A March 2025 report stated that Trump would consider selling the F-35 to Turkey if the two sides could reach a consensus that would render the S-400 system inoperable.
For years, US-Turkey relations seemed trapped in a prolonged "cold war," with the turning point being Turkey’s expulsion from the F-35 program in 2019 due to the purchase of Russian S-400s. However, Donald Trump's return to the White House seems to be reshuffling the deck of defense diplomacy. While Recep Tayyip Erdogan presents the new KAAN stealth fighter as the ultimate symbol of Turkish technological dominance and independence from the West, the hard reality of aeronautics proves otherwise: for Ankara's domestic "flagship" to take off, it needs American technology. With the Trump administration accelerating a mammoth $700 million deal for the supply of General Electric engines, a new round of negotiations is opening.
A complex bargain, where American engines act as the first step, and in the background, Turkey’s great return to the F-35 program looms. The KAAN is Turkey's most ambitious defense project in decades, which will secure its entry into an exclusive group of nations that have built an indigenous next-generation stealth fighter. Turkey was expelled from the F-35 consortium in 2019 due to its decision to acquire the Russian S-400 air defense systems, despite repeated warnings from the US. This expulsion forced Ankara to turn inward and proceed with the development of its own next-generation fighter to ensure the necessary technological sovereignty and reduce its dependence on the US.
Domestic aircraft with… American engines
Developing a modern, high-performance afterburning turbofan from scratch can cost billions of dollars and take decades due to extreme requirements in materials science, precision manufacturing, reliability in combat conditions, and testing processes. In reality, very few countries—the US, Russia, the UK, France, and China—have ever managed to develop their own jet engine technology. Therefore, many countries developing their own fighter aircraft prioritize domestic production of airframes and avionics for reasons of prestige and autonomy, while relying on proven foreign engines, such as those from General Electric.
For example, the Swedish Gripen E/F, which Saab heavily promotes for export as a cost-effective, independent, and sovereign alternative to American platforms like the F-35, is powered by the GE F414, an engine of American origin. In fact, even the previous C/D version of the platform was powered by the Volvo RM12, a derivative of the GE F404 manufactured under license. Saab usually offers high technology transfer, domestic assembly, the ability to integrate national weapons and sensors, lower operating costs, and a "software-defined" approach for upgrades. This narrative appeals to countries that want to avoid complete dependence on the US, but the presence of the American engine means the aircraft is subject to the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
India and South Korea’s "indigenous" path
Similarly, India’s Tejas-class fighters—the "standard" of the country’s domestic defense industry and the "Make in India" initiative—are also equipped with General Electric engines. The Tejas Mk-1 and Mk-1A, produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), are powered by General Electric (GE) F404-IN20 afterburning turbofans, while a more advanced version of the aircraft, the Tejas Mk2, is expected to be powered by General Electric F414-INS6 engines. This dependence has cost the Indian Air Force (IAF) dearly in the past, as delivery delays for these engines, due to supply chain problems, pushed back the delivery of the Tejas Mk1A at a time when the IAF is facing a reduction in its squadron strength. Critics have even pointed to this dependence as a strategic vulnerability. Nevertheless, the Indian fifth-generation fighter AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) is expected to be powered by GE414 engines.
In fact, recent reports in the Indian media suggest that negotiations for the engines have stalled, with costs skyrocketing, raising concerns about the financial aspect and timelines. This engine is expected to equip the first squadrons of the stealth fighter until an indigenous engine is operationally ready. Another country whose supposedly domestic fighters are promoted by American engines is a key US ally in Asia: South Korea. The South Korean KAI KF-21 Boramae, a generation 4.5 multi-role fighter with semi-stealth characteristics, is actively promoted as the first fighter developed domestically in South Korea. South Korea markets the aircraft as an affordable and capable bridge to true 5th-generation fighters, featuring AESA radar, advanced electronics, reduced radar cross-section (RCS), and plans for an internal weapons bay in later versions. In fact, the aircraft has been positioned in the market as a cost-effective alternative to the American F-35 for export markets. It is interesting, however, that the KF-21 is also currently powered by two General Electric F414-GE-400K engines, which are produced under license by the company Hanhwa.
Turkey's path toward engine independence
Most of these countries recognize the risks and vulnerabilities associated with foreign propulsion systems and are already moving to develop domestic jet engines to reduce their reliance on American engines, including Turkey. Haluk Görgün, head of the Defense Industry Agency (SSB), Turkey's top defense procurement agency, stated earlier that the domestic fighter aircraft program is proceeding according to plan and will not depend on any single foreign engine supplier. "The future of the KAAN does not depend in any way on the engine of a single country," he told the Anadolu Agency (AA).
In the same spirit, he mentioned that work is progressing for the domestic TF35000 engine, which will power the aircraft in the long term. "Development activities for the main engine of the KAAN, the TF35000, and its auxiliary power unit, the APU60, are continuing successfully. This is how the process in the defense industry always works: it starts with existing engines and then national engine projects are introduced," he noted. Meanwhile, Turkey publicly presented the new Güçhan turbofan, in the 42,000 lbf thrust class, during the ongoing SAHA 2026 defense exhibition in Istanbul. The announced performance of 42,000 lbf of the Güçhan is marginally below the 43,000 lbf afterburning thrust of the F-35's F135 engine, as reported at the time by the EurAsian Times. Although Turkey did not specify the aircraft for which this engine is intended, overall these specifications suggest that the engine could be used in a fifth-generation manned aircraft.
Turkey's endless search for the F-35
"I will probably do something that will make them very happy," said US President Donald Trump when asked about jet engines, the F-35 program, and his plans for the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara. While some lawmakers have openly opposed the sale of F-35s to Turkey as long as it maintains the S-400s, the Trump administration has reportedly threatened to bypass the Congressional "freeze" on several arms sales. "As a matter of general policy, we do not comment on pending arms transfers. Official correspondence with Congress is conducted through official channels," a State Department official told Reuters. Speaking alongside Trump, US Vice President JD Vance stated that an evaluation is underway to determine whether Turkey has complied with US regulations in order to acquire the F-35. "Pete and the whole team are looking at this right now, because there are certain things that we need to certify have happened... in order to comply with US law," he said, referring to the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.
In December 2025, Tom Barrack, US ambassador to Turkey and a close associate of US President Donald Trump, stated that Turkey is closer to removing the Russian air defense missile system, which has caused tensions with NATO allies and has been an obstacle for Turkey's acquisition of the F-35. "My belief is that these issues will be resolved in the next four to six months," Barrack had stated at the time. Prior to this, a March 2025 report stated that Trump would consider selling the F-35 to Ankara if the two sides could reach a consensus that would render the S-400 system inoperable. The US could either demand the dismantling of the S-400 or its transfer to an American base in Turkey, the report noted at the time. Later in the year, Trump hinted during the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House in September that he would allow Turkey to buy the stealth aircraft. However, no decision has been made yet, and ambiguity continues to dominate all discussions regarding the purchase of F-35s by Ankara.
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