Egypt Enters Turkey's Kaan Fighter Jet Program with Joint Production Plans

Egypt Enters Turkey's Kaan Fighter Jet Program with Joint Production Plans.

Turkey had previously reached a preliminary agreement with Indonesia for the future sale of Kaan fighter jets.

Tuesday, August 5, 2025.

Egypt has received formal approval to join Turkey's indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet program, the Kaan. This development marks a significant milestone in defense cooperation between the two countries and underscores Egypt's intention to become a key player in next-generation aerospace technology. The bilateral agreement reportedly includes provisions for technology transfer, a collaborative production line, and the future procurement of Kaan fighter jets by the Egyptian Air Force.

The Kaan is designed to match or even surpass the capabilities of other fifth-generation platforms such as the US F-35 Lightning II, the Russian Su-57 Felon, and the Chinese J-20 Mighty Dragon. The aircraft features a low-observability airframe with radar-absorbent materials and sharply angled surfaces to reduce its radar cross-section (RCS). The internal weapons bay configuration allows the aircraft to maintain stealth during combat missions, and conformal fuel tanks are being developed to extend operational range while maintaining a low-observability profile. The aircraft is 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 advantages is its next-generation active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, developed by ASELSAN. This radar offers target tracking, electronic attack, and synthetic aperture radar imaging functions in a single integrated suite. Combined with an advanced infrared search and track system (IRST), a distributed aperture system (DAS), and an electro-optical targeting system (EOTS), the radar allows pilots to detect, track, and engage enemy aircraft without relying solely on radar emissions. The cockpit features a panoramic touchscreen, a voice command interface, and a helmet-mounted display system (HMDS), which maximizes pilot situational awareness and reduces workload during high-intensity combat. The Kaan's twin-engine configuration is initially powered by General Electric F110-GE-129 engines, pending the future integration of domestically developed engines in a parallel engine development program led by TRMotor and TÜBITAK-SAGE. Each engine produces over 29,000 pounds of thrust, enabling sustained supersonic speeds (supercruise) above Mach 1.8 without afterburners, a critical requirement for survivability in high-altitude conflict. 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, the Kaan is designed to carry an internal payload of up to 1,500 kg in its weapons bay and an external payload of over 6,000 kg under its wings when stealth is not required. The Kaan's modular architecture supports a wide range of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, including Gökdogan and Bozdogan missiles, precision-guided bombs, anti-ship missiles, and long-range cruise weapons such as the 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. In addition to its technical attributes, the fighter is built with an artificial intelligence-based mission system, predictive maintenance capabilities, and secure data link interoperability for NATO and non-NATO coalition operations. As part of its growing international reach and defense export ambitions, Turkey has previously reached a preliminary agreement with Indonesia for the future sale of Kaan fighter jets. This agreement, which is still in its early stages, includes potential joint development opportunities and technology transfer, reflecting both countries' shared interest in enhancing domestic defense capabilities.

Indonesia, which has long sought to modernize its air force beyond Russian and Western platforms, views Kaan as a strategic alternative that balances cost, capability, and industrial collaboration. While no final contract has been disclosed, officials from both sides have signaled a strong intention to move forward, positioning Indonesia as a potential first foreign operator for Turkey's fifth-generation fighter jet. The geopolitical relevance of this collaboration between Egypt and Turkey lies in its potential to reshape regional power dynamics at a time when Middle East and North Africa defense strategies are being increasingly disrupted.

The Atmaca Anti Ship Missile Turkey Will Be Installed on the Indonesian ...

The Atmaca Anti-Ship Missile Turkey Will Be Installed on the Indonesian Navy's OPV 90.

12/11/2022.

The Atmaca anti-ship missile made by Roketsan, Turkey, has also been named in the Indo Defense 2022 event. Apart from being previously reported to have been eyed by the Indonesian Navy, a press release from the Indonesian Ministry of Defense has also indicated the potential for cooperation in the acquisition of Atmaca missiles. But it should be noted, this is only a potential and has not yet been outlined in the form of an defense equipment procurement contract. As a multi-platform anti-ship missile, Atmaca has characteristics like the Harpoon and Exocet, which are prepared in variants that can be launched from surface warships, air vehicles and land-based platforms. Then it becomes a question for netizens, if Atmaca is later acquired by the Indonesian Navy, where will this anti-ship missile be placed?

Returning to the press release of the Indonesian Ministry of Defense during Indo Defense 2022, it was stated that the Atmaca missile will become an arsenal for OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel) type ships, including OPV 90. The Atmaca missile will later complement the weapons in the Indonesian Navy's OPV in the Fit for But Not scheme. With (FFBNW). Referring to Havelsan's statement, which is also a defense vendor for Turkey, then there is a match, where Havelsan will supply the Advent CMS (Combat Management System) to the two OPVs ordered by the Indonesian Navy which are currently under construction. Which means, there is compatibility between the use of the Advent CMS made in Turkey and the Atmaca anti-ship missile which is also made in Turkey.

Atmaca, which means Eagle, is an anti-ship missile developed within the scope of the MILGEM project, namely Turkey's national warship development program (Ada Class corvette). Tracing its lineage, Roketsan was officially awarded the first phase research and development contract in 2009, and it was only in 2012 that the Atmaca development project was fully accelerated under the auspices of the Turkish Ministry of Defense.

Atmaca is called an anti-ship missile that shoots at a subsonic speed level of Mach 0.85 and flies at sea skimming altitude. Supported by the microturbo engine Safran TR40, Atmaca has a range of up to 200 km. The weight of this missile reaches 800 kg, including a 250 kg high-explosive penetrating warhead.

Atmaca has a length of 5.2 meters, a diameter of 350 mm and a wingspan of 1.4 meters. What about the guiding system? This missile alert of the Ottoman State relies on a combination of an inertial navigation system, GPS (Global Positioning System), barometric altimeter/radar altimeter with terminal guidance via an active radio frequency (RF) seeker. At Indo Defense 2022, Roketsan brought a full mockup of this missile. Unlike the variants launched from warships, the land-based variant of the Atmaca missile is equipped with an infrared guidance system.

As for the warships, our source within the internal TNI AL said, there are two options in the development of OPV, namely between 'larging' the patrol boat or reducing the weapons capabilities of a corvette or frigate. If you look at the 90-meter OPV design from PT Daya Radar Utama (DRU), what is shown is likely to be the 'highest' arsenal set-up if the OPV is to be operated by the Indonesian Navy.

From the design in the drawings, PT DRU's 90-meter OPV is equipped with a 35 mm caliber Rheinmetall Millennium Gun fast reaction cannon mounted on the hangar. Then on the middle deck, there are 2×4 anti-ship missile launchers and in the bow you can see the OTO Melara 76 mm Super Rapid Gun cannon. (Glang Prime)

source : www.indomilitary.com