Saudi Arabia, a traditional ally of the United States, has been keen on acquiring the stealthy F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jet for years. However, with the Pentagon dragging its feet, the kingdom is reportedly looking for an alternative.
With an eye on adding more teeth to its air power amid evolving security challenges from rogue state and non-state actors in the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia officially expressed interest in the acquisition of F-35 stealth aircraft in 2017, days after a similar request was made by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
However, the cash-rich kingdom has encountered multiple impediments in purchasing the stealthy US combat aircraft. For one, Saudi Arabia has been accused of carrying out widespread human rights violations and civilian deaths through its intervention in Yemen’s civil war.
The US has also been wary of Riyadh’s increasing military cooperation with China. The Pentagon is very protective of the F-35 platform and remains cautious against a possible compromise of its sensitive technology.
However, the biggest roadblock against the acquisition of F-35 by Saudi Arabia is the US obligation towards Israel. The US and Israel have a long-standing agreement that states US military equipment supplied to Israel must be “superior in capability” as compared to those sold to Israel’s neighbors.
This essentially means that the US weapons sales in the Middle Eastern region cannot jeopardize Israel’s “qualitative military edge.” Currently, Israel is the only operator of the F-35s in the entire Middle East.
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There was optimism that a potential deal for the F-35 would be back on the table when the White House announced in May 2024 that the two sides were negotiating a bilateral defense accord. Without promising a sale, the Pentagon officials said that it was important that the F-35s be discussed since Riyadh has long wanted the stealthy fighter jet.
More than six months later, with the Pentagon dragging its feet on the potential F-35 sale, the Saudi Kingdom has started looking for alternatives to reinforce its fleet.
Even though military watchers have long predicted that the Saudi kingdom might choose a 4+ generation aircraft like the French Dassault Rafale or the Eurofighter Typhoon, new reports hint that the Saudi kingdom may be looking to put its money on a stealthy, fifth-generation combat aircraft. But what are its options?
Alternatives To F-35
Currently, only three countries have an operational fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, including the United States, China, and Russia. With the US virtually out of the reckoning, only Russia and China emerge as available options.
China has two fifth-generation stealth aircraft: the J-20 Mighty Dragon and the newly unveiled J-35. Since China is unlikely to export the J-20 for security reasons, the J-35A, designed with an eye on export, is the only available option for an interested buyer.
If claims in the media are anything to go by, Pakistan has already decided to buy the aircraft barely a month after its official unveiling.
For Saudi Arabia, which has already bought Chinese military equipment (including combat drones) in the past, the J-35 stealth aircraft might seem to be a viable alternative.
Unlike the US and China, Russia has one stealth fighter to offer, Su-57 Felon. It has also been promoting Su-75 Checkmate for joint development but has not seen much success as of now. Russia has intensified its export campaign for the Su-57, aggressively targeting the Middle Eastern market.
Saudi Arabia has not explicitly expressed interest in either the Chinese or Russian fifth-generation fighter. According to reports, the Saudi kingdom is under pressure from Washington not to buy a Russian or Chinese fifth-generation fighter.
Turkish KAAN For Saudi Arabia?
The latest reports in local Turkish media claim that Saudi Arabia is mulling the purchase of 100 KAAN fifth-generation stealth fighter jets from Turkey.
Turkish and Saudi defense officials, including Saudi Air Force Commander Turki bin Bandar Al Saud, Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense Khaled Bin Hussein Al Biyari, and head of the Presidency of Turkish Defense Industries Haluk Gorgun, have reportedly held high-level talks in Istanbul. The three-day discussions were intended to foster cooperation on major defense initiatives, including KAAN.
The development follows the purchase of the Turkish Akinci drone by the Saudi Arabian kingdom. “Saudi Arabia may seek joint production and technology transfer for the KAAN, similar to the arrangement made for the Bayraktar Akinci UCAV,” claims Türkiye Today.
EurAsian Times could not independently corroborate the claims made by Turkish media.
Manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), KAAN made its first flight in February, catapulting Turkey into the elite group of countries that have indigenously developed a fifth-generation aircraft. In May this year, Turkey announced that at least 20 fifth-generation aircraft will be delivered to the Turkish Air Force by 2028.
Though envisioned as an air-superiority fighter, some experts believe that the KAAN has evolved into a multi-role fighter, more on the lines of the F-35. However, unlike the combat-hardened F-35 Lightning II, which Saudi Arabia has been interested in, the KAAN has not even entered service.
The impeccable performance of the F-35 has recently been demonstrated by the Israel Air Force, which deployed the aircraft to launch air strikes on Iran and other regional targets. The F-35 has also been guarding the NATO airspace, essentially becoming a mainstay of deterrence for Europe. Moreover, the F-35 is a seasoned stealth aircraft, with its technology having matured over the years, unlike the KAAN, which is still in a very nascent stage.
Notably, the Turkish Aerospace Industries’ general manager, Temel Kotil, made an audacious claim in May 2024 when he said, “This aircraft is better than the (US’s) F-35.”
“The F-35 carries six tons of ammunition; this one carries 10 tons. It has two engines compared to the F-35’s single engine. Having two engines means more energy and radars illuminating a greater distance,” he added. Kotil also spoke about short-term goals for the future: “We will deliver 20 KAAN aircraft in the year 2028. We’ll deliver many more between 2030 and 2033, and the Turkish fleet will comprise hundreds of KAAN aircraft.”
Underscoring the necessity for the national combat aircraft, or KAAN, to be 100% indigenous, he said, “We are also manufacturing the engine; we have to. Hopefully, by 2028-2029, we will fly KAAN with our engine. In such a crucial technology, we cannot be dependent on any other country.”
These claims, however, triggered an uproar. Pro-US military commentators retaliated on social media, claiming that the Lockheed Martin F-35 can carry 6–10 tons of payload. At the time, military analysts emphasized that while Turkey may not need the F-35 anymore, it does not imply that their aircraft was superior or even close to the F-35, despite claiming better payload capacity.
A detailed EurAsian Times article on the KAAN’s capability can be read here.
Intriguingly, despite the development of KAAN, Turkey has not completely relinquished its willingness to purchase the F-35, further underscoring the American stealth jet’s utility and combat prowess in modern battlefields.
On November 26, Turkish Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler said, “Now that they’ve seen our progress with KAAN, their stance seems to be shifting. They’re indicating that they might be willing to deliver them. We’ve officially resubmitted our offer to buy the F-35.”
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