Levent Kenez/Stockholm
Turkey is moving closer to finalizing the acquisition of Eurofighter Typhoon jets as part of its efforts to modernize its air force. The country, which has historically relied on US-made fighter jets, is considering a proposal from a European consortium comprising Airbus SE, BAE Systems Plc and Leonardo SpA. The Turkish Ministry of Defense said a counteroffer has been prepared in response to the alternative proposals sent to Turkey. Meanwhile, Ankara hopes that US President Donald Trump’s administration can remove obstacles to the sale of F-35s.
Discussions surrounding the procurement intensified as Turkish Deputy Defense Minister Musa Heybet hosted British Ambassador to Turkey Jill Morris and her delegation in Ankara on March 20. The meeting was attended by Turkish defense officials, including Maj. Gen. İlkay Altındağ, director general of defense and security, and Mehmet Avcı, director general of procurement services. The key agenda item was Turkey’s potential acquisition of Eurofighter Typhoons, with discussions covering technical specifications and strategic aspects of the procurement.
The meeting in Ankara was chaired by Deputy Defense Minister Heybet. Appointed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on September 13, Heybet lacks formal military or defense expertise. A former judge and a founding member of the pro-government judiciary association, Yargıda Birlik (Unity in the Judiciary), he was previously involved in judicial proceedings related to public servant dismissals following a failed coup in 2016. His appointment raised concerns about the decision-making procedure in Turkey’s defense sector, particularly regarding critical procurement negotiations such as the Eurofighter deal.
Facing an aging air fleet and delays in obtaining new F-16s from the United States, Turkey is accelerating its efforts to secure Eurofighter jets. As part of an urgent plan to reinforce its air force capabilities, the country is reportedly open to purchasing both new and used Eurofighter jets. Turkey’s strategy includes an initial batch of 20 secondhand Tranche 1 Eurofighter Typhoons from the United Kingdom followed by an additional 20 newly manufactured Tranche 4 jets. According to Spanish media outlet La Razon, deliveries are set to begin in 2026 with full operational capability anticipated by 2030.
On November 13, 2024 Turkish Minister of Defense Yaşar Güler announced that Germany had lifted its long-standing objection to Turkey’s Eurofighter Typhoon purchase. Germany had previously blocked the sale, citing geopolitical concerns such as Turkey’s acquisition of Russian S-400 missile systems, military operations in Syria and delays in Sweden’s NATO membership approval. However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed during an October 19, 2024 visit to Istanbul that Germany had given initial approval for the Eurofighter sale and that negotiations would continue under the leadership of the United Kingdom.
On December 18, 2024 two Eurofighter Typhoon jets from the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force landed at Mürted Air Base in Ankara after participating in the Ferocious Falcon V exercise in Qatar. Turkish officials conducted a detailed assessment of the aircraft as part of its procurement planning.
Eurofighter GmbH, the multinational consortium responsible for the design and production of the Typhoon, comprises Airbus Defence and Space (46 percent), BAE Systems (33 percent) and Leonardo (21 percent). The consortium’s stakeholders are based in Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s plans to equip the Eurofighter Typhoons it intends to acquire with Meteor missiles have raised concerns in Greece given the ongoing military competition between the two countries in the Aegean region. Greece has expressed objections and is reportedly engaging in diplomatic efforts to prevent Turkey from securing the weapons.
The Meteor missile, developed by European defense contractor MBDA, is one of the most advanced air-to-air missiles globally. With a range of over 100 kilometers, it uses a ramjet engine that allows it to maintain high speeds over long distances. Its radar-guided targeting system makes it highly effective against evasive targets and capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously.
In 2021 the US administration officially removed Turkey from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program due to Ankara’s purchase of the Russian S-400 missile system in 2017. The expulsion cost Turkey $11 billion in export revenue since some of the components for the F-35s would no longer be manufactured in Turkey. However, Ankara hopes to return to the F-35 program with new US President Trump. Güler had previously said American officials had demonstrated a shift in their approach to selling F-35s to Turkey, influenced by Turkey’s development of its indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet, the KAAN. However, Güler clarified that no concrete progress has yet been made on this front.
Meanwhile, President Erdogan spoke with his US counterpart on Sunday. According to a statement from Erdogan’s office, the Turkish president emphasized the need for the United States to take steps in counterterrorism efforts that align with Turkey’s interests in the new era. He also stressed the importance of lifting CAATSA sanctions, imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, finalizing the F-16 procurement and reintegrating Turkey into the F-35 program to strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries.
Ankara has decided to prioritize the immediate procurement of F-16 fighter jets over modernization of its existing fleet. Speaking in parliament on November 26, 2024, Defense Minister Güler confirmed that Turkey has abandoned its plan to acquire modernization kits for its currently owned aircraft. “As part of the F-16 modern procurement project, our efforts continue to introduce advanced, modern fighter jets into our inventory until our domestically developed HÜRJET and fifth-generation KAAN aircraft become operational. We have made the initial payment for the procurement of F-16 Block 70 jets, amounting to $1.4 billion. This purchase includes 40 F-16 Block 70 Viper jets. We initially planned to modernize 79 aircraft with upgrade kits but have now abandoned that plan,” he said.
