US to supply engines for Turkey's KAAN fighter: Where does India's fifth-gen aircraft plan stand?

Turkey appears set to receive a significant boost for its indigenous fifth-generation fighter aircraft programme after the United States decided to move ahead with a defence package involving General Electric (GE) Aerospace engines worth more than $700 million, Reuters reported earlier this week.

The proposed transfer, expected to be formally sent to the US Congress in the coming days, represents one of the most notable defence developments between Washington and Ankara since relations deteriorated over the latter's purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system and its subsequent removal from the multinational F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme.

If approved, the package would provide dozens of GE F110 turbofan engines that will power the initial versions of Turkey's domestically developed KAAN stealth fighter.

Why does the deal include?

According to a Reuters, US resident Donald Trump's administration intends to proceed with the transfer of dozens of General Electric jet engines to Turkey despite resistance from some members of the US Congress.

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Four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that the package, valued at more than $700 million, is expected to move forward as Washington seeks to strengthen ties with Ankara ahead of the Nato summit scheduled to take place in the Turkish capital next month on July 7-8.

The engines will power Turkey's first domestically developed combat aircraft, the KAAN, a programme launched in 2016 as part of Ankara's long-term effort to reduce reliance on foreign defence suppliers and develop a more self-sufficient aerospace industry.

Opposition primarily came from lawmakers concerned about Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence system in 2019, its military operations in Syria and broader tensions with Greece.

Sources cited by Reuters said the administration is expected to finalise the package shortly before formally notifying Congress.

Under US law, lawmakers have an opportunity to review major foreign military sales. However, congressional objections do not automatically prevent an administration from moving forward if it chooses to proceed.

The proposed package reportedly includes approximately 80 General Electric F110 turbofan engines, including variants such as the F110-GE-129 and F110-GE-129E.

Rather than serving as a temporary supply for a handful of test aircraft, these engines are expected to underpin Turkey's early production roadmap for the KAAN programme.

The engines will power:

The availability of these engines effectively secures propulsion for the programme's early operational phase while Turkey continues working on a completely indigenous engine for future variants.

Another factor working in Ankara's favour is industrial experience. Turkey's TUSAS Engine Industries (TEI) has spent decades assembling, maintaining and supporting the F110 engine family under licence for the country's sizeable fleet of F-16 fighter aircraft.

That experience significantly reduces the logistical, maintenance and training challenges associated with integrating the same engine family into the KAAN programme.

Unlike introducing an entirely unfamiliar propulsion system, adopting the F110 allows Turkey to leverage existing expertise, maintenance infrastructure and supply chains already established through years of F-16 operations.

Does the engine sale signal a reset in US-Turkey defence ties?

While the proposed engine transfer is likely to be welcomed in Ankara, analysts caution against viewing it as a complete normalisation of bilateral defence relations.

One of Turkey's long-standing strategic objectives remains re-entry into the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme. According to Reuters, the proposed engine package falls well short of resolving that larger issue.

Gonul Tol, director of the Washington-based Middle East Institute's Turkish program, said the engine sale should be viewed in that broader context.

"Acquiring the engines is certainly important for Turkey, but it is also the lowest-hanging fruit for a U.S. administration that has made far more ambitious promises to Ankara, including Turkey’s return to the F-35 program," Tol told Reuters.

She added, "The real test of whether Washington and Ankara can open a new chapter in bilateral relations lies there."

Current US law continues to prevent Turkey from operating or possessing the S-400 system if it hopes to rejoin the F-35 programme. Nevertheless, senior officials have recently suggested that dialogue between the two countries has become more productive.

US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said in December that the positive relationship between Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had helped both governments conduct "the most fruitful conversations we have had on this topic in nearly a decade."

The issue also surfaced when Trump was asked about the engine sale, Turkey's possible return to the F-35 programme and his plans for the upcoming Nato summit.

Rather than offering details, Trump hinted at further developments, saying, "I'm going to probably do something that will make them very happy."

US Vice President JD Vance also confirmed that the administration continues reviewing Turkey's status under American law. "Pete and the entire team are reviewing this right now, because there are certain things that we have to certify have happened ... in order to comply with American law," he said, referring to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

The timing of the proposed sale is particularly notable because Turkey is preparing to host Nato leaders at a time when the alliance is facing big questions over defence spending, burden-sharing among member states and Washington's criticism of allied contributions during efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid the recent US-Iran conflict.

What is the KAAN fighter?

The KAAN is not merely Turkey's latest combat aircraft; it is the country's most ambitious aerospace programme to date and a key pillar of Ankara's long-term objective of reducing dependence on foreign military technology.

Previously known as the TF-X, the twin-engine aircraft is Turkey's first domestically developed fifth-generation, all-weather, multirole stealth fighter.

The programme was launched in 2016 with the aim of creating a next-generation platform capable of eventually replacing the ageing fleet of American-built F-16 Fighting Falcons that have formed the backbone of the Turkish Air Force for decades.

