Indonesia to procure 48 TAI Kaan fighters, 2 MILGEM Istif-class frigates from Turkiye

 

The TAI Kaan fighter. Photo c/o Breaking Defence.

Indonesia and Turkiye has reached a landmark agreement with a deal to export the latter’s new Kaan 5th generation fighter aircraft as well as the MILGEM Istif-class frigates to the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) and Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL), respectively.

Representatives from both countries signed a commercial contract on 26 July 2025 for the export of 48 Kaan fighter aircraft from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) which also include comprehensive cooperation between the two countries that also involves technology transfer, and local engineering and manufacturing capabilities, as well as assisting in improving Indonesia’s aerospace infrastructure.

It is expected that the delivery program for all 48 aircraft will be completed in 10 years, which will be around 2036.

Other details of the deal include the inclusion of Indonesia’s PT Dirgantara Indonesia and PT Republik Aero Dirgantara as partners for industrial collaboration, technical and engineering support, and joint technology development.

This deal makes Indonesia the first confirmed export market for the new Kaan fighter, which only conducted its maiden flight on February 2024, and will start serial production by 2028.

Separately at the sidelines of the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul, a deal was also finalized for the supply of two Istif-class (also known as Istanbul-class) frigates to the Indonesian Navy.

Turkish and Indonesian officials during signing of contract for 2 Istif-class frigates for the Indonesian Navy. Photo c/o Naval News.

The deal was signed also on 26 July 2025, with Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Defense Facilities Agency chief Air Marshall Yusuk Jauhari representing the Indonesian Governmen, together with officials from Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL and Turkiye’s TAIS.

It is believed that the deal may involve the diversion of two frigates currently under construction by TAIS to the Turkish Navy, and will be made instead for the Indonesian Navy to allow faster delivery and quickly fill gaps in the Indonesian Navy’s operational requirements. 

The new frigates will be using mostly Turkish-made sensors, electronics, weapons and mechanical systems as originally designed for the Turkish Navy, which includes the ADVENT Combat Management System from HAVELSAN, the Cenk-S AESA air/surface search radar and Gokdeniz close-in weapon system from Aselsan, the ATMACA anti-ship missiles and MIDLAS vertical launch system with HISAR-D surface-to-air missiles from Roketsan, weapon system, and may also include the Denzhan 76mm/62cal naval gun from MKE.

[1] Naval News

[2]  Defense News

[3] Jakarta Globe