Ukrainian companies contribute to cutting-edge KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet development in Türkiye – Ukraine’s ambassador

Ukrainian companies are also developing the latest fifth-generation Turkish fighter jet, KAAN. For security reasons, no details have been disclosed yet.

The Ambassador of Ukraine to Türkiye, Vasyl Bodnar, stated this at the briefing: "Ukrainian-Turkish relations: cooperation, assistance, current and future initiatives."

As the representative of the Ukrainian diplomatic service noted, some Ukrainian companies and developers participate in the development of aircraft assemblies.

"Ukrainian enterprises are helping in the development of the promising fifth-generation KAAN fighter. Some of the developers are also involved in the development of its components. We are not yet disclosing details from a security point of view," Bodnar emphasized.

The diplomat also emphasized that this is a promising cooperation, and after being put into service with the Turkish Armed Forces, this fighter may be of interest to the Air Force of Ukraine. In addition, it is possible that it will also become a subject of cooperation to produce new drones on the territory of Ukraine.

The representative of the Ukrainian diplomatic agency emphasized that today, two large Turkish companies, namely Baykar Makina, known in Ukraine for the production of Bayraktar drones, and the state company TUSAŞ (TAI), purchase Ukrainian engines, jets, and turbojet, for use on unmanned aircraft.

"There is also a separate project for the supply of helicopter engines. The main partners here are the Ukrainian companies Motor Sich and Ivchenko Progress," the diplomat summarized.

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On March 8, Volodymyr Zelensky visited Istanbul. He also visited the corvette of the Naval Forces of Ukraine's armed forces, which Türkiye produced for Ukraine. Zelensky named the vessel after Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi.

During the meeting with his Turkish counterpart, the president emphasized his interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation and joint production with Turkish defense companies.

It's worth noting that a factory for producing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in collaboration with Turkey is currently being built in the city of Vasylkiv, located in the Kyiv region.

Prior to that, Baykar received license permits from Türkiye to establish the production of two drones in Ukraine — Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı.

It should be noted that Ukraine has signed three contracts with the Turkish company Baykar, which produces Bayraktar TB2, Kızılelma, and other drones.