Türkiye - Eurofighter
Türkiye, which maintains NATO's second-largest military force, plans to acquire Eurofighter Typhoon jets, multi-role combat aircraft jointly manufactured by the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Eurofighter Typhoon jets are currently used by five European countries, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Austria, and four Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar. Ankara’s plan to acquire 40 Eurofighter jets will demand the full package—aircraft, training, and logistical support—requiring further detailed agreements.
Eurofighter was more than just an aircraft. There’s a system behind it. There's a weapon set behind it. There is, in the future, connectivity that's coming with it. There will be man-unmanned teaming solutions. New technology enables collaboration between a human pilot and an AI-controlled or autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle.
Beginnings
In December 2010 officials of Italy's defense industry giant Finmeccanica, a partner in MBDA, offered Turkey to jointly build Eurofighter jets as Turkey's F-4 fleet was too old and it would take at least 10 years for the first F-35 fighter jet delivery. Finmeccanica officials said Turkish F-16 fleet should be reinforced by 40 to 60 EU-made, twin-engine, delta-wing Eurofighter jets, valued at 2-3 billion USD. They said new generation Eurofighters could be manufactured jointly by EU and Turkey.
As early as 2005 the Eurofighter Consortium, which was competing with the Joint Strike Fighter initiative, offered Turkey industrial participation in the Eurofighter, including partnership with the elite club for European aerospace industry. Eurofighter used the 7th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF - the bi-annual Turkish defense fair) to further its campaign to convince Turkey to select the Typhoon in place of/in addition to the F35 JSF as part of the Turkish Air Forces modernization program. At a 26 September 2005 press conference, Giovanni Bertolone (Alenia Aeronautic CEO) confirmed an invitation to Turkey to become the 5th Eurofighter partner for the manufacture of parts for the aircraft and for the development of new technologies.
Eurofighter believed Turkey had a strategic need for its combat jets but expects an agreement to take at least two years, Chief Executive Enzo Casolini told Reuters at the Paris Air Show on March 11, 2012. "We think Turkey is a country that's right for two platforms, like Italy and the UK have done. That is, JSF for ground attack and Eurofighter for air superiority," Casolini said, referring to the Lockheed Martin Corp-built (LMT.N) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
By the end of 2023 the Turkish Minister of National Defense confirmed that officials were in talks with the United Kingdom and Spain to procure 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighters, after the long-sought acquisition of the F-16 Block 70/72 didi not make progress. Turkey had requested in 2021 the sale of 40 newly built F-16 and the modernization kits for 79 F-16s already in service, but so far only a separate avionics upgrade had been authorized.
Turkish officials said Ankara wants to buy 120 fighter jets to reinforce its fleet before its own KAAN jets become operational. As part of efforts to bridge the gap with regional rivals such as Israel, the Turkish Ministry of Defence had said that it wants to buy 12 more Typhoons apiece from Qatar and Oman. In July 2025, Turkiye and the UK signed a preliminary deal for the delivery of 40 Typhoons, a plan approved by the other Eurofighter consortium members Germany, Italy and Spain.
“The Turkish Air Force had the operational strength to handle both national and regional threats,” says Kemal Olcar, a military strategist and faculty member at Beykent University. “However, new state or non-state actors may emerge. The Typhoon’s advanced avionics and multi-role flexibility can provide significant advantages in aerial warfare.”
Türkiye’s defence ecosystem was in a transitional phase, with its current air fleet largely comprised of around 250 F-16 jets. While these aircraft still perform effectively across regional theatres—including the Balkans, the Caucasus, the Eastern Mediterranean, and North Africa—future threats may necessitate more advanced capabilities, says Olcar.
Eurofighter and F-16 both are supersonic, but Eurofighter had dual engines and superior agility in short take-offs and landings. It can operate from runways under 100 meters, unlike the F-16, which needs significantly more. However, the Eurofighter comes at a higher cost—around $90 million per unit versus the F-16’s $18 million, and operational costs are roughly three times higher.
Yet, Olcar argued, these costs could be justified if the aircraft meets Türkiye’s expectations: “Its integration into NATO operations, enhanced interoperability, and deterrent capabilities make it a highly strategic asset. Plus, the Eurofighter's multinational manufacturing roots deepen our industrial ties with key EU states, potentially opening reciprocal defence export opportunities.”
German Reluctance
Ankara said in 2023 it was eager to acquire Eurofighter jets, but the talks had been slow to get off the ground, largely because of Berlin’s opposition to Turkey’s stance on the Gaza conflict. Although London was leading the talks with interested parties, any of the four nations may veto a sale. Minister of National Defense Yasar Güler said in a statement, "Turkey is continuing its work to procure 40 Eurofighters by meeting with England and Spain. They are trying to convince Germany."
