Indonesia’s big plan to acquire 48 Stealth Kaan fighter jet units is likely to be ‘disturbed’ over the decision of the United States Congress. As stated by the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, who confirmed that the Congress of the United States (US) Congress was holding the crucial General Electric (GE) engine export approval for the Kaan fighter jet program which is currently being developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
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Collect Middle East Eye (24/9/2025), The decision of the US Congress is related to the export license for the GE F110 engine, which is currently used to drive the initial prototype (first flying using the F110 engine). According to a statement from the Turkish side, the US Congress has prevented or delaying the authorization needed for sending these machines and, more importantly, for future production agreements (co-production).
This detention was seen by Ankara as part of a sustainable tension in the US-Turki defense relations, which was mostly triggered by the acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system by Türkiye. This detention seems to be an extension of the restrictions imposed under CAATSA Sanctions (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act).
Although Turkey plans to develop a full domestic engine (Indigenous Engine) TS-35000 for the Kaan mass production version in the future (targeted around the 2030s), the rejection of the F110 engine can hamper the flight testing schedule and initial production (Block 0 and Block 1) which will initially rely on the GE engine.
The relationship between Türkiye and the US is in a phase that is often called “up and down” (transactional), where there are significant improvements, but the old structural problems are still overshadowing. Although the relationship improves at the executive level, the problem continues at the legislative level (congress).
Improvement of US and Turkey relations can be seen from a major agreement involving the executive government (President Biden and President Erdoğan), namely the approval from the US who finally approved the sale of new F-16 fighter jets and modernization kit to Turkey, and Türkiye’s steps ratified Swedish accessions to NATO.
Türkiye agreed to the entry of Sweden and Finland to become NATO members, but there are conditions
However, the problem of Kaan (and other sensitive technology) is generally detained at the US Congress level. Congress members, who are very skeptical of Türkiye, have great power to withstand the authorization of defense export licenses, especially for technology that is considered a “crown of gems” (such as fighter jet machines). The congress maintains this hard attitude because of two fundamental problems, namely the purchase of Russia’s S-400 and concerns over Turkish foreign policy.
Kaan is the fifth generation fighter jet, and the F110 engine is a legacy technology (old) which is used as a temporary solution. Türkiye’s demand is not only to buy machines, but also for co-production (joint production) licenses in the country, and provide joint production rights to the country whose relationship is still tense with the congress is considered too risky.
As ‘finally’ approved Türkiye bought 40 units of F-16 Viper and 79 modernization packages worth $ 23 billion, ironically Greece was allowed to buy 40 F-35A units worth $ 8.6 billion
With this rejection, Türkiye must immediately divert the focus of intensive trial flights to finding alternative machines. This will almost certainly cause delays in the test schedule, certification, and initial production. For Indonesia, the delay in early production will delay the expected delivery time.
TS-35000
Without an engine from the GE F110, Türkiye must work hard to complete a new domestic production machine trial. At present the engine made by Türkiye (TS-35000) has not been completed and tested. If forced, technical risk will increase, and the integration target of the 2030s can be longer.
For the sake of Stealth Kaan fighter jet, Türkiye beg to the US to be able to produce the GE F110 engine
TS-35000 was developed by Tusaş Engine Industries (TEI), a subsidiary of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) which is engaged in the engine, with the support of the Turkish government. The TF-35000 engine is targeted to be ready to be integrated and used in the Kaan version for mass production (Block 2 and so on), replacing temporary dependence on imported machines (such as the GE F110 from the US).
In addition to supplies from the US and domestic production machines, another option is to negotiate and integrate new machines from other countries (such as Rolls-Royce Britain or other non-West suppliers), but it requires a long-re-design and test time. This means the cost and schedule will swell. (The last Bay)
Revealed! The second prototype of Kaan (P1) fighter jets is smaller: This is the reason for Türkiye’s stealth design is changed
