 plans to integrate a domestically developed jet engine into its fifth-generation KAAN fighter aircraft by 2032, a move that would mark a major milestone in Turkey’s push for defense self-sufficiency.){kind=link}
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) plans to integrate a domestically developed jet engine into its fifth-generation KAAN fighter aircraft by 2032, a move that would mark a major milestone in Turkey’s push for defense self-sufficiency.
In the July issue of Gökvatan, its in-house publication, TAI announced that early ground testing of the TF-35000 turbofan engine, developed specifically for KAAN, will begin in 2026. Integration of the engine into the aircraft is scheduled to start in 2032.
The program represents a strategic shift from reliance on US-made General Electric F110 engines, which power the early production blocks of KAAN, to a fully indigenous propulsion system. If successful, Turkey would join the United States, China and Russia as one of the few nations operating a fifth-generation fighter jet powered entirely by a domestically built engine.
Ambitious schedule, key milestones
TAI General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu, speaking at the Paris Air Show in June, said the TF-35000’s conceptual design phase is nearly complete, with the first prototypes expected by the end of the year. Ground testing is scheduled for 2026, hybrid prototype testing for 2029 and full engine integration into production aircraft in 2032.
The TF-35000 is being developed by TUSAŞ Engine Industries (TEI), a state-run company. TEI General Manager Mahmut Akşit confirmed that the engine will produce 35,000 pounds of thrust, placing it among the most powerful in its class. Akşit also said the engine is expected to enable KAAN to super cruise — fly at supersonic speeds without afterburners.
According to TEI, the engine incorporates high-temperature-resistant superalloys and features advanced cooling, coating and fuel efficiency technologies. These are intended to improve the aircraft’s range and reduce its infrared signature, a key requirement for stealth operations.
One of the intermediate steps includes building a hybrid KAAN prototype powered by one TF-35000 and one F110 engine. If flight tests prove successful, full-scale production using only the indigenous engine would begin in 2032.
Historical parallels and risks
The development cycle mirrors the timeline of other fifth-generation programs. For instance, the Pratt & Whitney F119 engine, which powers the US Air Force’s F-22 Raptor, began concept design in 1983, with its first flight taking place in 1997 after more than a decade of development.
Given that Turkey began developing the TF-35000 in the early 2020s, completing it by 2032 would follow a similar 10 to 12-year arc. However, as Akşit has noted, integrating all components of a modern turbofan engine is extraordinarily complex. Delays could arise from material procurement issues, extended testing phases or regulatory certification bottlenecks. Even minor issues with blade design, vibration stability or thermal performance can stall progress for years.
Strategic capabilities and technological progress
Fifth-generation fighters are defined by stealth designs, internal weapons bays, super cruise capability, advanced AESA radar and sensor fusion, networked warfare capabilities, and extensive use of composite materials. Propulsion systems must therefore deliver not only high thrust but also low visibility on radar and infrared sensors, along with modular serviceability.
Turkey has made significant progress in key enabling technologies. In collaboration with the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), the country produced its first single-crystal nickel superalloy turbine blade in 2017, followed by titanium compressor disks and turbine disks in 2018. It has also established advanced materials laboratories and domestic melting and casting facilities. These capabilities are crucial for producing the heat-resistant components required in fifth-generation jet engines.
However, the extent of self-sufficiency in radar-absorbing coatings and composite airframe materials remains unclear in open-source reporting.
The 35,000-pound thrust rating, paired with KAAN’s twin-engine configuration, is expected to give the aircraft a favorable thrust-to-weight ratio and low infrared signature, enhancing both its stealth and performance profiles. Whether it can also meet benchmarks such as low-observable exhaust geometry, ease of maintenance and sustained operational reliability will depend on future flight testing.
TAI’s roadmap remains aspirational. While recent advances in materials production and engine design increase its feasibility, success will also depend on factors beyond engineering such as global supply chains, technology transfer restrictions and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
If the timeline holds, KAAN’s TF-35000 engine will undergo initial ground tests in 2026 and power the aircraft into the skies with full domestic propulsion by 2032.