President of Defense Industry Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün on KAAN: No Delays, Domestic Engine on Track
Defense Industry President Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün stated that the mass production of Türkiye’s fifth-generation fighter jet KAAN has been planned around a domestic engine, not a foreign one. He underlined that development of the TF35000 main engine and the APU60 auxiliary power unit is progressing successfully.
Görgün noted that in the defense sector it is common to begin with available engines and later integrate indigenous ones, adding that KAAN is being produced with a block approach, where each version enters service with gradually enhanced capabilities.
He emphasized that there is no delay in KAAN’s delivery schedule, pointing out that Türkiye is not relying on a single supplier but working with multiple channels to avoid risks. “KAAN’s future is not dependent on any single country’s engine. The TF35000 mass production process continues as planned,” he said.
According to Görgün, all engines required for KAAN prototypes have already been delivered to Türkiye and aircraft production is advancing rapidly. The official process for procuring engines from the U.S. for the first block has also been completed, while the development of the domestic engine—crucial for KAAN’s sixth-generation capabilities—remains on schedule.
Görgün also highlighted recent milestones in Türkiye’s engine projects: the first successful run of the TF6000 turbofan for ANKA-III, ongoing work on the TF10000 for KIZILELMA, and the continued progress of the TF35000 for KAAN.
He confirmed that the 48 KAAN fighters planned for export to Indonesia will be powered by Turkish engines rather than U.S.-made ones.
“Significant progress has been achieved in the past two years. We trust our engineers, and with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership and support, we are determined to bring KAAN and its indigenous engine to our nation,” Görgün concluded.
