Ukraine plans to buy Turkish KAAN fighters

Ukraine’s Ambassador to Ankara, Vasiliy Bodnar, stated on CNN Türk that Ukraine plans to procure Turkish fifth-generation fighter jets, the KAAN, in the future.

“Ukrainian experts are working within the framework of the project to create an engine for the Turkish national combat aircraft KAAN. This is not a new story. We have several experienced engine development companies,” Bodnar said, Militarnyi reports.

The Ambassador suggested that the Turkish fighter jet could become a competitor to American aircraft, adding that Ukraine plans to purchase it.

“Ukraine will also acquire KAAN. And we will not limit ourselves to buying them, we will use them, and we know where exactly,” the Ambassador said.

Türkiye is looking for foreign partners who could reduce its own financial burden from the program. Given the Ukrainian-Turkish cooperation in the defense sphere, the involvement of Ukrainian enterprises in the KAAN development program is quite likely.

The development of the aircraft is carried out in stages, so important weapons systems will be installed only on later prototypes. The fighter, which was previously known as the MMU (Milli Muharip Ucak), or TF-X on May 1, 2023, was officially named KAAN.

The Turkish developers have the goal of creating a combat aircraft that will have low radar visibility and high maneuverability. It will have a modern optical-electronic location system and onboard radar. Production of three MMU Block prototypes is planned to be completed by the end of 2026 and one Block I prototype by 2029.