Türkiye signs preliminary agreement with UK to acquire 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
During IDEF 2025, the international defense exhibition held in Istanbul in July 2025, Türkiye and the United Kingdom signed a preliminary agreement on July 23, 2025, concerning the procurement of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft. This strategic accord marks a significant milestone in Türkiye’s efforts to modernize its air force and deepen defense ties with NATO allies, particularly in the field of advanced air combat capabilities.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Turkish and UK defense ministers sign a preliminary agreement at IDEF 2025 for Türkiye’s planned acquisition of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter jets. (Picture source: UK MoD)
Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey formalized the memorandum of understanding during the event, emphasizing their joint commitment to Türkiye’s integration into the Eurofighter program. A statement from the Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed that both sides consider this signing as a significant move toward Türkiye’s inclusion in the so-called “Typhoon club” and expressed their shared intent to finalize all necessary agreements without delay.
Türkiye, a NATO member, has been considering the acquisition of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole combat fighter aircraft for several years. The Typhoon is produced by a consortium of defense companies from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy. Initially, Germany had opposed the export of these fighters to Türkiye due to political and strategic concerns, but has recently reversed its position, enabling the United Kingdom to take the lead in conducting formal negotiations on behalf of the consortium.
Turkish defense officials confirmed that discussions are still underway regarding the pricing and technical conditions of the deal. After receiving an initial offer, Ankara is preparing a detailed counter-proposal to align the terms with national requirements. The Turkish side is particularly focused on a flexible procurement structure that could include both newly built Tranche 4 Typhoons and upgraded second-hand variants to accelerate delivery.
The latest and most advanced version of the Eurofighter Typhoon is the Tranche 4, which features cutting-edge upgrades including the ECRS Mk2 AESA radar, enhanced survivability systems, superior electronic warfare capabilities, and compatibility with long-range air-to-air missiles such as MBDA Meteor. Tranche 4 aircraft also include mission system enhancements that significantly expand multi-domain situational awareness and sensor fusion, making it one of the most capable 4.5-generation fighter jets currently in production.
Currently, the Turkish Air Force operates a total of 279 fighter jets, predominantly made up of various versions of the F-16 Fighting Falcon and a limited number of legacy aircraft. This fleet includes 19 F-4E Phantom 2020, 27 F-16C Block 30, 162 F-16C Block 50, 14 F-16C Block 50+, 8 F-16D Block 30, 33 F-16D Block 50, and 16 F-16D Block 50+. Many of these platforms are approaching the end of their service lives or require extensive upgrades, underscoring the urgency of fleet modernization through new acquisitions like the Eurofighter Typhoon and future indigenous solutions such as the TF-Kaan.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is currently in service with several air forces across Europe and the Middle East. Core operators include the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain, each a partner in the aircraft’s development. Additional users include Austria, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar, with each adapting the aircraft to their operational needs. With more than 570 units delivered, the Eurofighter is one of the most widely deployed multirole fighters in the NATO arsenal and continues to receive incremental capability upgrades to extend its relevance into the 2040s.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is regarded by Turkish authorities as a critical interim solution to maintain air superiority, especially following Türkiye’s removal from the F-35 program in 2019 and delays in receiving upgraded F-16 Block 70 fighters from the United States. Concurrently, Türkiye is advancing its own fifth-generation stealth fighter program, the TF-Kaan, expected to reach operational capability in 2028. The Typhoon would bridge the gap until KAAN becomes fully operational, while also enhancing Türkiye’s deterrent posture and air defense integration within NATO.
This prospective Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets deal also fits within Ankara’s broader strategy to diversify its military procurement sources and lessen dependency on U.S.-centric systems. If finalized, the contract would represent one of the most significant European arms transfers to Türkiye in recent years and a potential shift in the regional airpower balance.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
During IDEF 2025, the international defense exhibition held in Istanbul in July 2025, Türkiye and the United Kingdom signed a preliminary agreement on July 23, 2025, concerning the procurement of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft. This strategic accord marks a significant milestone in Türkiye’s efforts to modernize its air force and deepen defense ties with NATO allies, particularly in the field of advanced air combat capabilities.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Turkish and UK defense ministers sign a preliminary agreement at IDEF 2025 for Türkiye’s planned acquisition of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter jets. (Picture source: UK MoD)
Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey formalized the memorandum of understanding during the event, emphasizing their joint commitment to Türkiye’s integration into the Eurofighter program. A statement from the Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed that both sides consider this signing as a significant move toward Türkiye’s inclusion in the so-called “Typhoon club” and expressed their shared intent to finalize all necessary agreements without delay.
Türkiye, a NATO member, has been considering the acquisition of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole combat fighter aircraft for several years. The Typhoon is produced by a consortium of defense companies from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy. Initially, Germany had opposed the export of these fighters to Türkiye due to political and strategic concerns, but has recently reversed its position, enabling the United Kingdom to take the lead in conducting formal negotiations on behalf of the consortium.
Turkish defense officials confirmed that discussions are still underway regarding the pricing and technical conditions of the deal. After receiving an initial offer, Ankara is preparing a detailed counter-proposal to align the terms with national requirements. The Turkish side is particularly focused on a flexible procurement structure that could include both newly built Tranche 4 Typhoons and upgraded second-hand variants to accelerate delivery.
The latest and most advanced version of the Eurofighter Typhoon is the Tranche 4, which features cutting-edge upgrades including the ECRS Mk2 AESA radar, enhanced survivability systems, superior electronic warfare capabilities, and compatibility with long-range air-to-air missiles such as MBDA Meteor. Tranche 4 aircraft also include mission system enhancements that significantly expand multi-domain situational awareness and sensor fusion, making it one of the most capable 4.5-generation fighter jets currently in production.
Currently, the Turkish Air Force operates a total of 279 fighter jets, predominantly made up of various versions of the F-16 Fighting Falcon and a limited number of legacy aircraft. This fleet includes 19 F-4E Phantom 2020, 27 F-16C Block 30, 162 F-16C Block 50, 14 F-16C Block 50+, 8 F-16D Block 30, 33 F-16D Block 50, and 16 F-16D Block 50+. Many of these platforms are approaching the end of their service lives or require extensive upgrades, underscoring the urgency of fleet modernization through new acquisitions like the Eurofighter Typhoon and future indigenous solutions such as the TF-Kaan.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is currently in service with several air forces across Europe and the Middle East. Core operators include the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain, each a partner in the aircraft’s development. Additional users include Austria, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar, with each adapting the aircraft to their operational needs. With more than 570 units delivered, the Eurofighter is one of the most widely deployed multirole fighters in the NATO arsenal and continues to receive incremental capability upgrades to extend its relevance into the 2040s.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is regarded by Turkish authorities as a critical interim solution to maintain air superiority, especially following Türkiye’s removal from the F-35 program in 2019 and delays in receiving upgraded F-16 Block 70 fighters from the United States. Concurrently, Türkiye is advancing its own fifth-generation stealth fighter program, the TF-Kaan, expected to reach operational capability in 2028. The Typhoon would bridge the gap until KAAN becomes fully operational, while also enhancing Türkiye’s deterrent posture and air defense integration within NATO.
This prospective Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets deal also fits within Ankara’s broader strategy to diversify its military procurement sources and lessen dependency on U.S.-centric systems. If finalized, the contract would represent one of the most significant European arms transfers to Türkiye in recent years and a potential shift in the regional airpower balance.
