As part of a potential acquisition of Eurofighter jets by the Turkish Air Force, the United Kingdom has submitted its official proposal to supply these aircraft, with the offer currently under review by the Turkish Ministry of Defense. This development comes after Ankara sent its “Requirement Definition Document” to both London and BAE Systems, which has now been answered with the aforementioned proposal for 40 units.
According to local media reports, the Turkish defense ministry has been working for months alongside its German counterpart to finalize the deal, as Germany’s approval had been significantly delayed compared to that of the other Eurofighter program partners: Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom. This delay was primarily attributed to Berlin’s concerns over Turkey’s involvement in recent conflicts in Libya and Syria, as well as its actions against the Kurdish population.
It was only last October that Germany finally gave the green light to the operation. The news was revealed by Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler during an interview, where he stated: “We will purchase 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets (…) Germany resisted for a long time, but finally, with the positive contributions of our NATO friends—Italy, the United Kingdom, and Spain—Germany has responded positively.”
Expanding on some details of the proposal, it is worth noting that the Turkish Air Force aims to receive all 40 new Eurofighter jets in the Tranche 4 configuration, the most advanced available for the aircraft. There is also speculation that a small number of second-hand units may be delivered beforehand to facilitate pilot training ahead of the full fleet’s arrival, though specific figures have not been disclosed.
Moreover, it is important to highlight that Turkey has also sought to establish a key condition for proceeding with the purchase: the fighter jets must be delivered along with a batch of Meteor air-to-air missiles. This weapon system is capable of engaging targets beyond visual range and features an active radar seeker and a two-way data link, allowing it to receive real-time target updates during flight, even in environments where the enemy has deployed electronic countermeasures.
Overall, the proposed acquisition is expected to require an investment of approximately €5 billion from Turkey, marking a significant deal for the European aerospace industry. In particular, this would be crucial for the United Kingdom, which is currently engaged in discussions about the future of the Eurofighter program and its domestic production structure—primarily composed of BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, and Leonardo. As reported in January, British trade unions have been urging their government to proceed with the purchase of up to 24 new Eurofighters for the Royal Air Force, which would help sustain up to 26,000 jobs for two years.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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To me the article is lacking in details.
What is the US position on this decision? What has tRump said? Is this part of Europe’s decision to avoid US jets because of the, founded or unfounded, worry of a kill switch?
Is Turkey turning its back on the US?
What is going on?