TR TF-X KAAN Fighter Jet

[2033]

Saudi Arabia evaluates ordering 100 units of KAAN jets from Türkiye - Straturka

Türkiye and Saudi Arabia continue to boost their defense cooperation. After ordering and undisclosed number of Bayraktar drones and agreeing to produce them with Türkiye’s Baykar Tech, Riyadh hints that it may order 100 units of KAAN jets. Haluk Görgün, President of Turkish Defence Industries...

www.straturka.com

Here is the first source:

Ankara-Riyad hattında KAAN etkisi

Türkiye’den Akıncı TİHA satın alan Suudi Arabistan’ın 5. nesil milli muharip uçak KAAN’a ilgisinin ardından iki ülke arasında savunma sanayiinde kapsamlı iş birliği için görüşmelere başlandı.

www.milliyet.com.tr

The news is still just rumors.

 

[Sanchez]

Saudi cooperation would be huge. Shouldn't get stuck in rumors tho, might be just a play to make the Japanese change their minds re Saudi entrance into GCAP.

 

[hugh]

Saudi cooperation would be huge. Shouldn't get stuck in rumors tho, might be just a play to make the Japanese change their minds re Saudi entrance into GCAP.

If they have an ounce of brain, they should support KAAN's development with everything they have. Especially the development of TF35K. Arab world does not realize this yet but if they want to stand a chance against Israel in the future, they have to invest in Turkish MIC. We could give them benefits like local production and some ToT. It's win-win.

 

[Shtr]

If they have an ounce of brain, they should support KAAN's development with everything they have. Especially the development of TF35K. Arab world does not realize this yet but if they want to stand a chance against Israel in the future, they have to invest in Turkish MIC. We could give them benefits like local production and some ToT. It's win-win.

They must be prepared to be not future's Africa. Apart from their natural resources they have nothing. Having a strong muslim friend for them is priceless. They are already moving fast forward to be a secular country but they need a long way to complete it.

 

[Fuzuli NL]

 

[Oublious]

Saudi cooperation would be huge. Shouldn't get stuck in rumors tho, might be just a play to make the Japanese change their minds re Saudi entrance into GCAP.

Nope they will not, why would they let them in? Like they are poor countries need the money of KSA? If they come to Kaan should give the same treatment like Western world do, the first offer is gone. No partner but customer making some parts. They throw bone and did let them wait and now they are still asking.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1867562869857919407

 

[Sanchez]

why would they let them in?

Because British are hemorrhaging money and they need all the dollars they can find to fund their main defence program of the next 3 decades. They are still actively campaigning to let Saudis in in some form or another, Italians are similar.

I think if they saw the light and wanted to get Kaans, we would do all in our power excluding transferring IP rights to get them on board. Saudis are a good customer and still an important partner for us in the region. Not because they will start a war against Israel, but because it's much better than fighting for influence when we can partner up in defence. I would in no circumstance want, say Emiratis joining Kaan, they are a veiled enemy, but Saudis are good.

 

[Yasar_TR]

Here is savunmasanayist’s take on it:

Suudi Arabistan’dan 100 adet KAAN hedefi | SavunmaSanayiST

Savunma Sanayii Başkanı Haluk Görgün, Suudi Arabistan heyetiyle KAAN gibi büyük projelerde iş birliği için, İstanbul’da 3 gün sürecek görüşmelere başladı.

www.savunmasanayist.com

If Saudi military would go for KAAN, it would make life much easier for us. But we need to be cautious about it. Degree of involvement and how much say they want, is important.

 

[BordoEnes]

This would be huge, getting Arab countries behind it would eleviate the biggest problem the program can face and that be over-budgeting and inflating costs. Practically every program always goes above the targeted costs, if they support the program that would create a safety net. Not only that but I am hoping the UAE also eventually makes up their mind and joins. They desperately wanted the F-35, only to get denied it and being forced to purchase Rafale's. If those two alone back the KAAN, we would be potentially even talk about going beyond 5th gen eventually in the short-medium term future.

