The UK has formally submitted a proposal to sell 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Turkey, in a move that signals growing momentum in Ankara’s efforts to modernize its air force and deepen defense ties with European partners, the Ekonomim news website reported on Tuesday.
The offer, which has not yet been publicly confirmed by Turkish officials, was reportedly conveyed during recent meetings between Turkish Minister of Defense Yaşar Güler, representatives from BAE Systems and the British ambassador to Turkey.
According to defense sources, the proposal marks the most concrete step to date in talks that had been stalled for years due to Germany’s opposition.
That opposition appears to have eased. According to a report by the German Handelsblatt daily in late June, the new federal administration under Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to take a more permissive approach toward arms exports, representing a departure from the position of the previous coalition government, which comprised the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), Alliance 90/The Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP). That coalition had opposed the Eurofighter sale to Turkey, citing political concerns.
The export of Eurofighter jets requires unanimous consent from the four consortium partners: the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed last week that all consortium members now support the sale. “We are certain all four consortium partners support this sale,” he told the Hürriyet Daily News, ahead of a visit to Ankara. He emphasized Turkey’s importance as a European security partner, particularly in the context of growing defense spending to deter Russia.
The Eurofighter Typhoon, a multi-role combat aircraft co-developed by Airbus SE, BAE Systems Plc and Leonardo SpA, represents a major addition to Turkey’s air capabilities at a time when its defense ties with the US remain strained. Turkey has long relied on American military aircraft, including a large fleet of F-16s. But its plans to acquire the more advanced F-35 fifth generation fighter jets were blocked by Washington following Ankara’s decision to purchase the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, a move that triggered concerns within NATO. US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said Washington hopes to resolve the issue by year-end, according to a recent report by the state-run Anadolu news agency.
Ankara formally submitted its request for 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets in January, and the UK responded with an initial price offer in March as part of ongoing defense procurement discussions.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said during the NATO summit in The Hague last month that talks with the UK and Germany on the Eurofighter Typhoon deal have been “constructive,” adding that “positive developments” are on the way.
The procurement process for the Eurofighter Typhoon jets is being overseen by Turkey’s Ministry of Defense rather than the Presidency of the Defense Industry (SSB), reflecting the political and strategic weight Ankara places on the deal.
If finalized the Eurofighter sale could represent not only a boost to Turkey’s air power but also a potential opening for deeper defense cooperation with European allies amid shifting regional dynamics.
The timeline for the Eurofighter deal closely aligns with Turkey’s efforts to develop its indigenous fighter jet, known as KAAN. If current plans stay on track, the first KAAN aircraft are expected to be delivered between 2028 and 2030, according to Ekonomim. Turkey has already received several GE F110 engines, the same type used in F-16s, for use in KAAN prototypes and early production models. A broader agreement to produce these engines under license at TEI, a Turkish aerospace engine manufacturer, could accelerate the program and help replace Turkey’s aging F-16 fleet, analysts say.