ISTANBUL – Turkey and Indonesia have formalized one of the region's most significant defense agreements with the signing of a detailed commercial contract for Indonesia's procurement and joint production of 48 new-generation KAAN fighter jets.
The signing ceremony took place at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul, attended by high-level officials, defense procurement chiefs, and aerospace executives from both nations.
Finalizing the Framework Agreement
This commercial contract was signed by Turkey's Defence Industry Agency (Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı - SSB) and the Indonesian Ministry of Defense. It serves to finalize all technical annexes and implementation details of the government-to-government (G2G) procurement agreement that the two parties established on June 11, 2025. The event marks the culmination of months of negotiations and technical alignment.
The agreement extends far beyond the simple transfer of 48 fighter jets developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), encompassing a deep and comprehensive partnership program.
A New Era of Technological and Production Cooperation
The highlight of the deal is a strong commitment to technology transfer and local production. Under the contract, a comprehensive industrial infrastructure will be established in Indonesia to support the assembly, maintenance, and overhaul of the KAAN fleet. TUSAŞ will lead the production process, while Turkish engineers will play a key role in transferring critical technological know-how to their Indonesian counterparts.
In an official statement, Turkey's Defence Industry Agency emphasized: “This signing is not just an export move; it marks the beginning of a new era in technical, production, and technological cooperation. The industrial infrastructure to be established in Indonesia will reflect our strategic depth based on mutual friendship.”
Strategic Significance for Both Nations
For Turkey, this is the largest confirmed export order for the KAAN platform to date and a landmark milestone for its burgeoning defense industry. It validates the capabilities and ambitions of Ankara to reduce its dependency on foreign platforms and bolster its domestic aerospace sector. KAAN, formerly known as TF-X, is the flagship project of Turkey's military modernization efforts, and this international agreement is seen as a major validation of the program. Turkey also recently placed an order for the sixth prototype of the aircraft, signaling its continued domestic commitment.
For Indonesia, the agreement reflects a clear intent to diversify and modernize its military air fleet, especially amid rising regional security challenges. Participation in the production process will also enhance Indonesia's own national defense industry capabilities.
About the KAAN Fighter Jet
KAAN is Turkey's next-generation fighter platform, designed for multi-role air combat missions. Its key features are focused on air superiority, precision strike capabilities, and high survivability in modern combat environments.
After completing the final testing and certification phases, the first KAAN fighter jets are scheduled for delivery to Indonesia in the early 2030s.
