Turkey and the United Kingdom today signed a preliminary agreement that will enable Ankara to operate Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets. This development comes as Germany has approved the delivery of 40 such units that Turkey had requested to strengthen its defense in an increasingly volatile region.
Boosting NATO Capabilities and Domestic Projects
As a NATO member, Turkey is actively working to enhance its defense capabilities through both domestic projects and foreign acquisitions. In addition to the Eurofighter agreement, Ankara is also in negotiations with the United States for the purchase of 40 F-16 fighter jets.
The German government’s approval for the delivery of the 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets came after authorization from the Federal Security Council. However, both the German Ministry of Defense and the Federal Security Council, whose approval is required for arms exports, declined to comment on the matter.
Turkey has been in talks since 2023 to secure these advanced aircraft, which are produced by a consortium comprising Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain.
During the signing ceremony in Istanbul, Turkish Minister of Defense Yasar Guler stated that these agreements will strengthen relations between the two countries and significantly increase NATO’s air power.
