According to unconfirmed Turkish reports, Saudi Arabia has discussed a possible purchase of over 100 advanced Kaan fighters, as the Middle Eastern country seeks to bolster its military capabilities.
Turkish media are reporting that Saudi Arabia might be interested in acquiring over 100 TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries) Kaan fighter jets, the advanced fighter aircraft developed by Turkey under its TFX (Turkish Fighter-X) program. The potential acquisition was reportedly discussed during the recent visit to Turkey of a delegation led by Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense Khaled bin Hussein Al-Biyari and Royal Saudi Air Force Commander Turki bin Bandar Al Saud, which met with officials from Roketsan, Turkish Aerospace Industries, and Aselsan.
However, there is no official confirmation from either of the parties involved about the possible acquisition. In a comment after the first reports on LinkedIn, Aviation Week’s Steve Trimble wrote that “Saudi Arabia hasn’t said a word” about this deal and that he “Highly doubt this close to a done deal.” As a matter of fact, Kaan is still in the prototype phase and serial production has not started yet.
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Başkanımız Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, İstanbul’da Suudi Arabistan Savunma Bakan Yardımcısı Dr. Khaled bin Hussein Al-Biyari, Hava Kuvvetleri Komutanı Turki bin Bandar Al Saud ve beraberlerindeki heyeti ağırladı. 🇹🇷🤝🇸🇦
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The new Kaan fighters would consolidate and complement the already strong RSAF (Royal Saudi Air Force) fighter fleet. The new deal would also signal a shift away from Saudi Arabia’s traditional dependence from American and European military equipment.
Furthermore, Saudi Arabia is currently trying to strengthen its domestic defense production capabilities while forming strong international partnerships under its “Vision 2030” strategy. The acquisition of 100 Kaan aircraft would align with the latter goal.
Notably, the RSAF has also ordered Turkish Bayraktar Akinci MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drones back in 2023, with Baykar saying the deal was “the biggest defense and aviation export contract in the history of the Republic of Turkey.” The purchase of the Kaans would further consolidate the two nations’ military collaboration.
The TAI Kaan
The Kaan, which aims to replace Turkey’s 240-strong F-16 fleet by the 2030s, is an advanced platform with significant similarities to fifth-generation fighter aircraft from other nations like the F-22, F-35, J-35 or Su-57. The aircraft, unveiled in 2019, was rolled out in Mar. 2023 and flew for the first time back in Feb. 2024, but it is still under development.
Details about the Kaan’s specifications are limited, but it is anticipated it will be able to achieve a top speed of Mach 1.8 and a service ceiling of 55,000 feet. Other performance parameters have not been disclosed so far, however the aircraft is known to have a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 60,000 lb.
The first 20 KAAN Block 10 jets are scheduled for delivery to the Turkish Air Force by 2028. The Kaan will initially be powered by two General Electric F-110-GE129 engines, which also power Turkish F-16Cs Block 50, delivering 58,000 pounds of thrust. TAI plans to replace these with indigenous engines in the future which will give it supercruise capability.
Turkish media say that without the new engines, Kaan cannot be considered a full-fledged fifth-generation fighter, but only as a “generation 4.75,” putting it a step higher that the Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale, but still a step below the F-35. The same reports also add that without the new engine the Kaan could be considered in the same category of South Korea’s KF-21.
It is also true, however, that the definition of “generation” nowadays has now lost its original meaning and is not reflective of the aircraft’s real capabilities, with the risk of the term generation being abused. Either way, Kaan is designed to integrate seamlessly with the Turkish Air Force’s existing assets, as well as advanced assets like the F-35, should Turkey be readmitted in the JSF program.
The development of Kaan represents one of Turkey’s most ambitious programs in recent years. While Turkish industries have demonstrated expertise in various fields, such as successful drone design and production, and licensed manufacturing of various aircraft types, creating a fully indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet presents a challenging endeavor.
The current RSAF fleet
The Kaan appears to be well qualified for Saudi Arabia’s requirements as a future asset, even more so if the country secures technology transfers and other benefits from Turkey, which would allow to expand its domestic arms industry. Saudi Arabia has also long been interested in acquiring the F-35, but so far has never received authorization from the US.
By expressing willingness to purchase the Kaan, Saudi Arabia could also signal to Washington that it has alternatives to the F-35 program, putting pressure on the US. The same reasoning could be considered behind the UAE’s possible interest in the Chinese J-20 reported earlier this year.
The RSAF’s very large fighter force currently includes 231 F-15C/D/S/SA, 81 Panavia Tornado IDS and 71 Eurofighter Typhoons. Saudi Arabia is also reportedly in talks with France’s Dassault for a possible Rafale order and, although the company confirmed the existence of the negotiations, a deal has not been finalized yet.
