Dear readers,
KAAN is no longer merely a fighter jet. It is the airborne manifestation of the struggle Turkey has waged over the past decade in foreign policy, defence, and even the economy. Producing a fifth-generation aircraft is, of course, an engineering matter — but more importantly, it is a matter of will. Who will you move forward with, despite whom will you move forward, and the most critical question: How independent will you be?
Turkey learned to confront these questions the day it was shown the door from the F-35 programme. Washington closing that door following the S-400 decision forced Ankara into a choice: it would either wait or move forward. Turkey chose to move forward. That is why KAAN is not a “planned luxury” but a strategic act of courage born out of necessity.
At the current stage, President Erdoğan pointing to Saudi Arabia and saying that “joint investment could materialise at any moment” signals that this journey has entered a new phase. The issue here is not money, as it may appear on the surface. Of course, fifth-generation aircraft require deep pockets. Even the US F-35 and Europe’s FCAS and Tempest programmes have not escaped budget overruns and timeline crises. Turkey not wanting to shoulder this burden alone reflects strategic thinking.
The real issue is one of positioning. Turkey is essentially saying:
“I can build this aircraft, but I will not stand alone.”
The interest shown in KAAN by actors such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Azerbaijan and Indonesia is no coincidence. On one side there is financial power; on the other, political proximity and shared interests. For Saudi Arabia, KAAN represents a strategic gateway to reducing dependence on the West. For Turkey, it offers financing, market access and the opportunity to become a multinational platform. In other words, this cooperation is less about money and more about sharing the future.
Are there fragile aspects? Certainly. The foremost is the engine issue. KAAN has taken off structurally, but its heart is still beating from outside sources. The possibility of F110 engines getting stuck in the US Congress clearly shows why emphasis on a domestic engine is so vital. In modern defence industries, real dependency begins with engines and software. That is why projections that deliveries could slip into the 2030s surprise no one. Yet these delays do not mean Turkey will turn back; on the contrary, they signal even greater determination.
Meanwhile, the truly quiet revolution in the defence industry is occurring not in showcase products but in operational inventory: SİPER systems, radars, reconnaissance and support systems… These rarely make headlines, yet they determine the outcome of wars. Because real success is not flying a prototype; it is mass-producing, delivering, and ensuring operational use in the field. The domestic systems that entered the Turkish Armed Forces inventory this week clearly show that Turkey has moved beyond “we made it” to the stage of “we are deploying it.”
A similar transformation is happening on the export side. The figures are increasing, but what matters more is the change in content. Turkey is now selling platforms, systems and integration capabilities. This transforms the defence industry from merely a foreign-currency-earning sector into an active lever of foreign policy.
The shift in mindset seen at international defence fairs is also symbolic of this change. At exhibitions once attended just to observe, appointments are now scheduled, calendars opened, and contracts discussed.
In short, the defence industry is an explicit state policy. Turkey is using this field as a tool for diplomacy, exports, technological development, and establishing international balance.
Is there risk? Plenty.
Are there challenges? Of course.
But one reality is now indisputable:
Turkey has crossed a point of no return in this field.
KAAN may be one story born from being removed from the F-35 programme. But today, that story has transformed into a symbol of strength born from solitude and a claim to independence.
I wish all aviation professionals a safe and peaceful week.
Mevlüt Zor / mevlutzorr@gmail.com
