Indonesia Signs $10 Billion Deal for 48 Turkish KAAN Stealth Fighters, Dropping China’s J-10C

Though the KAAN fighter only made its maiden flight in early 2024 and remains under development—with key subsystems still dependent on U.S. and European technologies—Indonesia has boldly committed to purchasing 48 units. To mitigate risks of foreign supply cutoffs, the agreement includes a clause requiring the use of Turkish-developed engines, rather than U.S.-made ones currently used in the prototype.

Indonesia’s decision appears strategic. Lacking the capability to develop advanced fighter jets independently, it sees foreign purchases as a pathway to acquire technical know-how. Previously, Indonesia co-invested $7.6 billion in South Korea’s KF-21 program, aiming for tech transfer and local assembly rights. Despite sending engineers to Korea, delayed payments once stalled the partnership.

Now pivoting to Turkey, Indonesia secures not only aircraft but also transfer of aviation technology—an essential step toward building domestic aerospace capabilities. The KAAN jet, however, still faces uncertainty due to its multinational components, including U.S. engines and British-designed flight systems. If Western nations impose restrictions, the program could face delays or even cancellation.

Despite these risks, Turkey has managed to attract attention from other countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia. For Indonesia, aligning with a NATO country like Turkey may open doors to broader Western military tech access—though integrating U.S., Russian, French, and now Turkish systems will complicate its logistics.