Indonesia and Türkiye are expected to sign an agreement involving the Kaan during the Indo Defence 2025 exhibition. The deal’s content remains undisclosed.
Indonesia, a key Asia-Pacific power, is in the midst of major air combat modernisation. While local sources suggest Jakarta may have halted its $8.1 billion Rafale order after Pakistan shot down Indian jets, outlets like Reuters and Breaking Defense report otherwise: the deal continues, with a new Letter of Intent signed on 28 May covering potential additional aircraft. The first six of 42 Rafales are expected in early 2026.
Simultaneously, Indonesia has an approved F-15IDN/EX request from the US and a 2023 MoU with Boeing for 24 jets, featuring 85% local industry offset. Yet, Beijing’s J-10C also draws interest—despite deep commercial ties with China, defence cooperation remains politically sensitive in Jakarta.
Indonesia is still formally involved in Republic of Korea’s KF-21 programme, but its contribution has shrunk to 7.5% as of August 2024, and the project is now advancing mainly under Seoul’s lead.
With these dynamics in play, the scope of Indonesia’s interest in Türkiye’s fifth-generation Kaan remains unclear—but expectations for a concrete agreement during Indo Defence 2025 signal a growing strategic alignment between Ankara and Jakarta.
Author: Özgür Ekşi
