Saudi Arabia Looks Beyond the F-35 as Turkey Offers KAAN and GÖKBEY

For decades, Saudi Arabia’s air power ambitions have been closely linked to the United States, with renewed momentum in November 2025 when President Donald Trump approved the principle of an F-35 sale as part of a broader strategic defense framework.

Despite this political signal, Saudi Arabia is still not cleared to acquire the F-35, with congressional approval, technology safeguards, and regional considerations still unresolved. As of early 2026, the Kingdom remains outside the F-35 program with no delivery timeline. Against this uncertainty, Turkey has emerged as a credible alternative partner, offering deeper industrial cooperation rather than just platform sales.

Turkey–Saudi Talks Reach “Highest Level”

At the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, senior Turkish officials publicly confirmed that advanced negotiations are underway with Saudi Arabia for the potential local production of Turkey’s KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet and the GÖKBEY (T625) utility helicopter inside the Kingdom.

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu stated that discussions with Saudi officials have reached the “highest level”, explicitly mentioning the possibility of producing both KAAN and GÖKBEY in Saudi Arabia under a cooperation model aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.

According to Demiroğlu, talks include:

• Joint investment frameworks
• Technology transfer
• Local assembly or full production lines
• Long-term industrial partnerships

He added that positive announcements could come within 2026, or even sooner.

Erdoğan Signals Breakthrough Moment

The momentum was further reinforced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who, after meeting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in early February 2026, said that joint investment in KAAN could happen “at any moment.” Erdoğan confirmed that significant defense agreements were signed during the visit and highlighted strong Saudi interest in Turkey’s next-generation fighter program.

Reports suggest discussions have included potential Saudi orders ranging from 20 to 100 KAAN jets, with a focus on local manufacturing to support Saudi Arabia’s goal of building a self-reliant defense industrial base.

GÖKBEY: A Faster, Near-Term Opportunity

While KAAN represents a long-term fifth-generation ambition (with serial production targeted post-2028), GÖKBEY is already in production, making it a more immediate opportunity.

In fact, as early as 2024, TAI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Development Center (NIDC) specifically covering co-production of the GÖKBEY helicopter in the Kingdom. The helicopter is being positioned for military, civilian, and offshore roles, fitting neatly into Saudi Arabia’s diversification plans.

Saudi Side: Interest Without Final Commitment

Notably, Saudi officials have not yet issued direct public statements confirming production commitments. Much of the confirmation has come from the Turkish side. However, Saudi engagement is evident through:

• High-level government meetings
• Signed MoUs
• Repeated Saudi delegations visiting TAI facilities
• Public displays, including KAAN models painted in Saudi Air Force livery

This suggests serious intent, even if a final contract has not yet been announced.

A Strategic Shift Taking Shape

Taken together, the KAAN and GÖKBEY discussions reflect Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy: diversifying away from over-reliance on U.S. defense suppliers, hedging against political uncertainty around platforms like the F-35, and building domestic manufacturing capacity under Vision 2030.

While no final agreement has been signed yet, the negotiations are real, advanced, and politically backed at the highest levels. If concluded, a Turkey–Saudi production partnership on KAAN and GÖKBEY would mark one of the most significant shifts in Middle Eastern defense cooperation in decades.

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