Turkey has reportedly approved Egypt’s participation in its KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet program, marking a potential milestone in the two countries’ expanding military cooperation following years of strained ties, according to media reports.
The development was recently reported by Tactical Report, a Middle East-focused intelligence weekly specializing in defense and geopolitical developments in addition to Turkish media outlets.
The KAAN is Turkey’s next-generation stealth fighter, designed to replace its aging fleet of US-made F-16s. Launched in 2016 the program represents Turkey’s ambition to develop a domestically produced alternative to Western combat aircraft. Turkish officials aim to induct the aircraft into service by the late 2020s.
Egypt, which operates one of the region’s largest air forces, has shown growing interest in diversifying its defense suppliers. Its current fleet includes roughly 210 F-16s, 78 Mirage 5s, 19 Mirage 2000s and newer MiG-29M and Rafale fighters. Many of its older Mirage and MiG aircraft are near the end of their service life. The country faces pressure to modernize its airforce while reducing its dependence on a few foreign suppliers.
Since 2015 Egypt has ordered 54 Rafale fighter jets from France, with deliveries ongoing. Cairo has also taken part in joint training exercises involving China’s J-10C fighters and is in talks with South Korea to acquire FA-50 light attack jets to modernize its trainer fleet.
A broader industrial partnership
Egypt’s anticipated role in the KAAN program is expected to go beyond simply acquiring new aircraft. Reports indicate the deal would include technology transfer, component manufacturing and even domestic assembly, aligning with Egypt’s long-term goal of expanding its local defense industry.
A formal agreement between Turkey and Egypt is expected by late 2025. Egyptian officials have reportedly inspected a KAAN prototype, which is in early flight testing. The aircraft currently uses General Electric F110 engines, meaning Turkey must obtain US approval to re-export the engines to third parties such as Egypt, an approval that is not guaranteed.
“Joint manufacturing with Turkey will be a very positive step because it will be so beneficial for the Egyptian Armed Forces,” said retired Air Force Gen. Hassan Rashid in an interview with The New Arab, a London-based English-language news outlet that covers political, social, economic and cultural developments across the Middle East and North Africa region.
He said the cooperation would help Egypt access advanced technologies, which remain restricted under US arms export policy. Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are all barred from buying the F-35 US-made fifth generation fighter jet.
Closing the regional gap
Dr. Ali Bakır, a professor at Qatar University and visiting fellow at the Atlantic Council, told Turkish media that the KAAN program could help Egypt close the military technology gap with Israel, the only country in the Middle East currently flying the US-made F-35 stealth fighter.
“Even if some countries eventually receive the F-35, the versions they get will likely be downgraded compared to those delivered to Israel,” Bakır said.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also expressed interest in the KAAN, viewing it as a viable alternative amid barriers to acquiring Western fifth-generation fighter jets. Turkey aims to begin exporting the aircraft by 2028.
A political turnaround
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi first expressed interest in the KAAN program during a visit to Ankara in September 2024. Bilateral talks have progressed since then, representing a broader thaw in Turkish-Egyptian relations after a decade of regional rivalry.
If finalized, the KAAN deal could provide Egypt with a long-term path to modernize its air force while advancing its defense industrial base, and mark a new chapter in strategic cooperation between two major regional powers.
Egypt and Turkey normalized relations after a decade of diplomatic estrangement that began with Ankara’s sharp criticism of the 2013 military ouster of Egypt’s elected president, Mohamed Morsi. Following years of mutual accusations and regional rivalry, the two countries began official reconciliation talks in 2021.
The process gained momentum with reciprocal ambassadorial appointments in 2023 and high-level visits, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Cairo in February 2024 and el-Sisi’s trip to Ankara in September 2024, signaling a new chapter of cooperation in trade, energy and defense.