Spain’s surprise move: Replacing American F-35 with Turkish Kaan stealth fighter?
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Spain might be examining Türkiye’s Kaan fighter jet as a possible solution after ending its discussions on the U.S.-built F-35.
Spain’s Defense Ministry is reassessing its combat aircraft plans after halting exploratory talks on the U.S. F-35 in August 2025, according to El Economista. The Spanish media suggests that officials are reportedly evaluating Türkiye’s fifth-generation Kaan fighter as a temporary or complementary solution to maintain viable stealth and networked capabilities until the European Future Combat Air System (Scaf) becomes operational.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Kaan project offers a fighter jet focused on national customization and industrial participation, whereas the F-35 provides a mature, fully operational stealth fighter with established global logistics and standardized integration. (Picture source: TAI and US Air Force)
El Economista reported in mid-September 2025 that, after ending exploratory discussions on the F-35 in August, Spain is studying Türkiye’s Kaan as a potential option. The outlet associated this possibility with strengthened defense cooperation between Madrid and Ankara and noted that no procurement decision has been made. It described the Kaan as an interim candidate that could help preserve low-observable and networked combat capabilities until the arrival of a European sixth-generation fighter. The report emphasized that any decision would depend on Spain’s budget limits, industrial participation goals, and sovereignty over mission systems. It also stated that such a step would need to align with the country’s broader defense strategy within European cooperative frameworks.
Spain’s conclusion of its F-35 considerations reflects a preference to prioritize European projects, safeguard national industrial roles, and reduce reliance on externally controlled technologies. The Air and Space Force must still maintain operational capability alongside the Eurofighter, which directs focus toward upgrades, sustainable readiness levels, and networked operations. At the same time, the government’s planning aims to minimize the risk of dependence on a single foreign system, manage sustainment costs, and preserve flexibility for integration into European architectures. These priorities limit the scope for off-the-shelf imports and increase the importance of a platform that Spain can adapt to national requirements.
This situation develops as Spain continues work on the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS), also known as SCAF, which is expected to become operational around the 2040s. The time gap before SCAF reaches service has led Madrid to explore stealth-capable alternatives that can provide interim capability without undermining European cooperation. Comparable developments abroad illustrate differing approaches: for now, Canada and Switzerland have both committed to the F-35 to meet specific timelines, while Portugal continues to analyze its modernization options. Spain’s evaluation thus concentrates on aircraft that can support its defense commitments, maintain industrial involvement, and remain compatible with future European systems.
Spain’s collaboration with Türkiye has gained relevance after the selection of the Hurjet to replace the US-made F-5M advanced trainers. The program is based on a partnership between Turkish Aerospace and Airbus Defence and Space España, with airframes produced in Türkiye and transferred to Spain for adaptation. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2028, with the new training system to operate from Talavera la Real Air Base. This initiative establishes precedents for software integration, avionics customization, and certification in Spain that could facilitate future cooperation if the Kaan were considered. It also indicates a readiness to diversify suppliers where this meets cost and industrial workload objectives.
The Kaan itself is a twin-engine multirole fighter designed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) with low-observable characteristics, internal weapon bays, and advanced sensors. Its configuration supports long-range missions and provides space for future avionics and effectors. The operational concept includes manned-unmanned teaming and a national mission data architecture intended to enable independent management of electronic warfare and software. Early prototypes use existing engines to accelerate testing, with an indigenous powerplant planned for later production. For Spain, such features would align with its goal of combining technological access, domestic industrial involvement, and adaptable mission system integration.
Compared with the F-35, which it could replace in Spain’s future plans, the Kaan represents a different stage of development and design philosophy. The F-35 offers mature sensor fusion, operational deployment experience, and an established global logistics network, which limits near-term risk but also constrains national control. The Kaan prioritizes modular software, domestic radar, and electronic warfare systems, and plans capability growth across successive production blocks. The F-35’s sensor suite, mission data cycle, and upgrade structure are standardized within a large user community, whereas the Kaan aims to allow greater flexibility in integrating national software and weapons. For Spain, the choice would involve weighing immediate operational availability against longer-term industrial and sovereignty considerations.
Operational characteristics also diverge in ways relevant to Spain’s requirements. The Kaan’s twin-engine configuration could provide higher thrust margins and redundancy for maritime or mountainous operations, while its internal weapon bays preserve low observability during air defense and strike missions. The F-35, in contrast, offers an extensive catalog of certified weapons, refined suppression of air defense capabilities, and continuously updated software. The Kaan’s armament roadmap includes domestic beyond-visual-range and close-combat missiles, future stand-off weapons, and compatibility with cooperative engagement networks. Spain would need to determine which option best fits its territorial defense, air policing, and allied operational commitments.
Sustainment and timeline factors will also influence Spain’s assessment. The F-35 benefits from production scale, common training infrastructure, and a shared logistics system but requires alignment with global configuration baselines. The Kaan’s plan foresees gradual capability improvements, wider export participation, and opportunities for industrial collaboration, though it depends on national testing and maintenance capabilities. With Spain’s naval aviation currently lacking a short takeoff and vertical landing option, future combat aircraft planning focuses on land-based systems that complement the Eurofighter until SCAF becomes operational. The final decision will depend on whether collaboration on the Kaan can meet Spain’s operational and industrial needs within acceptable timelines or if reinforcing existing European programs remains the preferred path.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
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Spain might be examining Türkiye’s Kaan fighter jet as a possible solution after ending its discussions on the U.S.-built F-35.
