Indonesia to Join Turkish KAAN Jet Project as Doubts Linger Over KF-21

Indonesia has expressed interest in joining Turkey’s fifth-generation fighter jet program, KAAN, raising questions about its ongoing participation in the KF-21 project with South Korea.

During a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said his country is eager to take part in Turkey’s National Combat Aircraft initiative.

“We want to take part in the fifth-generation national combat aircraft KAAN project. Similarly, we want to take part in submarine projects. We want to benefit from Turkey’s defense industry,” Subianto said.

The announcement comes amid growing uncertainty over Jakarta's role in the KF-X (KF-21 Boramae) program, jointly developed with South Korea. According to South Korean officials, Indonesia has repeatedly failed to make timely financial contributions, causing tensions in the partnership. There have also been unconfirmed allegations of data breaches involving the KF-21 program.

Seoul is reportedly reviewing alternative international partners, though diplomatic efforts are underway to manage the situation without escalating tensions.

Subianto’s visit to Turkey also carried broader geopolitical messaging. “As leaders of the Global South, we must take responsibility for creating a new global order as strategic partners,” he said, underscoring growing defense ties between the two countries.

The KAAN program, led by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), aims to develop a fifth-generation stealth fighter to replace aging aircraft and enhance Turkey’s domestic defense capabilities. Indonesia’s possible entry into the program could signal a shift in its strategic priorities and reshape its position within Asia’s defense industry.

On March 24, South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) chief Seok Jong-gun met with Indonesian Vice Defense Minister Donny Ermawan Taufanto in Jakarta to address delays in the KF-21 program. The meeting aimed to ease tensions stemming from unresolved funding issues and a 2022 incident involving unauthorized attempts by Indonesian technicians to access sensitive data, which prompted legal investigations.

Although South Korea reduced Indonesia’s financial obligation from 1.6 trillion won ($1.2 billion) to 600 billion won, Jakarta has not yet approved the revised terms, citing unresolved legal matters. The deadlock could impact the KF-21’s 2026 production timeline and cost structure. Both sides agreed to maintain communication and explore broader defense cooperation, including local production and joint defense exhibitions.