Turkey Buys 20 Eurofighter Jets from UK in £8 Bln Deal

Turkey has signed a landmark agreement to purchase 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets from the United Kingdom, in a move hailed as a new symbol of strategic partnership between Ankara and London.

The deal was finalized on Monday during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Ankara, where he was received by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Standing alongside Starmer, Erdogan described the purchase as a “new symbol” of cooperation between the two nations.

According to the UK Ministry of Defense, this is the largest fighter jet contract in years, with the first deliveries expected in 2030. The deal, valued at around £8 billion (€9.2 billion), underscores growing defense collaboration between the NATO allies.

British Defense Secretary John Healey, who accompanied Starmer to Turkey, said the agreement “goes beyond the purchase of aircraft,” calling it a cornerstone of the expanding industrial and defense partnership between the two countries.

Turkey’s decision to modernize its air fleet through the Eurofighter consortium, which includes the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, marks a significant shift in Ankara’s defense strategy. Initially seeking to acquire American F-35 jets, Turkey was expelled from the F-35 program after purchasing the Russian S-400 air defense system.

Germany, which had initially opposed the sale due to Ankara’s strong support for Hamas, reversed its position in July, clearing the path for the deal.