 

[dBSPL]

The main combatant jet, along with perhaps one or two other systems, is the most foreign policy/relations dependent of all a country's defense needs. It is not enough just to pay for it, the conditions that come with it have to be compatible with the interests of the country.

So I hope for some progress in the near future in aligning KSA's interests with TR and providing a common perspective. There are no insurmountable points of disagreement between KSA and TR at the moment. As for the UAE, a complex set of problems starting from Syria and even extending to Sudan, Libya and Somalia is an important political barrier. There are still deep divisions in our hinterland and in our shared spheres of influence, some of which are really difficult to manage and therefore have the potential to escalate quickly.

 

[BordoEnes]

The main combatant jet, along with perhaps one or two other systems, is the most foreign policy/relations dependent of all a country's defense needs. It is not enough just to pay for it, the conditions that come with it have to be compatible with the interests of the country.

So I hope for some progress in the near future in aligning KSA's interests with TR and providing a common perspective. There are no insurmountable points of disagreement between KSA and TR at the moment. As for the UAE, a complex set of problems starting from Syria and even extending to Sudan, Libya and Somalia is an important political barrier. There are still deep divisions in our hinterland and in our shared spheres of influence, some of which are really difficult to manage and therefore have the potential to escalate quickly.

Oh most certainly, but if the UAE was willingly to sign the Abraham accords with Israel to get their hands on the F-35's then it means they are willing to make serious concessions to get their hands on fifth gen jets. There are avenues wherein some sort of financing agreement can be made in similar fashion to the JSF level of partipaction. Contribution on their part will be limited but they will be the first in line to get them, with some strings attached ofcourse. Actually seems like an extremely good bargaining chip for leverage in all aspects, be it economical, diplomatic and militarily. Seeing commong perspectives and realigning interests is almost a given imo.

 

[Oublious]

I am not warm, i do not forget things fast. Sending fighters to Crete . Lets give Ksa doubt, but UAE? They are axis off evil, they are the country who bombed Turkish airbas in Libya.

 

[Blackeyes90]

What about export models ? Radar and EW systems must be diffirent than our own planes right ?

 

[hugh]

What about export models ? Radar and EW systems must be diffirent than our own planes right ?

making and validating different versions of hardware for export is not worth the trouble. what you would do is to limit the performance of the system through software. the hardware could be the same but the output would be defined by the variables in the software.

 

[TheInsider]

What about export models ? Radar and EW systems must be diffirent than our own planes right ?

It is easier nowadays. Aselsan/TUSAŞ can limit output power, wide band coverage etc via software. TUSAŞ can say look it is the same hardware you are getting the same hardware.

 

[Sanchez]

Oh most certainly, but if the UAE was willingly to sign the Abraham accords with Israel to get their hands on the F-35's then it means they are willing to make serious concessions to get their hands on fifth gen jets

What UAE really wanted was the defence agreement with US and being labeled a "Major Non-NATO Ally", not necessarily just the F-35s. Few months ago they were labeled a "Major Defense Partner", not yet where they want to be. Both Saudi and UAE are still on track to receive it under Trump. If we can bag the Saudi participation before that decision is made, it'd be lovely.

 

[TheInsider]

F-35 will lose to KAAN in the near future, the USA has no other 5th-gen fighter and the US won't sell 6th-gen to anyone. Saudis don't have many choice till 2040s. J-35, Su-57 or F-35 and KAAN those are potential Saudi targets until 2040. Saudis will either buy F-35 or KAAN i think Saudi interest in KAAN is to show the US that they are not the only choice. If the US releases F-35s for Saudis, Saudis will go for it. If not KAAN looks the only way.

KAAN has better kinematics more electric production more cooling capacity radar of the KAAN has more brute force. KAAN will carry gel-based ramjet BVR missiles. I can see the F-35 losing importance after 2030.

 

[godel44]

If I were the Saudis, I would try to buy both the F-35 and Kaan if only to diversify sources and not be subject to whims of a single supplier. They can certainly afford it.