UAE expresses interest in Türkiye’s KAAN fighter jet

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has shown interest in Türkiye’s national fighter jet project, KAAN, as global attention on the defense initiative continues to grow.

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) CEO Mehmet Demiroglu confirmed the UAE’s interest and indicated that a joint air platform could also be developed in partnership with the Gulf nation.

KAAN gains international attention at IDEX 2025

The announcement came during the IDEX 2025 defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi, one of the world’s most significant defense industry events.

Turkish defense firms attracted substantial interest at the event, hosting high-level discussions with delegations from various countries.

TAI, a key player in Türkiye’s defense industry, was a focal point for UAE officials and international representatives. Demiroglu, speaking to Turkish media outlet TRT Haber, provided insight into ongoing negotiations and future collaboration prospects.

Hurkus aircraft agreement with UAE

Demiroglu highlighted Türkiye’s strong presence in the UAE’s defense market and confirmed that TAI signed an agreement with UAE-based defense firm Calidus to collaborate on the Hurkus training aircraft.

“We have agreed on how we can jointly develop the Hurkus and enhance the aircraft produced by the UAE. The agreement will be formalized soon,” he said.

UAE’s interest in ATAK helicopters

The UAE has also expressed significant interest in Türkiye’s ATAK helicopter.

“They previously tested ATAK 1 and were impressed with its capabilities. A high-level delegation even visited Türkiye to experience it firsthand,” Demiroglu stated.

However, he noted that discussions on ATAK acquisitions had slowed down but are now being revived through renewed negotiations.

Potential joint air platform development between Türkiye and UAE

Beyond existing aircraft, Demiroglu revealed that the UAE has shown a strong interest in Türkiye’s ANKA-3 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).

“We are not solely focused on ANKA-3; we are also exploring the development of a new air platform together. The UAE is very receptive to this idea, and we anticipate further positive developments soon,” he said.

Progress on KAAN fighter jet prototypes

Demiroglu also provided an update on the KAAN project, emphasizing that Türkiye is working with multiple defense firms in its development.

He acknowledged Türkiye is collaborating closely with Saudi Arabia on KAAN and that additional international partners, including the UAE, could be added to the project.

“During high-level discussions, UAE officials expressed interest in KAAN and indicated their willingness to engage with the project,” he noted.

The second KAAN prototype is expected to be completed by the end of the year, with the third following in early 2026.

TAI and its partners are working intensively to meet their timeline, with initial deliveries projected for 2028.