Spain’s Defense Ministry is reassessing its combat aircraft plans after halting exploratory talks on the U.S. F-35 in August 2025, according to El Economista. The Spanish media suggests that officials are reportedly evaluating Türkiye’s fifth-generation Kaan fighter as a temporary or complementary solution to maintain viable stealth and networked capabilities until the European Future Combat Air System (Scaf) becomes operational.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Kaan project offers a fighter jet focused on national customization and industrial participation, whereas the F-35 provides a mature, fully operational stealth fighter with established global logistics and standardized integration. (Picture source: TAI and US Air Force)
El Economista reported in mid-September 2025 that, after ending exploratory discussions on the F-35 in August, Spain is studying Türkiye’s Kaan as a potential option. The outlet associated this possibility with strengthened defense cooperation between Madrid and Ankara and noted that no procurement decision has been made. It described the Kaan as an interim candidate that could help preserve low-observable and networked combat capabilities until the arrival of a European sixth-generation fighter. The report emphasized that any decision would depend on Spain’s budget limits, industrial participation goals, and sovereignty over mission systems. It also stated that such a step would need to align with the country’s broader defense strategy within European cooperative frameworks.
Spain’s conclusion of its F-35 considerations reflects a preference to prioritize European projects, safeguard national industrial roles, and reduce reliance on externally controlled technologies. The Air and Space Force must still maintain operational capability alongside the Eurofighter, which directs focus toward upgrades, sustainable readiness levels, and networked operations. At the same time, the government’s planning aims to minimize the risk of dependence on a single foreign system, manage sustainment costs, and preserve flexibility for integration into European architectures. These priorities limit the scope for off-the-shelf imports and increase the importance of a platform that Spain can adapt to national requirements.
This situation develops as Spain continues work on the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS), also known as SCAF, which is expected to become operational around the 2040s. The time gap before SCAF reaches service has led Madrid to explore stealth-capable alternatives that can provide interim capability without undermining European cooperation. Comparable developments abroad illustrate differing approaches: for now, Canada and Switzerland have both committed to the F-35 to meet specific timelines, while Portugal continues to analyze its modernization options. Spain’s evaluation thus concentrates on aircraft that can support its defense commitments, maintain industrial involvement, and remain compatible with future European systems.
Spain’s collaboration with Türkiye has gained relevance after the selection of the Hurjet to replace the US-made F-5M advanced trainers. The program is based on a partnership between Turkish Aerospace and Airbus Defence and Space España, with airframes produced in Türkiye and transferred to Spain for adaptation. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2028, with the new training system to operate from Talavera la Real Air Base. This initiative establishes precedents for software integration, avionics customization, and certification in Spain that could facilitate future cooperation if the Kaan were considered. It also indicates a readiness to diversify suppliers where this meets cost and industrial workload objectives.
The Kaan itself is a twin-engine multirole fighter designed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) with low-observable characteristics, internal weapon bays, and advanced sensors. Its configuration supports long-range missions and provides space for future avionics and effectors. The operational concept includes manned-unmanned teaming and a national mission data architecture intended to enable independent management of electronic warfare and software. Early prototypes use existing engines to accelerate testing, with an indigenous powerplant planned for later production. For Spain, such features would align with its goal of combining technological access, domestic industrial involvement, and adaptable mission system integration.
Compared with the F-35, which it could replace in Spain’s future plans, the Kaan represents a different stage of development and design philosophy. The F-35 offers mature sensor fusion, operational deployment experience, and an established global logistics network, which limits near-term risk but also constrains national control. The Kaan prioritizes modular software, domestic radar, and electronic warfare systems, and plans capability growth across successive production blocks. The F-35’s sensor suite, mission data cycle, and upgrade structure are standardized within a large user community, whereas the Kaan aims to allow greater flexibility in integrating national software and weapons. For Spain, the choice would involve weighing immediate operational availability against longer-term industrial and sovereignty considerations.
Operational characteristics also diverge in ways relevant to Spain’s requirements. The Kaan’s twin-engine configuration could provide higher thrust margins and redundancy for maritime or mountainous operations, while its internal weapon bays preserve low observability during air defense and strike missions. The F-35, in contrast, offers an extensive catalog of certified weapons, refined suppression of air defense capabilities, and continuously updated software. The Kaan’s armament roadmap includes domestic beyond-visual-range and close-combat missiles, future stand-off weapons, and compatibility with cooperative engagement networks. Spain would need to determine which option best fits its territorial defense, air policing, and allied operational commitments.
Sustainment and timeline factors will also influence Spain’s assessment. The F-35 benefits from production scale, common training infrastructure, and a shared logistics system but requires alignment with global configuration baselines. The Kaan’s plan foresees gradual capability improvements, wider export participation, and opportunities for industrial collaboration, though it depends on national testing and maintenance capabilities. With Spain’s naval aviation currently lacking a short takeoff and vertical landing option, future combat aircraft planning focuses on land-based systems that complement the Eurofighter until SCAF becomes operational. The final decision will depend on whether collaboration on the Kaan can meet Spain’s operational and industrial needs within acceptable timelines or if reinforcing existing European programs remains the preferred path.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
