UK and Turkey Sign Preliminary Eurofighter Deal Amid Regional Tensions

by Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – The United Kingdom and Turkey have signed a preliminary agreement for the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon jets, marking a pivotal development in Ankara’s ongoing effort to modernize its air force and deepen strategic ties with NATO allies. The memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed Wednesday during the International Defense Industry Fair in Istanbul, was inked by Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and UK Defense Secretary John Healey.

The deal brings Turkey one step closer to acquiring 40 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, which are jointly manufactured by a consortium of British, German, and Italian firms. Britain led the negotiation effort on behalf of the consortium, overcoming reported early resistance from Germany. A statement from the Turkish Ministry of National Defense hailed the signing as “a positive step towards bringing Turkey into the Typhoon club,” while confirming that pricing and technical details remain under negotiation.

This would be the UK’s first Typhoon export deal since 2017. If finalized, final assembly of the jets would take place at BAE Systems’ facility in Warton, with parts sourced from factories in Edinburgh and Bristol. The deal is projected to safeguard approximately 20,000 British jobs tied to the Typhoon program. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the MoU as “a multi-billion export deal that will sustain and protect UK jobs for years to come.”

UK Defence Secretary Healey echoed this sentiment, calling the agreement a testament to the new government’s commitment to expanding international defense cooperation: “It shows this government’s determination to secure new defence deals, building on our relationships abroad to deliver for British working people.”

The announcement arrives as Turkey continues to seek reentry into the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet program, from which it was expelled in 2019 after purchasing Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems. Washington cited security risks posed by the S-400 system to the F-35 platform. Simultaneously, Turkey is pressing ahead with its own fifth-generation fighter jet project, the KAAN, expected to become operational by 2028.

Despite the strategic framing of the Typhoon deal as a boost for NATO cohesion and European defense manufacturing, it has sparked concern given Turkey’s increasingly confrontational stance toward Israel. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has amplified anti-Israel rhetoric in recent years, comparing Israeli leadership to Nazis and advocating for international sanctions and boycotts–statements that have drawn condemnation from Israel and Western allies.

The UK Ministry of Defence, set to take full control of defense exports on July 31, is positioning the agreement as part of a broader push to expand the UK’s global defense footprint. British defense exports totaled £14.5 billion over the past year, reflecting a renewed emphasis on leveraging military manufacturing for economic and strategic gains.

BAE Systems CEO Charles Woodburn praised the MoU as a reaffirmation of NATO cooperation. “This underscores the importance of long-standing defence collaboration and the critical role the Typhoon plays in ensuring stability in Europe and the Middle East,” he said.

The UK also plans to continue upgrading its own Typhoon fleet well into the 2040s, with enhancements aimed at maintaining air superiority and interoperability within NATO frameworks.

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