In what marks the conclusion of a long series of advances and setbacks on the matter, the United Kingdom confirmed today that it will proceed with the sale of 20 new Eurofighters to the Turkish Air Force, in a deal worth over £8 billion that will help sustain more than 20,000 skilled jobs across the country. According to official statements from the British government, this is the largest export agreement for combat aircraft in a generation, finalized by Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his first visit to the Turkish capital, Ankara.
Expanding on the details, London highlighted that the deal is of great importance to keep production lines active in Edinburgh, Samlesbury, Bristol, and Warton — the latter being one of the facilities that was at risk of closure due to a lack of demand for fighter production in the United Kingdom. It is worth recalling that British trade unions had for months been calling for such a measure, either through an export contract or an order to expand the Royal Air Force’s own fleet — the latter as an alternative to purchasing additional U.S.-made F-35 fighters.
On this note, Prime Minister Starmer stated: “This historic deal with Turkey is a win for British workers, a win for our defense industry, and a win for NATO’s security. At both ends of Europe, the United Kingdom and Turkey are vital to meeting the challenges of our time, and this will enable our Armed Forces to work even more closely together as we deter threats and protect our national interests. By delivering highly skilled and well-paid jobs, including in Warton, Edinburgh, and Bristol over the coming years, this is another example of our Change Plan in action — driving renewal and opportunity across the country.”
For his part, Defence Secretary John Healey said: “This is another major export deal for the UK and the largest jet export agreement in a generation. It will inject billions of pounds into our economy and keep Britain’s Typhoon production lines running for the long term. This deal goes far beyond aircraft acquisition. It is at the forefront of growing industrial and defense collaboration between our two nations.”
It is also important to note that the agreement stipulates that at least 37% of the aircraft will be produced on British soil, while the remaining share will be distributed among the other Eurofighter partner nations. Breaking down the current UK structure, around 6,000 jobs are sustained at BAE Systems’ Warton and Samlesbury facilities, where the company conducts final assembly of each jet. In Bristol, Rolls-Royce employs up to 1,100 workers for the production of the EJ200 engines that power the Eurofighter, while another 800 employees in Edinburgh are involved in radar manufacturing.
Beyond these details, it should be noted that the deal began to take shape in July 2025, when the governments of the United Kingdom and Turkey signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the purchase of up to 40 Eurofighter jets. Ankara’s intention was to acquire a new platform to complement the backbone of its Air Force, currently composed of F-16 aircraft, while awaiting the development of its indigenous fifth-generation KAAN fighter. The signing of this document marked the first indication of Germany’s softened stance toward the operation, as Berlin had previously opposed the sale, citing Turkey’s alleged human rights violations against the Kurdish population — a position that shifted following the appointment of the new chancellor, Friedrich Merz.
Finally, it is worth noting that just days before the aforementioned deal was finalized, Turkey was also negotiating with Oman and Qatar to acquire used Eurofighter jets from their respective Air Forces. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan disclosed this last Thursday while returning home from a Gulf tour that included visits to both nations. In his own words: “We discussed the ongoing negotiations with the Qatari and Omani parties regarding the purchase of Eurofighter warplanes. The talks on this technically detailed matter are progressing positively.”
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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