The US government has formally notified Congress of a proposal to sell General Electric F110 turbofan engines to Turkey. The package is valued at over $700 million and is intended to support the Turkish Aerospace Industries KAAN fighter jet program.
TUSAS Engine Industries currently maintains a license to assemble F110 engines for the Turkish Air Force fleet of F-16s. This new provision would facilitate an initial supply of approximately 80 engines to support ongoing flight testing and low-rate production of the indigenous KAAN platform. Turkish officials have stated their long-term intention to integrate the domestic TEI TF35000 engine into the fighter once it reaches operational maturity.
The notification comes amid ongoing debate within Congress regarding Turkey’s possession of the Russian S-400 air defense system. Several Democratic lawmakers have signaled their intent to introduce resolutions of disapproval, citing concerns over defense alignment and historical sanctions. Congress now has 15 days to review the proposal. This development coincides with the KAAN program’s recent international expansion, including a reported contract for 48 units with Indonesia and preliminary discussions regarding potential sales to Spain.