The Eurofighter Typhoon jets are built by a consortium consisting of Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo and involving Germany, the UK, Italy and Spain. The failure to secure new contracts could potentially lead to the cessation of Eurofighter production by 2030. Germany’s final tranche-4 aircraft from the 38-unit Quadriga purchase was expected to be delivered in 2030, and the high-rate production of the New Generation Fighter under the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program may not commence before 2040.
On 16 November 2023, Turkey’s defense minister, Yasar Gular, officially declared ongoing negotiations with Spain and the United Kingdom to acquire Typhoon jets. Turkey’s announcement of its plans to purchase 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets faced obstacles due to the program’s collaborative nature. Germany, in particular, opposed the sale to Turkey. “We want to buy Eurofighter. It was a very effective aircraft. These aircraft are related to the UK, Germany, and Spain,” he told parliament. “Both the UK and Spain say ‘yes,’ and now they are working to persuade Germany. The UK and Spain say: ‘We will solve that problem’. If solved, we plan to purchase 40 Eurofighter jets.”
While the discussions focused on the F-35 program are being left behind in Turkey’s fighter jet procurement, two different dimensions come to the forefront. The first of these was Turkey’s production of KAAN and HÜRJET with national resources and adding them to the Air Force’s inventory. The second issue was procurement from external sources through ready-made purchases or assembly. Turkey needs to supply suitable fighter jets within the scope of "urgent combat need" to its aging and renewing inventory and to include national systems with them. Considering recent conflicts, there was no tolerance for loss of time.
The Eurofighter Typhoon was produced by a European consortium as a 4++ generation or 4.5 generation fighter jet. It had a speed of 2,124 kilometers per hour. Its payload capacity was over 6,000 kilos. These are planes known to be more agile and faster than the F-16. The fighter plane, which was not a 5th generation fighter plane, was expressed as a multi-role fighter plane. It was stated that the plane, which was stated to lack stealth capability, does not have as low radar visibility as 5th generation fighter planes. When the Russian-made Sukhoi Su-57 was compared with the Eurofighter Typhoon warplanes of European countries, it was stated that the Su-57 aircraft was ahead.
Germany ultimately lifted the obstacle to the purchase of 40 Eurofighter Typoon fighter jets for the Turkish Air Force. Berlin had changed its view of its NATO ally Turkey, especially considering the possibility of Donald Trump being elected president in the US and the possibility of Russia increasing its attacks on Ukraine. The aim was to secure NATO's southern flank and unite forces in the face of declining support for Ukraine. The Berlin administration hopes to be able to use Erdogan 's communication channels with the Kremlin in the future. Another sign of Germany 's rapprochement with Turkey was Scholz's announcement that the high-strategic joint government consultations, which were last held in 2016, would be restarted.
Germany, which had been blocking the sale for a long time, approved the start of technical talks. A technical delegation from England, Italy, Spain and Germany, which make up the Eurofighter consortium, came to Turkey and started talks 11 October 2024. The talks, which were planned to last approximately 3 weeks, discussed many technical details, including the stages of the fighter jet procurement process, how personnel training will be provided and how maintenance programs will be implemented. The sale will be made after opinions are received on the stages of the fighter jets' procurement process, how personnel training will be done, and how maintenance programs will be implemented.
If Germany also gives final approval to the sale after technical talks, Turkey will purchase 24 Eurofighter fighter jets in the first stage as soon as possible. This number will be increased to 40 in the later stages of the process. With the procurement of Eurofighter fighter jets, aircraft with AESA radar will enter the Turkish Air Force inventory for the first time. Experts emphasize that Eurofighter will be the most suitable solution until the national fighter jet KAAN and F-16 Block 70 fighter jets enter the inventory. At this point, the main energy will be spent on KAAN reaching the mass production stage.
These aircraft, which will arrive in batches, will be manufactured in England in the first stage and sent to Turkey. Some news reports have stated that they can also be purchased second-hand, but that was not on the agenda. Priority was given to purchasing brand new aircraft that will be released from production. Up to 40 aircraft can be purchased depending on the need. 35-36 aircraft can also be purchased, this will be evaluated. It was said that 'If it were approved today, the first batch of Eurofighters could be purchased within 2-3 years'. It was also said that the pilots will be ready within 1 year. The costs that are written aside, if the ammunition such as missiles will be purchased along with the planes, there was an average cost estimate of 5-6 billion euros.