The project gathered even greater strategic importance after Turkey's removal from the US-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme in 2019. Losing access to what had been expected to become its future frontline fighter left Ankara facing the prospect of operating increasingly older fourth-generation aircraft.

Rather than depending entirely on imports for a replacement, Turkey accelerated work on its indigenous programme. That effort reached a significant milestone on February 21, 2024, when the KAAN completed its maiden flight.

Although the test sortie lasted only around 13 minutes, it marked Turkey's entry into the relatively small group of countries that have designed and flown indigenous low-observable fighter aircraft.

Despite this progress, Turkish officials have acknowledged that the aircraft will require several more years of development before it can replace the American-built F-16 fleet currently in service.

What capabilities does the KAAN bring to the Turkish Air Force?

The KAAN has been conceived as a fifth-generation fighter capable of carrying out a wide range of combat missions while incorporating technologies associated with modern stealth aircraft.

One of its defining characteristics is its size.

Structurally, the aircraft is considerably larger than the F-35, giving designers greater flexibility in accommodating internal fuel, weapons and mission systems. Its twin-engine configuration is intended to provide higher thrust while supporting both air superiority and strike missions.

The aircraft incorporates shaping techniques designed to reduce its radar signature. Unlike conventional fourth-generation fighters that typically carry weapons externally, the KAAN is designed with internal weapons bays.

Carrying weapons inside the aircraft helps preserve its low-observable characteristics by reducing radar reflections generated by externally mounted missiles and bombs.

The aircraft is also expected to combine multiple onboard sensors through advanced sensor fusion technology, enabling pilots to receive a more integrated picture of the battlespace rather than relying on individual systems independently.

Turkey has equipped the aircraft with the domestically developed Aselsan MURAD-600A Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.

According to available programme details, the aircraft is expected to support autonomous wingman operations alongside advanced electronic warfare systems, enabling it to operate more effectively in heavily contested environments.

Performance targets for the aircraft include a maximum speed of approximately Mach 1.8, while future variants equipped with Turkey's indigenous engine are expected to achieve supercruise capability — the ability to sustain supersonic flight without relying on afterburners.

Why are American engines only an interim solution for Turkey?

Despite the importance of the proposed General Electric engine package, Ankara has consistently maintained that imported propulsion systems represent only a temporary arrangement rather than the programme's long-term objective.

The planned supply of approximately 80 F110 engines is intended to provide propulsion for prototypes, extensive flight testing and the initial production batches expected to enter Turkish Air Force service between 2028 and 2030.

Beyond those early production blocks, however, Turkey aims to transition the aircraft to an entirely domestically developed engine. The effort is being led by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), TRMotor and TUSAS Engine Industries (TEI), which are jointly developing the TEI-TF35000 powerplant.

The proposed engine is targeting approximately 35,000 pounds of thrust while also incorporating supercruise capability. Initial core testing is expected later this year, and programme planners hope the engine can begin powering production KAAN aircraft around 2032.

If those timelines are achieved, Turkey would significantly reduce one of the last major areas of foreign dependence within the programme.

TEI has spent decades assembling, maintaining and supporting the F110 engine family under licence for Turkey's F-16 fleet. That experience reduces the learning curve associated with integrating the same engine into the KAAN programme while simultaneously allowing engineers to continue work on the indigenous alternative.

Although the aircraft remains under development, Turkey has already secured a notable export commitment.

Indonesia has signed an agreement to procure 48 KAAN fighters, providing one of the earliest indications that the programme could eventually compete in the international fighter aircraft market. Spain has also expressed interest in the fighter jet.

How does the KAAN compare with India's current frontline fighter aircraft?

At present, the Indian Air Force operates advanced fourth- and 4.5-generation fighters rather than an operational fifth-generation stealth aircraft. Among its principal frontline platforms are the French-built Dassault Rafale, the Russian-origin Su-30MKI and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A.

Each aircraft has been designed for different operational requirements, making direct comparisons imperfect. Nevertheless, the arrival of Turkey's fifth-generation programme highlights differences in technological emphasis.

The KAAN belongs to the fifth-generation category, incorporating stealth-oriented shaping, internal weapons bays and advanced low-observable characteristics from the outset.

By comparison, the Dassault Rafale is generally classified as a 4.5-generation fighter. It combines sophisticated avionics, advanced electronic warfare capabilities and proven multirole performance but was not designed around the same level of radar signature reduction associated with fifth-generation aircraft.

The Rafale remains one of the Indian Air Force's most capable platforms, particularly because of its advanced weapons package, including the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile and highly regarded electronic warfare systems.

However, unlike dedicated stealth aircraft, it carries most of its weapons externally, increasing radar visibility during combat operations.

The Su-30MKI occupies a different role within India's air force. As a large twin-engine heavy air-superiority fighter, it provides long-range endurance, significant payload capacity and high manoeuvrability.

