# Türkiye’s TF-35000 Fighter Engine Targets 35,000 Pounds Thrust

- Published: 2026-11-09 04:26 UTC
- Section: Power & Energy › Engines
- Tags: TF-35000, KAAN, fighter engine, Turkish Aerospace, domestic propulsion
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-f2178d680c32bddc76401a92_t_rkiye_s/

**The TF-35000 engine aims to enhance the KAAN stealth fighter's performance and domestic production capabilities.**

![Türkiye’s TF-35000 Fighter Engine Targets 35,000 Pounds Thrust](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/e3363e717f99ff04.jpg)
*defencesecurityasia*

Türkiye’s TF-35000 fighter engine is designed to provide the KAAN stealth fighter with a domestic propulsion system, targeting a thrust of 35,000 pounds afterburning. This development is crucial for improving the aircraft's climb and acceleration, while also granting Ankara greater control over fleet sustainment and export decisions. Reports indicate a ground test is scheduled for November 2026, which would mark the first opportunity for Turkish engineers to validate the integrated hardware under power ahead of flight qualification.

## Ground Test Schedule
The November 2026 window aligns with the programme’s ground-test schedule, although the readiness for a complete-engine run remains unconfirmed. The TF-35000 is expected to deliver approximately 80 percent more power at high altitude compared to existing engines, although public test data to substantiate this claim is still lacking. The twin-engine KAAN will utilize the General Electric F110-GE-129 during the development of the TF-35000, allowing engineers to progress on both the airframe and the domestic propulsion system concurrently.

TEI General Manager Mahmut Faruk Akşit has indicated that a critical design review is anticipated around February 2026, which will establish a design baseline for assessing prototype performance. Turkish Aerospace Industries CEO Mehmet Demiroğlu has projected that KAAN aircraft powered by the TF-35000 could be operational around 2033, providing a timeline for converting a ground-test engine into a qualified installation and preparing the supply chain for serial production.

## Strategic Implications
Initial deliveries of Block 10 are targeted for late 2028 or early 2029, allowing the Turkish Air Force to begin replacing its F-16 fleet and gaining operational experience with the KAAN before the domestic engine is introduced. The recent notification from the United States regarding the provision of approximately 80 additional F110 engines supports this transition, facilitating the equipping of early aircraft.

Indonesia's order for 48 KAAN aircraft presents an opportunity for Türkiye to establish its presence in the Indo-Pacific region, where the preference for Turkish propulsion is linked to the successful qualification and sustainment of the TF-35000. The GÜÇHAN project, which targets a thrust of 42,000 pounds, further supports Türkiye's ambitions in developing high-temperature turbine materials and manufacturing expertise, while the TF-35000 remains the designated engine for the KAAN.

## Sources

1. [defencesecurityasia](https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/turkiye-tf35000-kaan-stealth-fighter-engine)

---

Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-f2178d680c32bddc76401a92_t_rkiye_s/