Turkish Aerospace Industries has secured a contract from Turkey for the delivery of the first 20 indigenous KAAN stealth fighter aircraft.
Reports from Turkish media outlet ULU Savunma indicate that the jets are scheduled to enter service with the Turkish Air Force between 2028 and 2030.
Early production models will use twin General Electric F110-GE-129 engines, although future versions are expected to transition to locally developed propulsion systems.
The contract follows an earlier export agreement signed with Indonesia in June 2025 for 48 KAAN fighters.
That deal is expected to see deliveries start within two years and continue over a decade, with the program reportedly valued at approximately $10 billion.
About the KAAN Program
The KAAN stealth fighter is Turkey’s fifth-generation combat aircraft program, designed for both air-dominance and precision-strike operations.
The fighter integrates stealth technology, advanced sensor fusion, and network-enabled combat capabilities to operate effectively in heavily defended airspace.
Development work on the aircraft began in 2010 to eventually replace the Turkish Air Force’s aging fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters.
KAAN completed its first flight in February 2024, and integration of its avionics and weapons suite is continuing in stages.
The aircraft’s internal weapon bays are expected to support a range of indigenous systems, including Gökdoğan beyond-visual-range missiles, Bozdoğan short-range missiles, the Gökhan missile, and SOM-J cruise missiles.
