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Türkiye's indigenous TF35000 turbofan engine will undergo initial testing in 2026 and begin integration with the KAAN fighter jet in 2032, according to information published in TAI Magazine's 141st edition.
The timeline represents a crucial milestone for Türkiye's most strategic defense project, as the country develops its fifth-generation fighter aircraft to replace aging F-16s beginning in the 2030s.
TUSAS Engine Industries Inc. (TEI) is developing the TF35000, which aims to be Türkiye's highest thrust turbofan engine.
The magazine stated, "Early tests of Türkiye's highest thrust indigenous and national turbofan engine, TF35000, developed by TEI, are planned for 2026, with integration to KAAN scheduled to begin from 2032."
This announcement confirms that KAAN's initial prototypes will continue test activities with foreign-sourced engines, which are General Electric's F110 engines, the same engines that the Turkish Air Force's F-16s are using right now, while the domestic power unit is targeted for serial production and final configuration.
The integration process beginning in 2032 suggests flight testing would start around 2032-2033, with completion expected by the mid-2030s if everything proceeds as planned.
The engine could enter service by 2036.
During the TF35000 integration period, the Turkish Air Force will need to have modernized its F-16 Block 40/50 fleet with AESA radars, received Typhoon deliveries, inducted at least one or two squadrons of KAAN Block 10 and 20 variants, and achieved full combat readiness with Kizilelma and Anka-3 unmanned systems.
Given current global tensions, these developments are not merely desirable but necessary for maintaining defensive capabilities during the transition period.
Turkish Aerospace CEO Mehmet Demiroglu recently announced at IDEF 2025 that KAAN has three prototypes, with two scheduled to fly starting April 2026 and one designated for ground tests.
"We have completed all our work to launch phase 1," Demiroglu told Anadolu's Technology Desk.
"I don't want to say anything yet, but I can say that you can expect some surprises."
The KAAN project aims to achieve air superiority through "extended air-to-air combat range with new weapons, precise strikes from internal weapon bays at high/supersonic speeds, and enhanced combat power with artificial intelligence and neural network support," according to project documentation.
Demiroglu emphasized KAAN's broader significance: "We do not view KAAN as merely an aircraft project.
KAAN is a journey toward reaching the pinnacle of a nation's defense industry, not just as TAI alone, but as a collective effort."
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