Azerbaijan is one of the first in line to acquire Turkish KAAN fighters
By 2035, the initial pool of customers and industrial partners of the Turkish fifth-generation fighter TFX/MMU KAAN may include 10 states, among which Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.
Analysts have compiled a list of the most likely operators of the newest Turkish aircraft for the next decade. The list includes countries that have already launched production, officially placed orders, are industrial partners, are conducting advanced negotiations, or have expressed substantive interest in the program.
According to the forecast, the starting ten buyers of KAAN by 2035 look as follows:
- Turkey: 100 units (the aircraft is already in production, deliveries begin in 2028);
- Saudi Arabia: 100 units (negotiations at an advanced stage, expected timeline — 2031);
- Spain: 60 units (advanced negotiations, Madrid is also being considered as an operator of the Hürjet trainer, 2031);
- Indonesia: 48 units (contract signed / order placed, 2030);
- Qatar: 40 units (negotiations at an advanced stage, 2032);
- Pakistan: more than 40 units (advanced negotiations, 2032). Islamabad is notable for becoming the first customer whose fighters will be equipped exclusively with TF-35K engines;
- Egypt: 24 units (preliminary negotiations, 2032);
- Malaysia: 20 units (preliminary negotiations, 2031);
- Syria: 20 units (estimated, 2033);
- Azerbaijan: 20 units (estimated, 2035).
Experts emphasize that this list is not exhaustive and reflects only the initial geography of the KAAN program’s expansion, which will cement Ankara’s status as one of the key players in the global market for future combat aviation.
TOP 25 most-likely operators* of the TFX/MMU #KAAN by 2035.
🇹🇷 Türkiye -- 100 (In Production), 2028
🇮🇩 Indonesia -- 48 (Signed/On Order), 2030
🇸🇦 S. Arabia -- 100 (Advanced Talks), 2031
🇪🇸 Spain -- 60 (Advanced Talks, Hürjet Operator), 2031
🇵🇰 Pakistan -- 40+ (Advanced Talks),… pic.twitter.com/rTIzCCMq51 — Turkish Century (@TurkishCentury) June 6, 2026
