Spain Opens Preliminary Talks with Turkey on Kaan Fifth-Generation Fighter

Spain’s Ministry of Defence has begun preliminary government-to-government talks with Turkey’s Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) about acquiring the Kaan, a domestically developed fifth-generation fighter. The discussions were confirmed by TAI chief executive Mehmet Demiroglu at the SAHA 2026 exhibition and reported by Infodefensa on 7 May 2026. No formal procurement decision has been made; the dialogue is framed as a strategic signal while Spain evaluates alternatives to the U.S.-made F-35 programme.

Turkey’s KAAN stealth fighter enters Spain’s radar as FCAS sinks deeper into uncertainty

Spain operates roughly 70 EF-18A/B Hornets, many exceeding 8,000 flight hours, and 12-13 AV-8B + Harrier II aircraft for carrier-based operations. The Hornet fleet is slated to remain in service until 2035-2040, and the Harrier will retire without a ready STOVL replacement. Simultaneously, the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is delayed, with operational service not expected before 2040, creating a projected 10-15-year capability gap.

Spain opens talks to acquire Turkish Kaan fighter jets instead of U.S.-made F-35s

A central driver of the Kaan talks is the promise of greater national control over mission software, electronic-warfare suites, datalinks and sustainment. Under the 2025 Hürjet SAETA II contract, Airbus España integrates mission computers while Turkish industry supplies the airframe, giving Spanish firms such as Indra, GMV, Sener, AERTEC, Grupo Oesía and Orbital a role in integration and lifecycle support. Turkish officials argue the Kaan would let Spain modify avionics and weapons without U.S.-controlled approvals, contrasting with the F-35’s ODIN-based software and logistics architecture.

Spain opens talks to acquire Turkish Kaan fighter jets instead of U.S.-made F-35s

The Kaan performed its maiden flight on 21 February 2024 and remains in prototype testing. Current prototypes use two General Electric F110 engines; Turkey plans to replace them with the indigenous TF3500 engine, pending development. TAI targets initial operational capability around 2029, though some sources cite “the next decade.” Projected performance includes a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 and a payload capacity of up to 10 tonnes, compared with the F-35A’s Mach 1.6 and roughly 8 tonnes. The aircraft is also designed for manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) with UCAVs such as the Anka-3.

Spain opens talks to acquire Turkish Kaan fighter jets instead of U.S.-made F-35s

The F-35 has over 1,000 units in service with 15+ partner nations, offering proven sensor-fusion, stealth, and logistics integration. The Kaan’s stealth signature, internal weapons carriage, and full operational maturity remain unverified. Additionally, the Kaan lacks a STOVL variant, limiting its suitability for the Juan Carlos I carrier, where the F-35B is currently the only operational option. Propulsion reliance on U.S.-made engines also raises licensing concerns until the TF3500 is fielded.

Spain opens talks to acquire Turkish Kaan fighter jets instead of U.S.-made F-35s

• Turkish Aerospace Industries CEO Mehmet Demiroglu stated that the Kaan proposal “offers Spain authority to integrate national missiles, datalinks and sovereign mission software, far beyond what is possible inside the F-35 ecosystem.”

Spain opens talks to acquire Turkish Kaan fighter jets instead of U.S.-made F-35s

• Spain’s Air and Space Force has publicly acknowledged the need to extend Hornet service life to 2035-2040 and confirmed that the Harrier retirement will leave the LHD Juan Carlos I without fixed-wing capability unless a STOVL solution is secured.

Spain opens talks to acquire Turkish Kaan fighter jets instead of U.S.-made F-35s

Spanish defence analysts caution that the Kaan’s developmental stage, unresolved propulsion timeline, and unknown radar-cross-section could delay delivery beyond Spain’s urgent replacement window. The absence of a STOVL variant is highlighted as a critical shortfall for naval aviation. Moreover, reliance on U.S. engine technology may still bind Spain to American export controls.

Turkey’s KAAN stealth fighter enters Spain’s radar as FCAS sinks deeper into uncertainty

• Operational-capability timelines differ: TAI cites 2029, while other sources refer only to “the next decade.”

Turkey’s KAAN stealth fighter enters Spain’s radar as FCAS sinks deeper into uncertainty

• Payload figures vary, with some reports stating up to 10 tonnes for the Kaan versus “roughly 8 tonnes” for the F-35A, without detailed breakdowns of internal carriage.

Spain opens talks to acquire Turkish Kaan fighter jets instead of U.S.-made F-35s

• The Kaan’s radar-cross-section and stealth-maintenance requirements remain undisclosed, preventing a direct performance comparison.

Spain opens talks to acquire Turkish Kaan fighter jets instead of U.S.-made F-35s

Spain is expected to continue evaluating the Kaan alongside its commitments to FCAS and Eurofighter procurements. Further prototype flights and progress on the TF3500 engine are slated for 2026-2027. A decision on any acquisition will likely hinge on the resolution of propulsion licensing, the development of a STOVL variant, and the trajectory of FCAS funding and schedule.

Spain opens talks to acquire Turkish Kaan fighter jets instead of U.S.-made F-35s