Attempts to secure export licenses for the General Electric F110 engine for the Turkish Aerospace Industries Kaan fighter “have been stalled,” Turkey’s Foreign Affairs Minister says.
Speaking to media in New York after meetings between U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House last week, Fidan said Congress has not yet approved the export of the F110, with the licenses affected by the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). CAATSA restrictions were imposed on Ankara after it decided to purchase a Russian-made ground-based air defense system.
“The existence of a legal restriction between two NATO allies that prevents them from purchasing anything from each other is a systemic problem,” Fidan says.
“The licenses for these engines must be finalized and received before Kaan production can begin,” Fidan says. “While all of this is a technical matter, the systemic limitations in our relationship with the U.S. will inevitably push us to pursue different strategies within the international system.”
Fidan notes that Turkey is working to develop a homegrown engine for the Kaan combat aircraft, but he adds that no country can be entirely self-sufficient. “You absolutely must have both an alliance culture and a defense industry ecosystem.”
The comments prompted a flurry of responses from defense officials in Turkey, noting that despite Fidan’s remarks, the F110 engines required for the Kaan prototypes—currently in the build stage—already have been delivered. The next Kaan prototype is expected to fly April 2026.
However, F110 engines are envisaged to power the first batch of early production aircraft, until the indigenous Turkish engine—Tusas Engine Industries’ TF35000—is ready. Production of those early block standard aircraft is yet to begin, and Congress could still approve the licenses.
“Turkey has reached a level where it can meet the critical capabilities needed for all land, air, sea and missile systems in engine technologies through domestic and national resources,” the head of Turkey’s Defense Industry Agency, Haluk Görgün, told Turkish media.
“In line with our Gas Turbine Engine Roadmap, we are resolutely continuing our efforts to achieve independence in jet engines,” Görgün added.
Turkish Aerospace’s CEO Mehmet Demiroglu told Aviation Week in April that a preliminary design review of the engine is planned for the end of 2025 and that the companies are targeting having a flying example installed in a Kaan prototype in 2029.
Similar CAATSA-related issues also have prevented the transfer of Sikorsky Black Hawk rotorcraft production kits to Turkish Aerospace for conversion into T-70 standard, prompting the company to accelerate development of the the T-925, its own 12-metric-ton helicopter.
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