Turkey appears to be breathing a sigh of relief — and perhaps even celebrating — after the U.S. State Department’s proposed sale of F110-GE-129E/F jet engines to Ankara cleared a major hurdle in the U.S. Congress. As reported by Turkish media on July 10, 2026, the State Department formally notified Congress on June 24, 2026, of the Trump administration’s intent to sell the engines for Turkey’s next-generation KAAN fighter aircraft program.
How U.S. Arms Sales Clearance Works
Under U.S. law, once the State Department notifies Congress of a proposed foreign military sale, lawmakers have 15 days to raise formal objections or block the deal. Absent such action, the sale is considered approved by default. In this case, the deadline expired on Thursday, July 9, 2026 — and no congressional resolution succeeded in halting the transaction.
Earlier efforts by some U.S. lawmakers to introduce a resolution opposing the $700 million deal ultimately failed to gain traction.
What Comes Next
With congressional clearance secured, the path is now open for the full implementation of the agreement. This includes not only the delivery of the engines but also their integration, assembly, and certification on Turkish-built KAAN fighters. Additionally, the deal covers the transfer of technical data required for installation and operational use — a critical step for Ankara’s ambitions to field a domestically produced fifth-generation-capable platform.