“Forging New Alliances: Türkiye and Indonesia Seal Historic Defense Agreement”

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) has achieved an extraordinary strategic milestone on the international stage. During the INDO Defence 2025 exhibition conducted in Indonesia, a contract was established between Türkiye and Indonesia for the acquisition of 48 units of the fifth-generation National Combat Aircraft, KAAN, which was conceptualized, developed, and manufactured utilizing entirely local resources. According to the agreement, these aircraft will be provided to Indonesia.

The signing ceremony occurred on June 11 in Jakarta, attended by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, President of Defence Industries Haluk Görgün, Indonesian Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Chairman of TUSAŞ Ömer Cihad Vardan, Deputy Minister of National Defense and Vice Chairman of the TUSAŞ Board of Directors Şuay Alpay, and TUSAŞ CEO Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu.

In accordance with the stipulations of the agreement, all 48 KAAN aircraft are anticipated to be delivered within 120 months. The aircraft designated for delivery will be powered by engines that will also be generated using Türkiye’s domestic capabilities.

This contract encompasses not only the delivery of the KAAN aircraft but also includes significant technology transfer aspects within the aviation sector. Through this strategic alliance, Türkiye and Indonesia aim to enrich knowledge transfer and enhance local expertise. The contract also envisions leveraging Indonesia’s industrial infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities for the KAAN project.

The preliminary official announcement regarding the KAAN sale to Indonesia was made by the President of Türkiye, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He conveyed:

“I am confident that this agreement, which transparently reflects the developments and capabilities of our local and national defense sector, will be beneficial for both Türkiye and Indonesia. I extend my sincere regards and gratitude to my esteemed counterpart, President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia, in whose presence this agreement was officially signed. I would also like to congratulate our Presidency of Defence Industries, Turkish Aerospace Industries, and all entities involved in the development of KAAN and in finalizing this unprecedented export contract in the annals of our Republic.”

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KAAN: Türkiye’s Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft
KAAN represents the pinnacle of Turkish engineering as a fifth-generation, multi-role combat jet. With its outstanding agility, minimal radar cross-section (stealth), AI-integrated avionics, and network-centric warfare capabilities, KAAN is crafted to deliver extraordinary performance in both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations. It also embodies Türkiye’s aspiration for total autonomy in the defense sector.
KAAN successfully concluded its maiden flight on February 21, 2024, ushering in a new era in Turkish aviation history. The aircraft took flight for the second time on May 6, 2024.

In the subsequent phases of the KAAN initiative, the compatibility of a domestically developed engine is anticipated, with the objective of making the platform entirely indigenous and significantly boosting its export potential.