Türkiye affirms fighter jet program will not rely on single foreign engine

ANKARA, Türkiye (MNTV) — Türkiye’s top defense procurement authority has reaffirmed that the country’s flagship fifth-generation fighter jet, Kaan, will not be dependent on any single foreign engine, underscoring progress in the indigenous engine program as Ankara awaits U.S. approval for initial supplies.

Haluk Görgün, head of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), said Türkiye had already secured engines for its prototypes and submitted requests for power units to support the first batch of serial production, reported Daily Sabah. 

At the same time, he stressed that mass production would ultimately rely on the TF35000, a domestically developed engine tailored for the advanced jet.

“Kaan’s future is in no way dependent on the engine of a single country,” Görgün told Anadolu Agency, noting that Türkiye is pursuing a block-based development plan to gradually enhance the aircraft with strengthened capabilities.

The remarks followed Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s statement that deliveries of American-made engines for early production models were still pending congressional approval in Washington. 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also raised the issue during his recent White House meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, where the two leaders discussed defense cooperation, trade, and sanctions related to Ankara’s past purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems.

Görgün emphasized that alternative options remained on the table if required, with potential engineering adjustments manageable without affecting the overall delivery timeline. “Ultimately, our final serial-production aircraft will fly with a Turkish engine,” he said.

The Kaan project, launched in 2016 to replace the Turkish Air Force’s aging F-16 fleet, achieved a key milestone with its maiden test flight in early 2024. 

Serial production is scheduled to begin in 2028. The jet, designed for air-to-air combat, precision strikes, and enhanced capabilities through artificial intelligence integration, represents a cornerstone of Türkiye’s national defense ambitions.

Türkiye has also expanded its engine portfolio across multiple domains. Indigenous units now power armored vehicles, tanks, helicopters, drones, missiles, and naval platforms. 

For jet aircraft, beyond the TF35000, the TF6000 has been tested for the Anka-3 stealth drone, while the TF10000 is under development for the Kızılelma unmanned fighter.

“Our defense sector has reached the capacity to produce critical propulsion technologies across land, air, sea and missile systems,” Görgün said, highlighting recent successes including the TS1400 turboshaft for the Gökbey helicopter and the PD series engines for UAVs.

In June, Turkish Aerospace Industries signed a landmark $10 billion contract to deliver 48 Kaan jets to Indonesia, making it the aircraft’s first foreign buyer. 

Görgün confirmed that the export models would also use domestically developed power units, insulating the deal from potential restrictions on foreign engine supplies.

Reiterating Ankara’s long-term vision, Görgün said Türkiye remained committed to achieving full autonomy in propulsion technologies. “With the vision of President Erdoğan and the determination of our engineers, Türkiye is moving steadily toward a fully independent defense industry,” he added.