shorten the overall testing period to meet its delivery target for the Turkish Air Force. “We need to conduct extensive testing, but we also aim to deliver our first production aircraft in the 2028-2029 timeframe,” he stated.

In May 2024, TAI announced plans to deliver 20 KAAN aircraft by 2028. Demiroglu reiterated that deliveries would begin in that timeframe but acknowledged the unpredictability of global developments. “We have not changed our target, but the world is in a different place than it was a decade ago,” he said.

KAAN’s capabilities and manned-unmanned teaming

Described as a fifth-generation fighter jet with select sixth-generation capabilities, KAAN is set to feature advanced avionics and combat systems.

Demiroglu also highlighted TAI’s work on integrating KAAN with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly in collaboration with Turkish UAV manufacturer Baykar.

Gulf collaboration and potential Saudi interest

While Turkish media previously reported that Saudi Arabia was in talks to procure 100 KAAN fighter jets in 2024, neither Ankara nor Riyadh confirmed these claims.

However, Demiroglu indicated that discussions with Gulf countries continue. “We are in advanced discussions with Saudi Arabia on multiple projects, and we are working to determine the best collaboration model,” he stated.

He expressed confidence that Turkish defense firms would announce “at least a couple of major projects” with Saudi Arabia in 2025.

Expanding export potential for Hurkus trainer aircraft

At IDEX, TAI also showcased its Hurkus-2 trainer and light attack turboprop aircraft. Demiroglu noted increasing interest in the platform, particularly due to its adoption by the Turkish Air Force.

“There is interest, and that will grow, because when the Turkish Air Force adopts a platform, it signals its reliability and effectiveness,” he said.

TAI is currently negotiating export deals for the Hurkus trainer and light attack versions, with potential buyers in the Gulf, Africa, Central Asia, and the Far East.

Future strategic focus for TAI

Looking ahead, Demiroglu emphasized TAI’s commitment to efficiency and competitiveness in the global defense market.

“Over the next five years, our primary focus will be on how quickly we can deliver and how cost-competitive our platforms will be, all while maintaining top-tier quality standards,” he said.