Turkey and Pakistan have announced the establishment of a joint aircraft factory to produce KAAN 5th-generation fighter jets.

Army Recognition reported on this with reference to the Turkish Minister of Defense.

In January 2025, during an international meeting at the Pak-Turkish Industrial Expo forum, Turkish Defense Minister Yashar Guler confirmed that Pakistan would participate in the MMU (TF-X) project to develop and build the KAAN fighter jet.

Details on the timing of construction and readiness of the new aviation enterprise in Pakistan remain unknown. However, it is clear that the plant will be launched no sooner than the completion of testing of the promising fighter.

The construction of production facilities for a virtually non-existent aircraft that is only being tested is a normal practice in the aviation industry. The project’s main developer, the Turkish Aerospace Industry, is interested in building infrastructure and expanding the user market.

At the same time, the Pakistani military and the national defense industry will have access to advanced technologies in the strategic sphere. In addition, the national aviation industry will thus be able to diversify its dependence on China in the joint production of JF-17 fighter jets.

Last year, it was reported that Ukraine was also interested in this project and planned to purchase Turkish fifth-generation KAAN fighter jets.

Turkey is seeking partners for the fighter jet development program due to financial difficulties, so a partnership could reduce the program’s financial burden. Given the Ukrainian-Turkish cooperation in the defense sector, the involvement of Ukrainian enterprises in the KAAN development program is quite likely.

MMU/TF-X project fighter jet

The promising Turkish fighter jet KAAN, formerly known as the Milli Muharip Ucak or TF-X, was launched in 2010 as a national combat aircraft and a replacement for the existing fleet of aging F-16s.

The Turkish developers set a goal to create a combat aircraft that will have low radar visibility and high maneuverability. It will have a modern optical-electronic localization system and an onboard radar.

The first operational prototype of the aircraft was built in 2022 and began ground testing the following year. The production of two other prototypes is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026, and another prototype in the Block I version by 2029.

In February 2024, KAAN conduct its maiden flight. The tests were successful: the aircraft took off, flew the designated route, and landed using a braking parachute.