Türkiye Edges Closer to Eurofighter Typhoon Delivery
Türkiye is advancing toward receiving its first Eurofighter Typhoon jets following trilateral defense talks in Doha with Qatar and the United Kingdom, according to the Turkish Defense Ministry.
Air Force Commander Gen. Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu led discussions with Qatari and UK counterparts focused on the Eurofighter procurement process. The meetings follow an agreement signed in October valued at roughly 8 billion pounds (10.7 billion USD) for 20 Eurofighter Typhoons from the UK.
In addition to the UK order, Ankara plans to acquire 12 secondhand Typhoons from Qatar and 12 more from Oman. Private broadcaster NTV reports the first delivery is expected by the end of February, with pilot training already underway.
Defense Minister Yaşar Güler indicated that the initial aircraft from Qatar could arrive in early 2026, while UK-supplied jets are projected for 2030. The agreement also provides options for further purchases.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is built by a consortium spanning the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, represented by BAE Systems, Airbus, and Leonardo. Türkiye’s interest in the platform dates back to 2022, amid stalled negotiations with the United States over F-16 acquisitions.
Türkiye finalized a $7 billion deal with Washington in late 2024 for 40 F-16s. Negotiations have been complicated by cost concerns and Ankara’s renewed interest in rejoining the F-35 program, from which it was excluded in 2019 following the S-400 purchase from Russia.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan raised the F-35 issue during a September White House meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently stated the sale was being considered.
Despite NATO’s second-largest military, Türkiye has faced repeated arms embargoes, prompting investments in domestic production. The country now manufactures drones, missiles, and naval platforms and is developing its own fifth-generation stealth fighter, Kaan, intended to replace F-16s in the 2030s.
