The U.S. Congress has effectively cleared the path for Turkey to receive F110 engines for its domestically built KAAN fi...

The U.S. Congress has effectively cleared the path for Turkey to receive F110 engines for its domestically built KAAN fighter jet, after a 15-day congressional review period expired on July 9 without any vote to block the sale. The State Department formally notified Congress on June 24, 2026 about the proposed military sale to Turkey. Under U.S. arms transfer rules, NATO member sales go through a 15-day review window during which Congress can intervene. A group of nine Democratic lawmakers tried to do exactly that, introducing a bill in both the House and the Senate calling on the administration to halt the transfer. The bill never made it to the floor for debate in either chamber. With the review period now closed, the sale moves forward without congressional interference. The deal covers F110-GE-129E/F engines to be installed in Turkey's KAAN fighter aircraft, and includes integration procedures, assembly, external modifications, certification, and testing. It also covers the exchange of technical data and all necessary engine-to-airframe adaptation work, with further technical and commercial negotiations expected to follow between U.S. agencies, the manufacturer, and Turkish authorities. The push to block the sale was led by Nevada Democratic Representative Dina Titus, joined by eight other Democrats including Brad Sherman, Chris Pappas, and Jim McGovern. All have previously opposed arms sales to Turkey, particularly during the F-16 transfer debate. Their effort ultimately stalled without a vote. The KAAN is Turkey's first domestically developed fifth-generation fighter jet. Securing U.S. engines removes one of the program's most significant obstacles and brings the aircraft a step closer to full operational capability. #Turkey #KAAN #Defense