ANKARA, Turkiye: The United Kingdom and Turkiye on Monday signed a landmark defence agreement for the sale of 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets worth nearly $11 billion, marking one of the largest military aircraft deals in recent years and a significant boost to strategic ties between the two NATO allies.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during his first official visit to Ankara, confirmed that the UK had reached an agreement with Turkiye for the long-term supply of Eurofighter Typhoons over a ten-year period.
“This is a really significant deal, because it’s £8 billion ($10.7 billion) worth of orders — jobs that will last for 10 years, making the Typhoons,” Starmer told reporters after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the order involves 20 Eurofighter jets in what it described as “the biggest fighter jet deal in a generation.”
The MoD said the deal would not only bolster Turkiye’s combat capabilities but also strengthen NATO’s southeastern flank, a strategically vital region bordering the Middle East and the Black Sea.
“This is the southeast flank of NATO, and so having that capability locked in with the United Kingdom is really important for NATO as well,” Starmer said.
‘A new symbol of strategic relations’
Following the signing ceremony, President Erdogan hailed the agreement as “a new symbol of the strategic relations between our two close allies.”
He said the deal opens the door to joint defence projects and pledged to expand bilateral trade to $40 billion, underscoring Ankara’s intention to deepen economic and defence cooperation with London.
“We regard this as a new symbol of the strategic relations between our two close allies,” Erdogan said. “This agreement will pave the way for broader cooperation in defence industries.”
A separate intergovernmental agreement was also signed during the meeting to define the implementation arrangements for Turkiye’s Eurofighter procurement programme.
Partnership and future cooperation
The Eurofighter Typhoon is jointly developed by the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The aircraft is one of Europe’s most advanced multi-role combat jets and currently operates with nine countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait.
Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schoellhorn said last week that the Eurofighter deal could mark the beginning of a “long-term partnership” with Turkiye, involving production collaboration and the development of more advanced technologies.
“Eurofighter is more than just an aircraft. There’s a system behind it — a weapon set, connectivity, and future man-unmanned teaming solutions,” Schoellhorn said, referring to emerging technologies that link piloted and autonomous aircraft.
Turkiye, which maintains NATO’s second-largest military, plans to acquire 44 Eurofighter jets in total, according to Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler.
The United Kingdom will provide 20 new aircraft under the agreement, while Turkiye will source 24 used jets — 12 each from Oman and Qatar.
The Turkish Defence Ministry confirmed that three British Eurofighter jets have already arrived at a military base in Ankara.
Turkiye’s interest in Eurofighter jets dates back to 2023, after Ankara was blocked from purchasing US-made F-35 fighters under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) following its acquisition of Russian S-400 air defence systems.
Ankara has since sought alternative suppliers, including pursuing the purchase of 40 new F-16 Block 70s from the United States, a deal formally approved in January 2024 but still under negotiation.
Germany had initially opposed Turkiye’s Eurofighter request but reversed its stance earlier this year. The consortium’s approval is required for both new and secondary aircraft sales.
Diplomatic engagements in Ankara
Prime Minister Starmer’s visit included one-on-one and inter-delegation meetings with President Erdogan, attended by senior Turkish officials including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler, and Communications Director Burhanettin Duran.
The two leaders later held a joint press conference and a working dinner, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation across trade, defence, and regional security.
