Why is Saudi Arabia interested in Turkish Kaan Fighters?

Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in acquiring Turkish-made fighter jets, according to three sources familiar with the discussions, signaling a potential shift in the Kingdom’s defense procurement strategy.

Saudi officials have held preliminary talks with Turkish defense industry representatives about the TF-X/MMU fighter program, also known as Kaan, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.

The exact number of aircraft under discussion could not be independently verified by Libyan Express, though two sources mentioned a potential figure of 100 units.

The discussions come as Saudi Arabia continues to seek alternatives to U.S. military hardware. The Kingdom has expressed interest in American F-35 fighters since 2017, according to publicly available diplomatic correspondence, but has faced obstacles in securing a deal.

“Saudi Arabia is actively diversifying its defense partnerships,” said a senior Gulf-based defense analyst who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. “This reflects both practical needs and broader strategic shifts in the region.”

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), based in Ankara, is developing the fighter as part of Turkey’s efforts to build an independent defense industry. TAI did not respond to Libyan Express’ requests for comment. Saudi defense officials declined to comment on ongoing procurement discussions.

The potential cooperation aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic transformation plan, which calls for localising 50% of military equipment spending by 2030, according to official Saudi government documents.

Separately, Saudi Arabia has sought to join the British-Italian-Japanese Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). The status of that request remains unclear, with Japanese officials expressing reservations about technology transfer, according to diplomatic sources.

Saudi-Turkish defense cooperation has expanded since the 2021 Al-Ula Declaration normalised relations between the countries, as documented in bilateral agreements and trade data.

Turkish defense industry officials have stated publicly that their fighter program aims to begin mass production by the late 2020s, though specific timelines remain subject to development progress.

The U.S. State Department, when asked about Saudi interest in Turkish fighters, said it does not comment on potential defense sales before formal notification to Congress.