Is Turkey Nearing Production of an F-35 Alternative Fighter Jet?

Following its exclusion from the US F-35 program and the imposition of CAATSA sanctions due to the 2017 purchase of Russian S-400 systems, Turkey is accelerating efforts to develop the fifth-generation 'KAAN' fighter as a sovereign alternative. Emre Yaban, the project's lead engineer, asserted that the aircraft is a 100% domestic project, including its operating systems. He stated that Turkey has joined the ranks of the four nations capable of developing fifth-generation fighters, claiming the KAAN will offer superior maneuverability and stealth capabilities. However, former NATO official and defense expert Nicholas Williams noted that Turkey's primary remaining weakness lies in propulsion systems. Mahmut Aksit, CEO of TEI, described developing an engine for a fifth-generation fighter as a complex, long-term process. Meanwhile, reports indicate advanced negotiations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia regarding potential partnership in the project, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has mentioned a positive approach from Donald Trump regarding the potential sale of F-35s to Turkey.