Image: from Turkish Century X@TurkishCentury
By Open Chronicle News Desk
JAKARTA — The Indonesian government has established a strict condition for its planned acquisition of the Turkish fifth-generation KAAN fighter jet: the aircraft must be entirely free of components subject to U.S. export controls. The requirement, reported by defense outlets on Sunday, underscores Jakarta’s growing determination to maintain strategic autonomy and avoid the pitfalls of international arms regulations.
The decision centers on the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), a set of U.S. rules that govern the export of defense technology. Under ITAR, the U.S. government maintains the authority to approve or block the sale, modification, and operational use of any military platform containing American-made parts or software. Indonesia, which has historically faced U.S. arms embargoes, views this as a significant strategic risk that could compromise the long-term readiness of its air force.
BREAKING ✈️ — Indonesia is becoming an official partner of the 5th-gen #stealth TFX/MMU #KAAN fighter jet project!
“Indonesia is interested in participating in the KAAN and submarine projects,” President Prabowo Subianto stated in a recent official visit to Türkiye.#Jakarta… pic.twitter.com/smJqxHkZkI
— Turkish Century (@TurkishCentury) April 10, 2025
Indonesia and Turkey signed a monumental framework agreement in June 2025 for the potential export of 48 KAAN aircraft in a deal valued at approximately $15 billion. According to Mehmet Demiroğlu, CEO of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), the acquisition is structured in three phases, with subsequent stages planned for 2026. However, Indonesian officials have signaled they are willing to wait for a “fully ITAR-free” configuration, which would require the integration of Turkey’s domestically produced TF35000 turbofan engine instead of the American General Electric F110 engines currently used in prototypes.
This “no-U.S.-parts” policy is part of a broader, more diversified procurement strategy by Indonesia. In addition to the Turkish jets, Jakarta is currently awaiting deliveries of 42 French Dassault Rafale fighters and has recently approved a $9 billion budget to purchase Chinese J-10C fighters, marking its first major acquisition of non-Western combat aircraft.
By demanding an ITAR-free KAAN, Indonesia seeks unrestricted access to maintenance, technology transfers, and local production capabilities. This move positions the KAAN program not just as a procurement deal, but as a critical test of Turkey’s ability to offer a truly independent fifth-generation alternative in the global defense market.