A new challenge for Indian Air Force? Pakistan eyes Turkey's TAI Kaan fifth-generation stealth fighter jets

Pakistan is in advanced talks with Turkey to produce TAI Kaan fifth-generation stealth jets, aiming to diversify from Chinese equipment, posing new challenges to India’s air power and defense strategy

kaan

Pakistan's aerial power is likely to have a major boost as the country is in the advanced stage of discussions with Turkey on setting up a production facility for a fifth-generation stealth aircraft, TAI Kaan, in the country.

The facility is expected to focus on producing the local variant of the cutting-edge, next-generation stealth jet.

The report comes even as there have been talks of Pakistan procuring 40 fifth-generation stealth Shenyang J-35 fighter jets from China. These fighter jets are expected to replace the ageing fourth-generation F-16s and French Mirage fighters of Pakistan.

READ MORE: Pakistan to have 40 fifth-generation stealth J-35 fighter jets soon?

Developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), and featuring automatic target recognition, multi-target tracking, ground mapping, AI-assisted target limiting, electronic warfare capacities, and enhanced missile guidance, Kaan—officially known as the TAI Kaan or TF-X—boasts of superior situational awareness and formidable deterrent capabilities.

"Discussions on the export of the Kaan fighter jet and plans for joint development of helicopters highlight shared ambitions to advance defense technology collaboration and industrial partnerships,” according to a Turkish media report.

According to media reports, the discussions may be focused on the technical and logistical aspects of setting up the unit in Pakistan.

“Pakistan might have officially joined the Kaan stealth aircraft project. Multiple subsystems would be manufactured in Pakistan. A joint production line is likely being established. This will reduce the financial burden considerably and provide jobs for Pakistanis,” EurAsian Times quoted a source as saying.

Nonetheless, according to Indian Air Force veteran Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), Kaan is not going to be ready for induction before 2030.

READ MORE: Amid Tejas delivery delay, Indian Air Force worried about China's sixth-generation fighter jets?

He noted that a cash-strapped Pakistan may not be able to purchase two different stealth fighters, and the talks with Turkey are on because Pakistan realizes its military cannot depend on Chinese equipment alone and needs to diversify. "Through Kaan, they strengthen their defense cooperation with a trusted and reliable partner, Turkey,” EurAsian Times quoted him as saying.

The reports of Pakistan's fifth-generation fighter jets ambitions come even as Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh recently expressed concerns over the northern as well as the western adversaries increasing their air forces at a "very rapid pace" while IAF is awaiting the delivery of Tejas aircraft.

Meanwhile, India's fifth-generation fighter program, primarily focused on the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), is expected to be ready only by 2028.

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