Turkey Agrees Indonesian KAAN Fighter Jet MRO Facility to be PT Republik Aero Dirgantara Responsibility

TIMEMOMENTS.COM- Indonesia and Turkey officially signed a contract for the sale of 48 KAAN fighter jets during the IDEF 2025 exhibition.

Timemoments.com citing a post on the Turkish Defense Industries Presidency (SSB) Facebook account on July 26, 2025, the signing of the contract for the sale of 48 KAAN fighter jets to Indonesia was described by SSB President Haluk Gorgun as a historic moment.

"IDEF 2025

Another historic moment in history…

Today, we held a signing ceremony for the commercial contract containing all the details and technical annexes of the ‘Government-to-Government Procurement Agreement (G2G)’ we signed with the Indonesian Ministry of Defense on June 11, 2025, which includes cooperation for a total of 48 KAAN aircraft.

This signing is not merely an export initiative; it also marks the beginning of a new era in engineering, production, and technology sharing.

The local industrial infrastructure to be built in Indonesia will reflect our strategic depth, forged through friendship, on the ground.

I am deeply grateful to witness this historic moment together.

I would like to thank all our stakeholders, especially TUSAS, for their contributions to this project.

@halukgrgn," wrote the Facebook account.

Timemoments.com quoted from Anadolu Agency on July 26, 2025, the signing ceremony was attended by Defense Industry President Haluk Görgün, Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, TAI Board of Directors Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan, Deputy Minister of National Defense and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors Şuay Alpay, and TAI General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu.

“The agreement signed for the sale of the KAAN fighter jets, designed, developed, and produced by Türkiye using national resources, to Indonesia marks the largest export contract in Turkey's defense industry to date,” the Turkish media reported.

Defense Industry President Haluk Gorgun stated that the foundation for long-term and forward-looking cooperation between the two brotherly nations has been laid, adding that concrete steps toward the vision proposed by both leaders have been taken.

He noted that Turkey and Indonesia are advancing many joint programs in the defense industry, and that Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin came to IDEF to discuss new contracts.

Gorgun noted that they signed two separate agreements today, recalling that about one and a half months ago, they signed an intergovernmental agreement demonstrating the two countries' commitment to KAAN.

He stated that the actual contract for KAAN, which will meet the needs of the Indonesian Air Force, was signed on July 26, 2025, by the responsible company, TUSAS.

Meanwhile, Republikorp, an Indonesian private defense company, stated in its release on July 26, 2025, that this historic agreement not only covers the acquisition of low-observable and multi-role fighter jets for the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) but also provides a complete ecosystem including training, technical support, and long-term maintenance within the country.

"A total of 48 KAAN units will be produced in a special ‘Indonesian variant’ configuration with engines made in Türkiye.

Indonesia will also build and operate local flight simulators to support training and system integration.

This package includes comprehensive training for pilots, technicians, and ground crew, as well as long-term after-sales services, technical engineering support, and integrated logistics.

Two national defense industry entities, PT Republik Aero Dirgantara (PT RAD) and PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), have been designated as the main partners in implementing this program domestically," explained Republikorp in its release.

For information, PT RAD is one of Republikorp's subsidiaries that will participate in the Indonesian KAAN fighter jet project.

"PT RAD: Infrastructure, Investment, and National Training

As a subsidiary of Republikorp, PT RAD will be responsible for:

The construction of the main MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) facility for the KAAN fighter jet in Indonesia.

Operationalizing training centers and simulators to support the readiness of TNI AU personnel.

Enhancing domestic support capacity that is self-reliant and sustainable," wrote Republikorp in its statement.

Norman Joesoef, Chairman of Republikorp, stated that his company is ready to serve as the primary bridge for the transfer of KAAN technology from Turkey to Indonesia.

"As the designated company, we are ready to serve as the primary bridge for the transfer of KAAN technology to Indonesia.

This is a strategic opportunity to bring manufacturing capabilities and enhance domestic support capacity," he said.

Meanwhile, PTDI, as a strategic national state-owned enterprise (BUMN), is reported to play a key role in the final assembly of some KAAN units at PTDI facilities.

PTDI will also be responsible for engineering collaboration and technology sharing with TUSAŞ.

Additionally, technical readiness and industrial maintenance, aimed at strengthening national logistics support, will be managed by PTDI.

"With TUSAŞ leading as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and design authority, along with industrial investments and contributions from PT RAD and PTDI, Indonesia is advancing as a nation capable of independently developing and maintaining state-of-the-art air defense systems.

This cooperation structure reflects a major transformation in Indonesia's defense industry—from a buyer nation to a developer and owner of strategic air defense capabilities for the future," concluded Republikorp.

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