After finalizing the purchase of a batch of 20 new Eurofighters from the United Kingdom—an investment exceeding £8 billion—Turkiye’s Ministry of National Defense has announced that it will begin inducting the first aircraft starting in 2030. According to the current head of the ministry, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, six aircraft are scheduled to arrive during that year, followed by another eight in 2031 and the remaining six in 2032, completing the fleet that will reinforce the capabilities of the Turkish Air Force.
It is worth recalling that the deal was concluded last October, when British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Ankara to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In that context, the Labour leader welcomed the agreement as the largest aircraft export contract in a generation, one that would allow the UK’s aerospace industry to sustain nearly 20,000 jobs—specifically at facilities in Edinburgh, Samlesbury, Bristol, and Warton.
For the Turkish Air Force, the acquisition also brings to a close a long and often uncertain process marked by repeated setbacks in securing a platform to complement its existing capabilities, while it awaits the future domestically developed fifth-generation KAAN fighter. In this regard, it is useful to recall that the service currently relies primarily on its F-16 fighters, which are undergoing upgrades incorporating indigenous technologies to expand their combat potential. Illustrative examples include recent tests of the new SOM-J anti-ship missile developed by Aselsan, as well as live-fire trials of the Gökdoğan and Bozdoğan air-to-air missiles.
The Eurofighter deal itself had been significantly delayed due to strong opposition from one of the consortium’s partner countries. Citing allegations that the Turkish government was responsible for human rights violations against the Kurdish population and its controversial involvement in the conflicts in Syria and Libya, Germany had emerged as the main obstacle to the sale, maintaining its position for several months. It was only with the arrival of the new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, that Berlin’s stance shifted in favor of Ankara, allowing the transaction to proceed.
Possibilities of adding more Eurofighters from Qatar and Oman
In the same context in which the Turkish defense minister outlined the initial delivery schedule for the new fighters, it was also revealed that his ministry is negotiating with Qatar and Oman to acquire additional Eurofighters—this time used aircraft that would help accelerate familiarization of Turkish personnel with the platform. At present, the exact number of aircraft sought by Turkiye remains unknown, as does the timeline for their potential delivery.
What has been indicated, however, is that the Qatari fighters would be delivered with a substantial remaining service life and accompanied by a significant package of weapons and associated equipment to ensure rapid integration into Turkish fleets. As for the aircraft sourced from Oman, these are also expected to arrive with relatively few flight hours, although they would require a modernization process to bring them up to Ankara’s required standard. Specifically, this would include the installation of a new AESA radar, the ability to fire METEOR missiles, and avionics upgrades.
In addition, it was noted that Turkish pilots and technicians are already working with regional allies as part of their preparation for the aircraft’s introduction. Minister Güler himself stated: “Our pilots at the Qatar Air Command are continuously working alongside Qatari pilots. We will begin training Eurofighter pilots and maintenance personnel in both Qatar and Oman as soon as possible.”
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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