JAKARTA, July 29 (Reuters) - Indonesia has signed a

contract to buy 48 KAAN fighter jets from Turkey, the Indonesian

defence ministry said on Tuesday, sealing the latest purchase by

the Southeast Asian nation aimed at modernising its ageing

military hardware.

In order to strengthen its air force, Jakarta also ordered 42

French Rafale jets worth $8.1 billion in 2022. It is also

considering ordering China's J-10 fighter jets and continues

talks to purchase the U.S.-made F-15EX jets.

Indonesia and Turkey "signed an implementation contract"

last Saturday on the sidelines of the International Defence

Industry Fair in Istanbul, defence ministry spokesperson Frega

Wenas Inkriwang said in a statement.

He did not provide details of the contract value or delivery

dates.

KAAN is Turkey's first national combat aircraft and it completed

its first flight in February last year, but serial production is

not expected to begin until 2028.

Turkey's defence ministry called the jet a fifth-generation

aircraft and said it will be powered by two General Electric

F-110 engines, which are also used in the fourth-generation

Lockheed Martin F-16 jets.

Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeedin witnessed the agreement

signing, Frega said, adding the contract signing reaffirms the

commitment of both governments to strengthen joint technology

development and expand Indonesia's defence industry capacity.

Indonesia also signed an MoU with Turkey's TAIS Shipyard to

purchase two Milgem Istif class frigates during the defence fair

in Istanbul, according to a social media post by Sjafrie late on

Monday.

The defence ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters'

question about details of the frigate deal.