Washington: A major step in the process for the sale of F110 engines to Trkiye, intended for use in the country's indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet, KAAN, has been completed without any opposition from the US Congress. The 15-day review period concluded without any congressional block, allowing the sale to proceed.
According to Anadolu Agency, the US State Department formally notified Congress on June 24, 2026, about the proposed foreign military sale. During the review period, a joint resolution was introduced by nine members of Congress to halt the sale, citing concerns over defense equipment, services, and related support to Trkiye. However, the resolution failed to advance to a vote in either the House of Representatives or the Senate, leading to the expiration of the review period on July 9. The sale of the F110 engines, therefore, moved forward without any congressional intervention.
The notified sale includes comprehensive elements such as integration, assembly, external modification, certification, testing, defense services, and technical data transfer related to the F110-GE-129E/F engines, which will be used to power the KAAN fighter aircraft.
The joint resolution to block the sale was introduced by Democratic Representative Dina Titus of Nevada, with support from other Democratic members who have historically opposed defense deals with Trkiye. These include lawmakers like Brad Sherman, Chris Pappas, and Jim McGovern, all known for their previous objections to arms sales like the F-16 fighter jets to Trkiye. Additional supporters of the resolution, such as Jim Costa, Josh Gottheimer, Mike Quigley, and George Latimer, represent areas with significant Armenian, Greek, and Israeli communities, which have often been involved in lobbying against defense sales to Trkiye.
The US process for major arms sales involves a congressional review period following a formal notification by the State Department. For NATO allies, this period lasts 15 days. Members of Congress can introduce a resolution to block a proposed sale during this time. However, for a resolution to be effective, it must pass both chambers of Congress and be signed by the president. In this case, the resolution to block the F110 engine sale was neither debated nor voted on, allowing the transaction to proceed unimpeded.
The next phase involves technical and commercial negotiations between the US administration, relevant government agencies, the engine manufacturer, and Turkish authorities. Future discussions will address the delivery schedule, engine integration, testing, and certification activities.