Bloomberg: Türkiye prepares mega arms deal, eyes UK and German support

Türkiye is preparing to significantly expand its defence capabilities with arms purchases potentially worth tens of billions of dollars.

A high-level meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and newly elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, scheduled to take place in The Hague on June 25, is expected to be pivotal in advancing Ankara’s ambitions, according to Bloomberg.

According to Turkish officials familiar with the matter, Türkiye is planning to place an order for dozens of Eurofighter Typhoon jets — sophisticated multirole fighters developed by a European consortium composed of Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo. The meeting with Merz is seen as crucial, as Ankara has long awaited Berlin’s approval to procure not only these aircraft but also spare parts for its German-made Leopard battle tanks, submarines, and other weapons systems.

The initiative marks a sharp revival of Türkiye’s stalled defence procurement efforts. The UK broke the diplomatic gridlock in March when it submitted its first price offer for the Typhoons, sparking renewed momentum in negotiations. Türkiye aims to acquire the most advanced Tranche 4 variant of the jet, while also seeking older models that can be delivered more quickly to bolster operational readiness.

The prospective defence package, which also includes MBDA’s Meteor air-to-air missiles, is estimated to exceed €10 billion in value.

Chancellor Merz has in recent months underscored the need for enhanced defence partnerships across Europe, including with non-EU nations such as Türkiye, the UK, and Norway. His position could prove influential in unlocking German support for Türkiye’s requests.

Parallel to its European efforts, Ankara is also pressing Washington for permission to obtain and locally assemble GE Aerospace’s F110 and F404 engines. These engines power a range of aircraft, including US fighters and Türkiye’s domestically produced Kaan twin-engine fighter jet and Hurjet trainer.

Türkiye also continues to advocate for the acquisition of F-35 stealth fighters, asserting that integration of the aircraft would allow for closer interoperability with other NATO members and bolster deterrence along the alliance’s southeastern frontier. In total, Ankara hopes to procure 40 F-35s and an additional 40 F-16s as part of its broader military modernisation strategy.

By Tamilla Hasanova