Malaysia Eyes Türkiye’s Kaan Jets but Budget Limits Pose Challenge

Malaysia is increasingly looking to Türkiye’s Kaan stealth fighter as a potential solution for the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s ageing fleet, said Ian Storey, Senior Fellow at the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute. The fifth-generation jet, which first flew last year, is considered cheaper than the US-made F-35 and more advanced than Russia’s Su-57.

Kaan Jets

Ankara has already supplied Malaysia with drones and warships, reflecting deepening defence ties. However, affordability remains a major obstacle. Indonesia’s recent US$10 billion order for 48 Kaan fighters suggests each unit, with systems, costs about US$200 million. With Malaysia spending just 1 per cent of GDP on defence, and only planning to increase this to 1.5 per cent by 2030, funding remains insufficient.

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