Pakistan is reportedly close to closing a military cooperation agreement with Turkey that involves setting up a production line for the fifth-generation stealth fighter TAI TF KAAN in the Central Asian country.
Turkish Defense Minister Yashar Guler confirmed that Pakistan would participate in the MMU (TF-X) project to develop and build the KAAN fighter in the country.
The agreement was reportedly reached at the 8th meeting of the Pakistan-Turkish Industrial Fair, which took place in December in Pakistan. The two countries have been in talks on the matter for about a year and a half.
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Production will take place at a plant managed by both the Turkish and Pakistani counterparts, thus strengthening ties between Ankara and Islamabad.
Details about the location and how the production will take place have not been revealed, but the geopolitical implications can be imagined from now on.
Pakistan has been receiving attention from China regarding the 5th generation fighter Shenyang J-35, which could complement the CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder and Chengdu J-10.
However, Turkey has approached Pakistan with a more attractive proposal than the Chinese, which only has a joint venture in the JF-17 light fighter.
KAI has been seeking external customers for the KAAN, including Saudi Arabia, which is said to be looking to acquire 100 aircraft.
With the joint production agreement with Pakistan, Turkey would be offering Saudi Arabia the same possibility.
Implications for India
Pakistan’s decision to strike a deal with Turkey for the KAAN is ringing alarm bells in New Delhi, since its neighbor will have a fifth generation fighter with enormous capabilities.
India is likely to accelerate its search for an ally to supply it with a stealth fighter of the same or higher generation.
India has already been formally invited to participate in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project with Germany, France and Spain.
In addition, India has also recently received an invitation from the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), with the participation of the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan.
However, the two European sixth-generation fighter programs are in the early stages and may merge in the future.
There is also the possibility of an American offer for the Lockheed Martin F-35, but India has also received an offer from Russia to produce and export the Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate fighter. In addition, the state-owned Hindustan manufactures the Su-30MKI fighter under license.
