Saudi Arabia is in advanced talks with Türkiye over possible participation in the KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet programme, potentially giving Ankara another major international partner for its flagship combat aircraft project.
London-based news outlet The New Arab reported that Riyadh is exploring ways to join the programme led by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), although no final agreement has been announced.
The negotiations have been building for months but have gained fresh momentum since Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, 2026, creating a new strategic military bloc around the three countries.
At the World Defense Show in Riyadh in February, TUSAŞ General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu said discussions with Saudi Arabia had reached “the highest level.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also said during a visit to Saudi Arabia that month that joint investment in KAAN “could be signed at any moment”.
