KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 – Türkiye is prepared to work with Malaysia on joint defence projects for mutual benefit and is ready to offer its fifth generation ‘KAAN’ fighter jet to help fulfil Malaysia’s air defence requirements.
Secretary of Turkish Defence Industries, Prof Dr Haluk Gorgun said by joining forces, Malaysia could gain access to cutting-edge technology and expertise, accelerating its own defence capabilities and fostering the growth of its indigenous defence industry.
In an email interview with Bernama in anticipation of the three-day Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security (Natsec) Asia 2024 exhibitions (May 6 to 9) in Kuala Lumpur, Gorgun highlighted the reciprocal benefits of such a partnership.
“We are open to cooperating with Malaysia, a friendly and brotherly country, in development projects, including the ‘KAAN’ Project” which has already been initiated by Türkiye. We are also open to sharing the experience we gained from New Generation Basic Trainer Aircraft HURKUS and HURJET Jet Aircraft with Malaysia.
“Türkiye, on the other hand, could benefit from Malaysia’s contributions in areas such as research and development, manufacturing capabilities, and regional knowledge,” he said expressing optimism on the positive impact this cooperation would have on bilateral ties and regional security.
Gorgun noted Türkiye and Malaysia have successfully collaborated on direct procurement projects, co-production endeavors and Technology Transfer (ToT) activities across various platforms and subsystems.
This exceptional partnership is exemplified by land vehicle projects like ADNAN and Gempita, led by FNSS, as well as radar, weapon systems and command, and control initiatives guided by Aselsan, and armoured vehicle deliveries facilitated by NUROL.
Elaborating further, Gorgun pointed out as a multirole fighter jet, the ‘KAAN’ is adept at conducting diverse missions, including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, reconnaissance and electronic warfare, providing Malaysia with versatile options to address various security challenges.
“The KAAN’s interoperability with NATO systems and potential for technology transfer present opportunities for Malaysia to seamlessly integrate the aircraft into its defence infrastructure through collaboration with Türkiye.
“Overall, investing in the KAAN would significantly enhance Malaysia’s air superiority, strengthen bilateral defence ties, and contribute to regional security and stability in Southeast Asia,” he added.
On Feb 21, the 13-minute maiden test flight of Türkiye’s first homegrown fifth-generation fighter jet ‘KAAN’ had made a splash among the worldwide media outlets.
