Breaking news: Egypt enters Turkish Kaan fighter jet program with co-production plans
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According to information published by Türkiye Today on August 2, 2025, Egypt has received official approval to join Türkiye’s indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet program, the Kaan. This development marks a significant milestone in defense cooperation between the two nations and underscores Egypt’s intent to become a key player in next-generation aerospace technologies. The bilateral agreement reportedly includes provisions for technology transfer, collaborative production lines, and the future procurement of Kaan fighters by the Egyptian Air Force.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The KAAN is Türkiye’s indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, designed for air superiority and multirole combat missions, featuring advanced avionics, low observability, and high maneuverability. (Picture source: SSB)
Kaan is engineered to match or exceed the capabilities of other fifth-generation platforms such as the American F-35 Lightning II, the Russian Su-57 Felon, and the Chinese J-20 Mighty Dragon. The aircraft incorporates a low-observable airframe with radar-absorbing materials and sharply angled faceted surfaces to reduce its radar cross-section (RCS). The internal weapons bay configuration allows the aircraft to maintain stealth during combat missions, and provisions are being made for conformal fuel tanks to extend operational range while preserving its low observable profile. The aircraft is being designed for multi-domain operations with a digital backbone that supports sensor fusion, cooperative engagement capabilities, and real-time battlefield data integration across allied forces.
One of the Kaan’s key technological highlights is its next-generation active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, developed by ASELSAN, which offers target tracking, electronic attack, and synthetic aperture radar imaging functionalities in a single integrated suite. This radar is coupled with advanced infrared search and track (IRST), distributed aperture systems (DAS), and electro-optical targeting systems (EOTS), enabling the pilot to detect, track, and engage enemy aircraft without relying solely on radar emissions. The cockpit features a panoramic touch display, voice command interface, and helmet-mounted display system (HMDS), allowing for maximum pilot situational awareness and reduced workload during high-intensity engagements.
The twin-engine configuration of Kaan is initially powered by General Electric F110-GE-129 engines, pending the future integration of a domestically developed powerplant under a parallel engine development program led by TRMotor and TÜBİTAK-SAGE. Each engine delivers more than 29,000 pounds of thrust, enabling sustained supersonic speeds (supercruise) above Mach 1.8 without the use of afterburners, a critical requirement for survivability in peer-level conflicts. The platform is expected to have a combat radius exceeding 1,100 kilometers and a service ceiling above 55,000 feet. With a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 27,000 kg, Kaan is designed to carry an internal payload of up to 1,500 kg in its weapons bays and an external payload of over 6,000 kg under its wings when stealth is not required.
Kaan’s modular architecture supports a broad spectrum of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, including the Gökdoğan and Bozdoğan indigenous missiles, precision-guided bombs, anti-ship missiles, and stand-off cruise weapons like SOM-J. Electronic warfare pods, jamming systems, and satellite communications suites are also planned as optional integrations to adapt the aircraft for specialized roles, such as suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and strategic strike missions. Beyond its technical attributes, the fighter is being built with artificial intelligence-driven mission systems, predictive maintenance capabilities, and secure datalink interoperability for NATO and non-NATO coalition operations.As part of its international outreach and growing defense export ambitions, Türkiye has previously reached a preliminary agreement with Indonesia for the future sale of Kaan fighter jets. The deal, still in its early stages, includes potential joint development opportunities and technology transfer, reflecting both nations’ shared interest in enhancing their indigenous defense capabilities. Indonesia, which has long sought to modernize its air force beyond Russian and Western platforms, views the Kaan as a strategic alternative that balances cost, capability, and industrial collaboration. While no finalized contract has been disclosed, officials from both sides have signaled strong intent to move forward, positioning Indonesia as one of the first potential foreign operators of Türkiye’s fifth-generation combat aircraft.
The geopolitical relevance of this collaboration between Egypt and Türkiye lies in its potential to reshape regional power dynamics at a time when Middle Eastern and North African defense strategies are undergoing significant transformation. Both nations have faced varying degrees of restriction and political complications in acquiring advanced Western defense systems. Türkiye was excluded from the U.S. F-35 program over its acquisition of the Russian S-400 system, while Egypt has faced delays and limitations in receiving Western platforms, particularly from the United States and Europe, due to human rights and foreign policy concerns. By engaging in indigenous development of a fifth-generation fighter, Egypt and Türkiye are asserting greater defense autonomy and technological sovereignty.
This move also reflects a broader strategic convergence between Ankara and Cairo, whose relations have gradually normalized after a decade of estrangement following the 2013 political transition in Egypt. Their alignment on a high-stakes military-industrial project indicates a shared understanding that the regional balance of power is increasingly influenced by indigenous capabilities, especially in airpower, unmanned systems, and precision strike technologies. It also sends a clear signal to traditional regional rivals such as Israel, Iran, and the Gulf states, that a new axis of military-industrial cooperation is forming, potentially challenging the monopoly on fifth-generation combat air systems in the region.Furthermore, Egypt’s involvement in the Kaan program could have long-term implications for defense industrial development across Africa. If Egypt secures domestic assembly and manufacturing rights, it would become the first African country to co-produce a fifth-generation fighter jet, elevating its status as a regional defense hub. This could lead to broader defense export opportunities on the continent and strengthen Egypt’s geopolitical clout within the African Union and Arab League. For Türkiye, Egypt’s entry offers an opportunity to share the program’s financial and logistical burden while increasing the aircraft’s attractiveness on the global market through a co-development model.