A project to possibly supply Turkey with Eurofighter jets was an effort being driven by the United Kingdom and was in the early stages, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said 20 October 2024. “There are certain projects that are just getting started, … one that the UK government is taking forward and for which negotiations have now begun,” Scholz said when asked about the issue at a news conference in Istanbul with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “Turkey is a member of NATO, and that’s why we always take decisions that lead to concrete deliveries,” Scholz said. There was no immediate comment from the British government.
Scholz stated that they will discuss many issues with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul as part of his visit to Türkiye, continued as follows: "The issue of migration is, of course, always an important issue. It is right and logical for the European Union and Turkey to work together on this issue. We have always supported this and called on the European Union to expand the relevant agreements." Scholz drew attention to the issues to be discussed other than migration, saying, "There are other issues we need to discuss regarding bilateral relations between Turkey and Europe and relations between Germany and Turkey."
When asked about the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet joint project, Scholz emphasized that it was a subject of negotiations between the British and Turkish governments, as the UK was the leading country, and said, "Of course, we are clear on whether we will stop it or not. However, it is still too early, and that is why we said let's have a negotiation first."
Before Sholz's visit, there were claims that these planes could be given on the condition that they were not used against Greece in the Aegean or the PKK in Syria. The Ministry of National Defence denied the claims that a condition was put forward. It was emphasized that these claims were voiced by a group trying to create a negative perception in Germany. The German government had frightened Greece with its new stance on the supply of defense industry products to Ankara, and that Scholz praised the recent softening of relations between Athens and Ankara. It was also noted that Berlin had been talking about a "new beginning" in relations with Turkey for a while.
Greece, which had purchased 34 Rafale-type fighter jets from France, will also purchase 40 F-35s from the US. Undoubtedly, enduring such a high cost will be felt as a burden by Greek citizens. There was no need to emphasize the ammunition, maintenance and operating costs of the F-35s. However, it was necessary to see that the Greek Armed Forces are gaining a qualitative advantage in terms of the balance of air forces with Turkey in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. The Rafale had superior qualities compared to the F-16 Block 70s in terms of altitude and maneuver. The F-35s, on the other hand, are effective fighter jets in their own class with their low radar silhouette, intelligence capability, network-focused operation and remote ammunition release.
Eurofighters have sharper maneuverability than the Rafale, high altitude flight at 42 thousand and 60 thousand feet respectively, and speeds of 1.8 and 2 Mach respectively. But the development that should be taken as a reference in both the establishment of Turkey’s air force balance with Greece and the procurement of Eurofighters was not Greece’s purchase of Rafales. The search for balance against the Russians’ Su-35s and Su-57s was a more prioritized topic.
According to the German news magazine Der Spiegel, Berlin had authorised major arms deliveries to Ankara, including anti-aircraft missiles worth several hundred million euros. This marked a clear change of direction after Germany drastically reduced its arms exports following Turkish offensives in Syria beginning in 2016. Olaf Scholz and Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on many issues, including their determination not to allow the recent optimism in Turkish-German relations to be damaged by deep differences of opinion on the Middle East conflict.
Chancellor Scholz and President Erdogan appeared to get along well, and that they also knew which issues would ruin their new friendship. Erdogan acknowledged Scholz’s efforts to lift German restrictions on defence sales to Turkey. “We wish to leave behind some of the difficulties experienced in the past in the supply of defence industry products and develop our cooperation,” Erdogan told reporters, expressing his “appreciation” for Scholz’s efforts to find solutions to the issues.
Germany had previously been a large-scale armaments supplier to Turkey, but in recent years, German weapons exports to Turkey have been lower. Sales to Turkey have been controversial in Germany partly due to some of the Turkish government’s international actions. After Turkey’s initial ground offensive in northern Syria in 2016, German export permits to Ankara were reduced significantly. Scholz stated, "Turkey is a NATO member and therefore we continue to make decisions that will lead to concrete deliveries. This is a matter of course and we have made such decisions recently. And there will be more."
Another bone of contention in German-Turkish ties was Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza. Erdogan on 19 October 2024 accused Israel of committing genocide in its assault on the Gaza Strip. He also called for pressure on Israel so more humanitarian aid can reach Gaza and accused Israel of expansionist policies. Scholz rejected Erdogan’s genocide accusation, and the German leader said civilian victims on all sides of the conflict should be mourned equally. He called for a ceasefire and the release of captives held by Palestinian armed groups in Gaza.
Communications Director Altun responded to the statements made by CHP Chairman Özel. Altun stated that the claims that Turkey had approved the acceptance of third-country nationals in return for purchasing Eurofighter aircraft were completely false. Presidency Communications Director Fahrettin Altun made a written statement starting with the following words: " In his speech today, we witnessed CHP Chairman Özgür Özel reiterating the claims that "refugees are/will be sent from Germany to Turkey by planes", which were denied three times by our Center for Combating Disinformation on different dates."
