Turkey has offered Malaysia the opportunity to participate in the Turkish Aerospace (TAI) Kaan fighter programme, as deliveries of the Anka unmanned air vehicle (UAV) to the Southeast Asia nation remain on track.
Attending a defence show in Kuala Lumpur, Turkey’s deputy defence minister Celal Sami Tufekci offered Malaysia the chance to work on the fifth-generation fighter, according to a report by official news agency Bernama.
“I think being a partner in the Kaan programme would be good for Malaysia,” says Tufekci.
“The Kaan aircraft is a fifth-generation stealth fighter and is a huge programme. We’d be happy if Malaysia decides to be a partner.”
Tufekci’s remarks followed the second flight of the Kaan prototype in Turkey on 6 May. The prototype had its maiden sortie on 21 February.
He also provided an update on TAI’s office in Malaysia, noting that it employs 120 local engineers.
“By participating in aircraft design, they’ll gain valuable skills and help shape the industry,” said Tufekci. “This could lead to the establishment of new companies and boost Malaysia’s defence sector.”
TAI appears to be eager to obtain international co-operation with Kaan. In August 2023 Turkish defence minister Yasar Guler said that Pakistan was poised to sign up to the programme, but this has yet to transpire.
At the Paris air show in June 2024, TAI chief executive Temel Kotil said that by 2028 the company aims to deliver 20 Kaan fighters to the Turkish air force in an initial Block 10 configuration. As the programme matures, subsequent deliveries will be in a new Block 20 standard.
The Kaan is powered by a pair of GE Aerospace F110 engines, but the company is “working on” an indigenous powerplant for the type.
Tufekci also told Bernama that Malaysia’s acquisition of three Anka UAVs is on track; Kuala Lumpur signed for three Ankas in May 2023.
Meanwhile, speaking with Bernama at the same defence show, a Korea Aerospace Industries official said that Malaysia is likely to obtain a second batch of 18 FA-50s, following its 2023 order for 18 examples.
BAYKAR’s AKINCI HITS TARGETS AT SEA
Turkish UAV specialist Baykar says its twin-engined Akinci system has conducted a series of successful firing tests against moving and fixed targets at sea.
Flying at 30,000ft, the aircraft used its locally developed electro-optical/infrared sensor to direct Roketsan MAM-T munitions to strike a fixed sea target. A second test from the same altitude destroyed an unmanned surface vehicle.
Separately, the company says that its Bayraktar TB3 UAV has conducted a high-altitude performance test, breaking its altitude record of 33,000ft using its indigenous engine: the Turkish Engine Industries PD-170.
CORRECTED: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that a second Kaan prototype flew on 6 May.
