Turkey to Sell Russian S-400 Systems to Third Country as GE Engine export for KAAN Fighter Clears US Congress Review

The 15-day official review period regarding the export to Turkey of General Electric F110-GE-129 engines to be used in the KAAN National Combat Aircraft, as notified by the US administration to Congress on June 24, has come to an end.

Turkey has begun the process of selling It’s a-400 air defense systems to a third country removing the only hurdle to its acquisition of GE engines and F-35 fighter jets. “Discussions were underway between Russia and Turkey regarding the possible resale of S-400s , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Journalists in Moscow today.

Duriing the NATO leaders’ summit in Ankara, Turkish officials had obliquely referenced to the S-400 issue as “will be resolved.”

Although some Congress members voiced objections during the process citing the S-400 issue, no joint rejection decision was issued to halt the sale. Thus, as of July 10, the Congress-related legal review process for the F110 engine export has been completed.

President Trump had said that the CAATSA sanctions against Turkey would be removed “since Turkey was an ally.”

Lobby groups representing Greek and Israeli interests had consistently opposed the sale of the F110-GE-129 engine on grounds that the CAATSA sanctions imposed against Turkey are still in place and no defense article sale to Turkey could proceed while the sanctions are still in effect.

The U.S. State Department formally notified Congress on June 24 about the F110 engine package, valued at approximately $705 million for dozens of engines.

Throughout the review process, some Democratic members of Congress and senators opposed the engine sale, citing Turkey's possession of the S-400 air defense system.

Gregory Meeks, the senior Democratic member of the House Foreign Relations Committee, argued that the administration had not adequately informed Congress, while Representative Dina Titus announced she would introduce a joint rejection bill to block the sale.

However, these initiatives failed to gain the majority needed to halt the exports, and no joint resolution to block the sale was passed by Congress.