Turkey Signs $10.7 Billion Deal With the U.K. for 20 Eurofighter Typhoon Jets
Turkey has signed a $10.7 billion agreement with the U.K. to purchase 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, marking a major step in defense cooperation and revitalizing Turkey’s air force ahead of the Kaan fighter rollout.
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey and the United Kingdom have finalized a landmark agreement for the sale of 20 EF-2000 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, marking a major boost in bilateral defense ties and the largest U.K. export deal in a generation.
The deal, valued at £8 billion (U.S. $10.7 billion), was signed during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s official visit to Ankara on Monday. It represents the first new order for British-built Typhoons since 2017 and is expected to support around 20,000 jobs across the U.K. defense industry.
According to a statement released by the U.K. government, the first aircraft are expected to be delivered by 2030. While the agreement’s full scope has not been disclosed, officials did not specify whether it includes weapons packages, maintenance, or spare parts.
Standing beside a Eurofighter jet in Ankara, Starmer said the deal underscores the strategic importance of cooperation between the two nations.
“At either ends of Europe, the U.K. and Turkey are vital to tackling the challenges of our time,” Starmer noted. “This agreement will allow our armed forces to work even closer together.”
The Eurofighter Typhoon, a joint product of BAE Systems, Airbus, and Leonardo, remains one of Europe’s most advanced multirole combat aircraft. Turkey’s purchase will reinvigorate its air force as the country awaits the full deployment of its domestically developed Kaan fifth-generation fighter jet.
For Ankara, the acquisition serves as a critical stopgap in maintaining airpower parity within NATO and the broader region, while for London, it reinforces post-Brexit defense trade momentum and strengthens ties with a key NATO ally on Europe’s southeastern flank.
