The Trump administration has formally notified the U.S. Congress of its intent to sell jet engines to Turkey for the indigenous KAAN fighter aircraft. The proposed deal — involving General Electric F110 engines — is valued at over $700 million.
KAAN: Turkey’s First Homegrown Fighter
The KAAN is Turkey’s first domestically designed and built combat aircraft, developed under a program launched in 2016 as part of Ankara’s broader push for defense self-reliance. While the aircraft is marketed as a fifth-generation fighter, its current propulsion system raises questions about its full capabilities.
U.S. Engines, Strategic Signaling
According to a Reuters report published on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the Trump administration plans to move forward with the sale despite opposition from some U.S. lawmakers and advocacy groups — both domestic and diaspora-based — concerned about Turkey’s continued operation of Russian S-400 air defense systems, acquired in 2019.
The decision is widely seen as a significant diplomatic gesture ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara next month, and reflects former President Donald Trump’s view of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a key regional ally.
Capability Constraints Under Current Configuration
Turkish media outlet Habertürk reported that, pending the development of a domestic engine, the KAAN will rely on U.S.-made fourth-generation F110 engines. This configuration limits certain fifth-generation attributes: the aircraft will not be capable of supercruise — sustained supersonic flight without afterburner — and its conventional nozzle design and higher thermal signature reduce its stealth performance compared to true fifth-generation platforms.