US Blocks Engines for Turkey’s KAAN Fighter: Why the Block, Will It Happen to India’s AMCA Too?
Turkey’s ambitious KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet program has encountered fresh turbulence after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan revealed that the US Congress has suspended export licenses for the General Electric F110 engines intended to power the first prototypes. Speaking on the sidelines of the Trump–Erdogan meeting in New York on September 26, 2025, Fidan bluntly stated that “the KAAN’s engines are waiting for approval in the US Congress,” confirming that political considerations in Washington are now entangled with Ankara’s most important defense program.
The F110 engine is the backbone of several frontline aircraft worldwide, including the F-16. Turkey had initially secured access to the engine to fast-track the KAAN prototype phase until an indigenous engine solution became viable. Now, however, the suspension adds uncertainty to the KAAN timeline and highlights how the United States continues to use defense exports as a tool of leverage.
Why is Washington Blocking the Engine?
The official reasoning from Washington remains unspoken, but defense analysts point to deep political rifts between Turkey and the United States. Ankara’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system in 2019 continues to haunt bilateral defense cooperation, leading to Turkey’s expulsion from the F-35 program. Beyond that, Washington is wary of enabling Turkey to develop a direct competitor to the F-35 Lightning II in the export market.
By holding back engine licenses, the US is signaling two things: first, a continued punishment for Turkey’s flirtation with Russian defense technology; and second, a broader strategy of preserving American aerospace dominance in the lucrative fifth-generation fighter export market. Another layer to this is commercial pressure—the United States still wants to sell the F-35 to Turkey, and the engine blockade is seen as a way to push Ankara back toward the American fighter.
Could the Same Happen to India’s AMCA?
The Turkish experience inevitably sparks questions in India. The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), New Delhi’s fifth-generation fighter program, is set to use the US-made General Electric F414 engines for its initial production runs. The AMCA is already being touted as a possible competitor to the F-35 in Asia and the Middle East once it matures.
India, like Turkey, also continues to buy Russian military equipment—from the S-400 system to nuclear submarines—and could even consider next-generation platforms such as the S-500 missile defense system or the Su-57 fighter if its strategic environment demands it. Facing the dual challenge of Pakistan and China, India may end up purchasing even more Russian hardware than Turkey ever did, raising the specter of similar American retaliation in the future. While Washington has deepened strategic ties with India under the Indo-Pacific framework, the fundamental truth remains: engine exports are a political weapon. If the AMCA begins to threaten US defense sales, Congress could resort to the same playbook it is now using against Turkey. The US has already offered India the F-35, but New Delhi has not shown any response, signaling its preference for indigenous projects like the AMCA instead.
From a purely commercial standpoint, Washington may not want to empower another rising competitor. If the AMCA reaches export maturity, it could become an alternative for nations unwilling or unable to buy the F-35. That competition, paired with India’s defense independence drive, could be viewed in Washington as a threat rather than a partnership.
Another Angle: Trust Deficit in US Alliances
The broader angle is not just about Turkey or India—it is about the erosion of trust in US defense commitments. By suspending or weaponizing export approvals, Washington risks signaling to allies and partners that even the most critical defense projects are hostage to domestic politics in Congress.
This problem is compounded under Donald Trump’s second presidency, where America’s foreign policy is already seen as unpredictable and transactional. Defense cooperation with the US, once marketed as a pathway to strategic independence, is increasingly perceived as a trap of dependency. For Turkey, the KAAN case confirms that even NATO allies are not immune. For India, the episode serves as a stark warning: relying too heavily on American propulsion technology could jeopardize AMCA’s timeline and autonomy.
The Worst Foreign Policy Trap
Seen from a global perspective, this moment might mark one of the weakest phases in US foreign policy. Washington is simultaneously alienating Turkey, frustrating India’s long-term defense vision, and sending a chilling message to other allies who may now reconsider dependence on US technology. European, Asian, and Middle Eastern states may instead accelerate cooperation with alternative suppliers—Russia, France, or even China—to avoid being held hostage by congressional politics.
In effect, the KAAN blockade is more than just an engine dispute. It is a demonstration that America is willing to sacrifice the trust of its allies in order to maintain market dominance and punish disobedience. For defense planners worldwide, the message is unambiguous: the United States cannot be relied upon as a stable partner when strategic ambitions collide with its own.
For Turkey, the setback may delay KAAN but will likely reinforce efforts to achieve engine independence. For India, the shadow of KAAN’s struggle looms large over AMCA’s future. And for the United States, this episode may be remembered as a moment when its foreign policy dependence on sanctions and blockades pushed allies further away, undermining its long-term influence in the global defense arena.
✍️ This article is written by the team of The Defense News.