According to Ekotrent on December 26, 2024, Saudi Arabia has begun negotiations with Türkiye to acquire 100 Kaan fifth-generation fighter jets. The talks were held during a three-day meeting in Istanbul, where Türkiye’s Defense Industry President Haluk Görgün hosted Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Defense Minister Khaled bin Hussein Al-Biyari and Air Force Commander Turki bin Bandar Al Saud. Discussions centered on the potential procurement of the aircraft, joint production opportunities, and technology transfer agreements, with deliveries anticipated in the 2030s.
During a visit to Türkiye in October 2024, Saudi Air Force Commander Turki bin Bandar Al Saud, accompanied by officials from Saudi Arabia, met with representatives from TAI, Aselsan, and Roketsan. These meetings provided Saudi officials with in-depth briefings on the Kaan’s capabilities and explored opportunities for strategic collaboration. Earlier reports have indicated Saudi Arabia’s interest in acquiring over 100 units of the aircraft, further reinforcing its intent to diversify defense procurement sources and reduce reliance on U.S. suppliers, given that Saudi Arabia appears unable to buy the F-35, despite repeated requests since 2012. This potential purchase follows Saudi Arabia’s $3.1 billion agreement with Türkiye in 2023 for the acquisition of 60 Baykar AKINCI unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), set for delivery in 2025 and 2026.