SAUDI ARABIA IS INTERESTED IN BUYING 100 FIGHTER JETS FROM TURKEY

Tue 31 December 2024:

Saudi Arabia is seeking to buy 100 Kaan fighter jets from Turkiye as part of its Vision 2030 plan, Turkish newspaper Milliyet has reported.

The fifth-generation Kaan fighter jet was developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS), and can perform air-to-air combat missions, as well as conduct precision air to ground strikes at supersonic speeds.

The head of the Turkish Defence Industries Directorate, Haluk Gorgun, met with Saudi Assistant Defence Minister Khalid Bin Hussein Al-Bayari last week, along with the Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force, Turki Bin Bandar Al-Saud. The meeting was in Istanbul.

🇹🇷 KAAN 5. nesil savaş uçağı hakkında uzun zamandır rastladığım “doğruya en yakın” yurt dışı kaynaklı tanıtım videosu: “Turkey’s TF Kaan 5th Generation Fighter”

(Tamamı için: https://t.co/KnTBq6zAOY) pic.twitter.com/donCppq9QP

— Turan Oguz (@TyrannosurusRex) March 15, 2024

Israel’s Maariv newspaper quoted senior officials as saying that “the move could change the regional balance of power and strengthen the Sunni alliance.” It added that Saudi Arabia’s move comes in light of the US refusal to provide the Kingdom with the advanced F-35 aircraft and may demonstrate to Washington that Riyadh has other alternatives.

The newspaper also quoted intelligence predictions that Saudi Arabia views the Turkish jets as a temporary solution until it can obtain more advanced aircraft.

-MEMO

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