Pakistan May join Turkey's KAAN Fighter Jet Project

Pakistan may join Turkey’s KAAN fighter jet project with the latter stating it will open talks for the same with Islamabad.

The Pakistan Aeronautics Complex, Kamra (PAC-K) may partner with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the purpose.

TAI announced during last week’s IDEF 2023 that Azerbaijan had joined the KAAN project without specifying the extent of its involvement. If Pakistan joins, it will be the second foreign partner.

“In this month we will be discussing with our Pakistani counterparts to officially include Pakistan in our National Fighter Jet Program,” Dr. Celal Sami TÜFEKCİ, Turkey’s Deputy Minister of National Defense, was quoted as saying by reports.

Pakistan already has experience in aircraft building with participation having successfully executed the JF-17 project along with China.

Pakistan has close relationship with Turkey in terms of defense technology. The JF-17 is kitted with a targeting pod from Turkish firm, Aselsan. Islamabad is reported to have purchased Turkish drones besides participating in warship building.

As per reports, Islamabad will be tasked with manufacturing multiple subsystems for the KAAN fighter.