Spain considers Turkey’s TF-KAAN amid F-35 rejection and FCAS delays
October 6, 2025
Spain’s search for a next-generation fighter has taken an unexpected twist, with reports suggesting Madrid is exploring Turkey’s TAI TF-KAAN as a possible option.
Having ruled out the US-built F-35 Lightning II, the only operational fifth-generation stealth jet in Western service, Spain now faces a widening capability gap and few credible alternatives.
The rumours linking it to Turkey’s indigenous fighter project highlight both the country’s political aversion to US equipment and its growing urgency to identify a future airpower solution.
Rumours around Turkey’s upcoming KAAN fighter jet
In September, Spain’s El Económista reported there are growing rumours in unnamed “Turkish media and military-related websites” that Spain is considering purchasing Turkey’s upcoming TAI TF-KAAN fighter jet.
It is unclear how much stock to put in these rumours. El Económista termed the KAAN a “fifth-generation fighter,” something it is not. While the Turkish jet may be designed to imitate the stealthy shape of the F-35, it takes much more than that to become a true fifth-generation fighter.
Professor Justin Bronk from the think-tank RUSI spoke of F-35-like designs emerging around the world, including Turkey’s KAAN, South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae, and Russia’s Su-74. He said, “It’s comparatively easy to produce something that looks like a stealth fighter-ish thing, that will fly.”
Bronk elaborated, “It is incredibly difficult and unbelievably expensive to sustain the production of a weapons system that works as a low observable fighter…” The KAAN lacks the massive, continuous US investment that provides sensor fusion and programme sustainment.
It’s also worth noting that much of the reason for Spain’s rejection of the F-35 is political and a desire to be less dependent on US equipment.
The U.S. Congress has blocked the sale of engines to Turkey for its 5th Gen TAI KAAN Stealth Multirole Fighter.
— OSINTWarfare (@OSINTWarfare) September 28, 2025
While Turkey is developing an indigenous powerplant, the TF35000 turbofan, it may also consider China’s WS-series engines as a backup option. pic.twitter.com/3SvRFHK2Ju
The Turkish KAAN comes with a General Electric F110, meaning the jet will still be subject to de facto US controls, something that is reportedly already hampering production.
This is also true of Canada, which is reportedly considering purchasing the Swedish Saab Gripen fighter jet. The Gripen is powered by the Volvo RM12 licensed copy of the GE F404. The only Western jets not to use US engines are the Eurofighter and Rafale.
No good alternatives for Spain
One of the reasons why Spain felt it could rule out the F-35 is that it is currently partnered with France and Germany to develop the sixth-generation FCAS fighter jet. That jet is ostensibly scheduled to enter service around 2040.
A growing rift between Germany and France is threatening to scupper the FCAS program. If Germany and France go their own way, it is unclear what Spain would do. One option would be to order the rival UK-led GCAP fighter.
Another jet in development is the South Korean KAI KF-21 Boramae, but that jet is also no substitute for the F-35.
It should be noted that both South Korea and Turkey want to use their home-grown jets in tandem with the F-35, not in place of it. South Korea has a program of record to purchase 60 F-35As, while Turkey originally had a program of record for 100 F-35As.
The US kicked Turkey out of the F-35A program in 2019 for purchasing Russia’s S-400 SAMs. Since then, Turkey has said it will focus on developing the KAAN, but on the other hand, it has also continuously sought to be readmitted to the program. Additionally, it is ordering 40 UK-built Eurofighters.
Spain in need of an STOVL fighter jet
According to FlightGlobal, Spain operates a fleet of around 81 ageing F/A-18 Hornets and 68 Eurofighter Typhoons, with another 45 Eurofighters on order. Spain is one of the partner countries of the Eurofighter Consortium with a 13% share in the program.
Additionally, the Spanish Navy has a dozen McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II jump jets.
The F-35A conventional variant could have replaced the Hornets, while the STOVL F-35B variant could have replaced the Harriers. There is no other fighter jet available that could replace Spain’s jump jets.
The French carrier-based Rafale is designed for larger catapult-assisted takeoff and arrested recovery (CATOBAR) aircraft carriers and not Spain’s Juan Carlos I aircraft carrier-landing helicopter dock. There is speculation that Spain will eventually return to the F-35 program, at least for F-35Bs; otherwise, it appears it will be forced to eventually retire its Harriers without a direct replacement.
Our weekly video!#DYK that the 🇪🇸 Navy flagship ESPS #JuanCarlosI is a multi-purpose amphibious assault ship / aircraft carrier that counts with a ski jump for #STOVL operations, and is equipped with the AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft?#WeAreNATO
— España en la OTAN 🇪🇦 / Spain at NATO (@SpainNATO) March 18, 2022
🎥 @Armada_esp 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/VxRS6mkdQf
Turkey is developing the large high-end Kızılelma combat drone and the world’s first large-sized, purpose-built drone aircraft carrier. The KAAN is not a STOVL aircraft.