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According to information published by Türkiye Today on August 2, 2025, Egypt has received official approval to join Türkiye’s indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet program, the Kaan. This development marks a significant milestone in defense cooperation between the two nations and underscores Egypt’s intent to become a key player in next-generation aerospace technologies. The bilateral agreement reportedly includes provisions for technology transfer, collaborative production lines, and the future procurement of Kaan fighters by the Egyptian Air Force.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The KAAN is Türkiye’s indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, designed for air superiority and multirole combat missions, featuring advanced avionics, low observability, and high maneuverability. (Picture source: SSB)
Kaan is engineered to match or exceed the capabilities of other fifth-generation platforms such as the American F-35 Lightning II, the Russian Su-57 Felon, and the Chinese J-20 Mighty Dragon. The aircraft incorporates a low-observable airframe with radar-absorbing materials and sharply angled faceted surfaces to reduce its radar cross-section (RCS). The internal weapons bay configuration allows the aircraft to maintain stealth during combat missions, and provisions are being made for conformal fuel tanks to extend operational range while preserving its low observable profile. The aircraft is being designed for multi-domain operations with a digital backbone that supports sensor fusion, cooperative engagement capabilities, and real-time battlefield data integration across allied forces.
One of the Kaan’s key technological highlights is its next-generation active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, developed by ASELSAN, which offers target tracking, electronic attack, and synthetic aperture radar imaging functionalities in a single integrated suite. This radar is coupled with advanced infrared search and track (IRST), distributed aperture systems (DAS), and electro-optical targeting systems (EOTS), enabling the pilot to detect, track, and engage enemy aircraft without relying solely on radar emissions. The cockpit features a panoramic touch display, voice command interface, and helmet-mounted display system (HMDS), allowing for maximum pilot situational awareness and reduced workload during high-intensity engagements.
The twin-engine configuration of Kaan is initially powered by General Electric F110-GE-129 engines, pending the future integration of a domestically developed powerplant under a parallel engine development program led by TRMotor and TÜBİTAK-SAGE. Each engine delivers more than 29,000 pounds of thrust, enabling sustained supersonic speeds (supercruise) above Mach 1.8 without the use of afterburners, a critical requirement for survivability in peer-level conflicts. The platform is expected to have a combat radius exceeding 1,100 kilometers and a service ceiling above 55,000 feet. With a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 27,000 kg, Kaan is designed to carry an internal payload of up to 1,500 kg in its weapons bays and an external payload of over 6,000 kg under its wings when stealth is not required.
Kaan’s modular architecture supports a broad spectrum of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, including the Gökdoğan and Bozdoğan indigenous missiles, precision-guided bombs, anti-ship missiles, and stand-off cruise weapons like SOM-J. Electronic warfare pods, jamming systems, and satellite communications suites are also planned as optional integrations to adapt the aircraft for specialized roles, such as suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and strategic strike missions. Beyond its technical attributes, the fighter is being built with artificial intelligence-driven mission systems, predictive maintenance capabilities, and secure datalink interoperability for NATO and non-NATO coalition operations.
As part of its international outreach and growing defense export ambitions, Türkiye has previously reached a preliminary agreement with Indonesia for the future sale of Kaan fighter jets. The deal, still in its early stages, includes potential joint development opportunities and technology transfer, reflecting both nations’ shared interest in enhancing their indigenous defense capabilities. Indonesia, which has long sought to modernize its air force beyond Russian and Western platforms, views the Kaan as a strategic alternative that balances cost, capability, and industrial collaboration. While no finalized contract has been disclosed, officials from both sides have signaled strong intent to move forward, positioning Indonesia as one of the first potential foreign operators of Türkiye’s fifth-generation combat aircraft.
The geopolitical relevance of this collaboration between Egypt and Türkiye lies in its potential to reshape regional power dynamics at a time when Middle Eastern and North African defense strategies are undergoing significant transformation. Both nations have faced varying degrees of restriction and political complications in acquiring advanced Western defense systems. Türkiye was excluded from the U.S. F-35 program over its acquisition of the Russian S-400 system, while Egypt has faced delays and limitations in receiving Western platforms, particularly from the United States and Europe, due to human rights and foreign policy concerns. By engaging in indigenous development of a fifth-generation fighter, Egypt and Türkiye are asserting greater defense autonomy and technological sovereignty.
This move also reflects a broader strategic convergence between Ankara and Cairo, whose relations have gradually normalized after a decade of estrangement following the 2013 political transition in Egypt. Their alignment on a high-stakes military-industrial project indicates a shared understanding that the regional balance of power is increasingly influenced by indigenous capabilities, especially in airpower, unmanned systems, and precision strike technologies. It also sends a clear signal to traditional regional rivals such as Israel, Iran, and the Gulf states, that a new axis of military-industrial cooperation is forming, potentially challenging the monopoly on fifth-generation combat air systems in the region.
Furthermore, Egypt’s involvement in the Kaan program could have long-term implications for defense industrial development across Africa. If Egypt secures domestic assembly and manufacturing rights, it would become the first African country to co-produce a fifth-generation fighter jet, elevating its status as a regional defense hub. This could lead to broader defense export opportunities on the continent and strengthen Egypt’s geopolitical clout within the African Union and Arab League. For Türkiye, Egypt’s entry offers an opportunity to share the program’s financial and logistical burden while increasing the aircraft’s attractiveness on the global market through a co-development model.