In a statement he made on social media, Altun said , "First of all, there is absolutely no question of an agreement to send citizens of third countries (Syria, Afghanistan, etc.) who do not have a legal right to reside in Germany to Turkey ." "The claims that Turkey approved the acceptance of third-country nationals "in exchange for purchasing Eurofighter aircraft" are completely false," said Altun , responding to the claims that an agreement was made between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Altun, who stated that they repeatedly stated that CHP Chairman Özel should not mediate disinformation activities and that the public should be informed correctly, concluded his statement by saying, "It is absolutely out of the question for Turkish citizens to be sent to Turkey "in bulk" and third-country citizens to be sent to Turkey either collectively or individually, for Turkish authorities to accept such a practice, and for an agreement to be signed for this purpose."
Agreement October 2025
Turkiye finally reached a deal with the United Kingdom to buy 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets for almost $11bn, as Ankara seeks to bolster its air defences while it develops its own fifth-generation KAAN fighter planes. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in Ankara on 27 October 2025 to sign the agreement. The first Typhoons ordered under the agreement were expected to arrive in Ankara in 2030, according to Starmer.
The deal will help to sustain a 20,000 strong UK wide workforce, with production lines in Edinburgh, Warton, Salmesbury and Bristol. The Turkish agreement was a major boost for the British order book, representing the biggest fighter jet deal in almost 20 years and saving the Warton production line. The UK’s Ministry of Defence described the move as the “biggest fighter jet deal in a generation”.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "This landmark agreement with Türkiye is a win for British workers, a win for our defence industry, and a win for NATO security. At either ends of Europe, the UK and Türkiye are vital to tackling the challenges of our time and this will allow our Armed Forces to work even closer together as we deter threats and protect our national interests. Delivering highly skilled, well-paid jobs, including in Warton, Edinburgh and Bristol for years to come, this is yet another example of our Plan for Change in action, driving renewal and opportunity up and down the country."
The Typhoon workshare agreement sees more than a third (37%) of each aircraft manufactured in the UK; the rest of each aircraft would be produced by the Eurofighter Partner Nations. The UK jobs include: Nearly 6,000 jobs directly support the Typhoon programme at BAE Systems sites in Warton and Samlesbury, where production and final assembly of each Typhoon fighter jet takes place. The Typhoon programme supports more than 1,100 jobs in the South West region. That includes Rolls-Royce in Bristol producing critical modules and components for Typhoon’s EJ200 jet engines and acting as main hub for maintenance of the engines. The Typhoon programme supports more than 800 jobs in Scotland. That includes Leonardo in Edinburgh manufacturing the fighter jet’s cutting-edge radar for identifying enemies.
Defence Secretary John Healey, who travelled with the Prime Minister to Ankara to finalise the deal, said: "This is another major export deal for the UK and is the biggest jet exports deal in a generation. It will pump billions of pounds into our economy and keep British Typhoon production lines turning long into the future. This deal goes far beyond the procurement of aircraft. It is the leading edge of the growing defence and industrial partnership between our two nations."
Erdogan hailed it as “a new symbol of the strategic relations” between “two close allies”. Speaking in Ankara, Starmer said the agreement was also a win for NATO, which counts the UK and Turkiye among its members. “This is the southeast flank of NATO, and so having that capability locked in with the United Kingdom is really important for NATO as well,” the British prime minister said.
"We regard this as a new symbol of the strategic relations between two close allies," Erdogan said after signing the agreement with Starmer at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. The Turkish president said he believes the Eurofighter deal with the UK will open the door to joint defence projects. Erdogan also vowed to boost Türkiye-UK trade to $40 billion and pledged stronger economic ties. “We are committed to increasing our trade volume with the United Kingdom, initially to $30 billion and eventually to $40 billion. We are determined to strengthen our economic ties.”
“I thank Prime Minister Starmer and his team for the work carried out by the UK within the Eurofighter Consortium throughout the process. I also express my appreciation to the leaders of other allied countries in the consortium for their constructive approach,” he added.
Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schoellhorn said the Eurofighter deal could establish a long-term partnership with Türkiye as they scale up production and develop more advanced models with new technologies. “So I think if Türkiye becomes part of the Eurofighter club, if I may say, there are a lot of user groups that we have where the users come together, they exchange ideas, you learn together, you learn faster. And we interface as an industry with these user groups so that we can provide solutions that the users really want. So it's much more than just buying an aircraft,” he said.
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