Nevertheless, its large airframe also results in a considerably larger radar cross-section than aircraft specifically designed around stealth principles.

India's indigenous Tejas Mk1A represents another important component of the country's combat fleet. Powered by a single General Electric F404 engine, the aircraft serves as a lightweight multirole fighter focused on air defence, interception and tactical operations.

Although its relatively compact size offers certain operational advantages, it was not designed as a stealth aircraft and lacks features such as internal weapons bays or extensive low-observable shaping.

In terms of propulsion, the differences are equally notable.

Performance figures also illustrate differing design priorities.

Therefore, while the Indian Air Force fields highly capable fourth- and 4.5-generation aircraft with advanced sensors, weapons and operational experience, it does not yet possess an operational fifth-generation stealth fighter equipped with the low-observable features incorporated into aircraft.

That capability is expected to emerge through India's own Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, which seeks to provide the country with an indigenous stealth fighter capable of addressing future regional security requirements.

Where does India's AMCA programme currently stand?

Designed to become the Indian Air Force's first indigenous stealth fighter, the AMCA is expected to play a massive role in New Delhi's long-term air combat strategy, particularly as neighbouring countries continue investing in next-generation military aviation.

The programme is intended to provide India with an aircraft incorporating stealth characteristics, advanced sensors and modern avionics capable of addressing evolving regional security requirements.

The need for such a platform has become increasingly important as China continues expanding its fleet of J-20 stealth fighters while Pakistan is also pursuing access to Chinese fifth-generation aircraft.

Although the AMCA remains in the development phase, several important milestones have already been achieved.

Following its public unveiling during Aero India, the programme's full-scale one-to-one engineering model entered specialised Radar Cross Section (RCS) validation trials at the Indian Air Force's ORANGE facility in Dundigal, Hyderabad.

These trials are intended to verify whether the aircraft's design performs as expected from a stealth perspective before prototype construction begins. The evaluation includes multiple aspects of the aircraft's low-observable configuration.

Among them are radar-absorbent materials designed to reduce radar reflections, carefully aligned fuselage surfaces intended to minimise radar returns, and the distinctive S-shaped air intakes that conceal the engine's compressor blades — one of the strongest sources of radar reflection on conventional fighter aircraft.

The outcome of these tests is expected to influence subsequent stages of prototype development and eventual flight testing.

Alongside technical progress, the production model for the AMCA also represents a departure from earlier indigenous fighter programmes. Instead of relying exclusively on the traditional public-sector manufacturing approach, the Indian Ministry of Defence has shortlisted several private-sector consortia for prototype assembly and future large-scale production.

Among the shortlisted groups are Tata Advanced Systems, Larsen & Toubro in partnership with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), and Bharat Forge.

According to the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the current development roadmap envisages the rollout of the first prototype by late 2026 or early 2027. The programme aims to achieve its maiden flight in 2028 before progressing towards operational induction around 2034.

Why is India looking to Europe for its future fighter engines?

Although stealth design, avionics and advanced sensors are critical components of any fifth-generation fighter, propulsion remains one of the most technologically demanding aspects of aircraft development.

For India, the engine has increasingly emerged as the programme's most significant strategic and commercial challenge. The original plan called for the General Electric F414-INS6 engine to power both the Tejas Mk2 and the first batch of 40 AMCA Mk1 aircraft.

Using an established engine for the initial production standard would allow the AMCA programme to move forward while India simultaneously pursued development of a more advanced indigenous or jointly developed powerplant for future variants.

However, negotiations between GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have encountered substantial obstacles.

While India has consistently sought greater access to advanced engine technologies, critical elements such as the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) software are expected to remain under American control.

FADEC functions as the digital brain of a modern jet engine, regulating performance across different flight conditions. Retaining control over such technologies limits the extent to which India could independently modify or upgrade the engine in the future without external approval.

Therefore, New Delhi has simultaneously expanded engagement with European engine manufacturers regarding the future AMCA Mk2.

Unlike the initial AMCA Mk1, which is expected to rely upon an existing foreign engine, the long-term objective is to equip later variants with a completely new powerplant offering significantly greater Indian ownership and technological control.

Two major European manufacturers have emerged as the principal contenders.

The first is Britain's Rolls-Royce. Supported by the UK government, Rolls-Royce has proposed jointly designing and developing an entirely new engine within the 110-130 kilonewton thrust category.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the British proposal is the reported offer of complete technology transfer together with full intellectual property ownership for India.

Such an arrangement would allow India to manufacture, modify, upgrade and potentially export the engine without requiring approval from another country. According to the proposal, core engine testing could begin around 2030, followed by production beginning approximately in 2036.

France's Safran has also presented a competing proposal. Its offer reportedly centres on jointly developing an engine drawing upon the core architecture of the Rafale fighter's M88 engine while similarly promising extensive technology transfer, sovereign ownership and freedom from export restrictions.

With inputs from agencies