Turkey Orders First Batch of Indigenous KAAN Stealth Fighter Jets

Turkey has signed a contract with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) to supply the first batch of 20 indigenous KAAN stealth fighter jets.

Deliveries to the Turkish Air Force are scheduled between 2028 and 2030, Turkish outlet ULU Savunma reported.

The initial aircraft will be powered by two General Electric F110-GE-129 engines, while future variants are expected to incorporate domestically developed powerplants.

“The initial sale was made for the first batch of 20 Block 10 aircraft. This is the first order. Over time, we expect the numbers to increase,” Breaking Defense quoted TAI CEO Mehmet Demiroglu as saying.

The deal follows a contract signed with Indonesia in June 2025 for the supply of 48 KAAN aircraft.

Deliveries are expected to begin within two years and conclude over 10 years, with the agreement reportedly valued at around $10 billion.

KAAN Stealth Fighter

The TAI KAAN is a fifth-generation, twin-engine fighter aircraft designed for air superiority and precision-strike missions. It incorporates stealth features, advanced sensor fusion, and network-centric warfare capabilities for operations in heavily contested airspace.

Development of the aircraft began in 2010 as part of efforts to replace the Turkish Air Force’s aging F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet.

The aircraft conducted its maiden flight in February 2024, while integration of key weapon systems and avionics continues in phases.

Its internal weapons bays are planned to accommodate indigenous weapons, including Gökdoğan medium- to long-range air-to-air missiles, Bozdoğan short-range air-to-air missiles, the Gökhan missile, and SOM-J cruise missiles.