Turkey, UK sign Eurofighter Typhoon MoU as Germany lifts export veto

July 23, 2025, 14:40 (UTC +3)

Turkey and the UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 23, 2025, to advance the potential procurement of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets. The agreement was signed by Turkish Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler and UK Defence Secretary John Healey during the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul.

#image_titleBAE Systems welcomed the signing, emphasizing the significance of defense cooperation between the two NATO allies.

“This Memorandum of Understanding underscores the importance of our partnership and the critical role Typhoon plays in European and Middle Eastern security,” said Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive of BAE Systems.

The company said it will continue working with both governments to formalize a procurement agreement.

Germany approves Eurofighter Typhoon sale to Turkey 

Germany has reportedly approved the export of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Turkey, marking a reversal of its earlier decision to block the deal.  

The news was reported by Der Spiegel and confirmed by Bloomberg on July 23, 2025, citing government sources. According to the reports, the decision was taken by Germany’s federal security council, which oversees arms export approvals.  

From veto to green light 

The development comes just three months after Berlin halted the proposed sale, citing concerns over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in March 2025. German officials at the time described the detention of the opposition figure as “an attack on Turkish democracy” and revoked export authorization for the Typhoon jets. 

The deal requires unanimous approval from all four Eurofighter partner nations – Germany, the UK, Italy, and Spain. Earlier in July 2025, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said both Germany and the UK had expressed a positive stance on the sale and that Ankara hoped to finalize the purchase “as soon as possible.” 

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Strategic and regional implications 

Turkey’s planned acquisition of 40 Eurofighter Typhoons is a key element of its effort to modernize its air force, following its removal from the F-35 program in 2019 due to the purchase of Russian S-400 systems. The potential integration of MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range missiles has raised concerns in Greece, which fears the deal could shift the regional balance of power. 

Athens has repeatedly voiced opposition to the sale, warning that it would violate security guarantees under a 2021 defense pact with France. However, given the multinational nature of the Eurofighter and Meteor programs, a French government move to block the missile transaction remains unlikely. The post Turkey, UK sign Eurofighter Typhoon MoU as Germany lifts export veto appeared first on AeroTime.

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