UK signs £8 billion deal to supply Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Türkiye

The United Kingdom has signed an £8 billion (approximately $10.7 billion) defense agreement with Türkiye to supply dozens of high-tech Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed the deal after arriving in Ankara on Monday to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, calling it “a win for British workers, our defense industry, and NATO security.”

The Prime Minister stated that the agreement is also a boost for NATO security, telling journalists in Türkiye, “It is really important for NATO that this capability is secured with the United Kingdom.”

The supersonic fighter jets form the backbone of the Royal Air Force (RAF) fleet and are critical for intercepting jets from countries like Russia.

The export announcement marks the first order the UK has received for the Typhoon since 2017 and is the largest fighter jet deal in 20 years.

Negotiations have been ongoing since a memorandum of understanding for the agreement was signed between Britain and Türkiye in July. Previous reports suggested that 40 jets could be sold to Türkiye.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said that 20 jets is “still a significant number” and that it is “a decision for the Turks in terms of future orders based on their operational requirements.”

Defence Secretary John Healey said, “This is another major export deal for Britain and the biggest jet export deal in a generation. This deal will bring billions of pounds into our economy and keep British Typhoon production lines running for years to come. This agreement goes far beyond the purchase of aircraft. It heralds a growing defense and industrial partnership between our two countries.”

Speaking to The Telegraph, British government sources indicated that the deal would help strengthen NATO’s air defenses in the face of “increasing Russian aggression.”

The agreement comes after the US removed Türkiye from the F-35 jet program.

Washington banned Türkiye from purchasing the jets in 2019 after Ankara signed a deal with Russia for S-400 missile defense systems.

At the time, the US feared that the Russian systems could be used to gather intelligence on the F-35, an aircraft also used by Britain.

The US maintains that “the F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence-gathering platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities.”

European airspace has been on high alert following alleged incursions by Russian drones and fighter jets. In September, 19 drones violated Polish airspace, alarming senior officials. Other drones have also caused chaos at airports in Denmark and Germany.

It is hoped that Türkiye’s new Typhoon aircraft can be used to strengthen NATO’s overall jet fleet, which protects European skies.

Currently, the Turkish air force is predominantly composed of aging US-made F-16s, with approximately 250 in its fleet.

According to The Telegraph, the Eurofighter represents a significant change in capability for Türkiye, providing a more modern fighter jet that can counter the Russians. The first delivery of the new jets is expected in 2030.

Prior to Starmer’s visit, the RAF flew two Typhoon jets to demonstrate the aircraft to Turkish officials and military personnel.

In parallel with the agreement with the United Kingdom, the Turkish government is also in talks with Qatar and Oman to purchase a portion of their existing Eurofighter fleets.

These aircraft, produced by a European consortium including the UK, Italy, Spain, and Germany, are seen as an interim solution until Türkiye’s domestically developed fifth-generation fighter jet, KAAN, is ready to fly in 2028.

Approximately 37% of the production takes place in the United Kingdom. This includes the final assembly at BAE Systems factories in Warton and Samlesbury, near Preston in Lancashire.

The announcement of the defense deal comes just weeks after Britain signed a “historic” £10 billion agreement to supply the Norwegian navy with at least five new warships.

The deal to supply UK-built Type 26 frigates was described by the Ministry of Defence as Britain’s “biggest warship export deal by value ever.”

The government announced that the agreement would employ 4,000 people across the country “into the 2030s,” with more than 2,000 of those jobs at BAE Systems’ Glasgow shipyards, where the frigates will be built.

During his visit, Prime Minister Starmer also wrote a note in the memorial book after laying a wreath at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Türkiye.