Full Breakdown
Turkey Seeks U.S. F110 Engines for KAAN Fighter Amid NATO Summit
7/6/2026, 4:39:50 AM
Summit Overview
The NATO summit on July 7-8, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will gather leaders of the alliance’s 32 members. President Donald Trump’s Ankara visit has raised hopes that the United States will approve further F110 jet engines for Turkey’s KAAN fighter.
Background
Turkey was removed from the U.S. F-35 programme in 2019 after buying Russia’s S-400 system in 2017, prompting CAATSA sanctions that block additional defence cooperation, including engine sales.
Data and Status
Turkey received ten F110 engines in September 2025 and seeks roughly 40 more, with talks for up to 80 additional units. KAAN prototypes already fly with the F110, while a domestic engine remains in preliminary design. Indonesia has ordered 48 KAAN fighters in a US $10 billion deal.
Why It Matters
Engine approval would speed Turkey’s entry into the exclusive fifth-generation fighter club, reduce reliance on foreign parts, and affect NATO’s defence balance.
Official Statements & Responses
Trump said he would make Erdogan “very happy” on the engine request. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged the U.S. to lift CAATSA sanctions and approve the engines in Congress. Defence Minister Yasar Guler noted the KAAN’s indigenous engine is still in early design, making the F110 supply a short-term need.
Criticism & Opposition
Analyst Ozgur Unluhisarcikli warned that without the F110s the KAAN cannot progress, arguing that dependence on U.S. technology undermines Turkey’s claim of full domestic production. Others note that congressional approval may be politically costly for Trump ahead of the midterm elections.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Ulgen cites “about 40” engines as likely to be approved, while Turkish officials discuss a possible “up to 80” purchase. The domestic engine is described both as “preliminary design” and “initial design phase,” showing uncertainty about its readiness. No timetable for congressional action is given.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It's likely to be the green light for the F110 GE engines for the KAAN fighter plane, about 40 of them. There had been obstacles to that supply and very possibly those are now being removed,” — Sinan Ulgen, Director, Edam
- “Turkey has produced a couple of prototypes which are flying with the F110 engine, but it has been waiting for the supply of additional engines to increase the number of KAAN platforms,” — Sinan Ulgen
- “The CAATSA issue must be resolved. The US needs to take steps both regarding the F-35 and the engines for Kaan. Kaan’s engines are currently awaiting approval in the US Congress,” — Hakan Fidan, Foreign Minister
- “President Trump can certainly declare that the S-400/F-35 dispute is finished. It’s the CAATSA sanctions that require congressional action. Whether he can persuade Congress to do that, depends on how much political capital he’s willing to expend,” — Matthew Bryza, Former U.S. Envoy
Outlook
The summit will be the first venue for any formal engine-sale announcement; further progress depends on U.S. congressional action to lift CAATSA restrictions, a step likely weighed against the midterm election climate.
