Eurofighter deal thrusts Türkiye into new era of air force dominance

On July 23, at the 17th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) held in Istanbul, Turkish Minister of National Defence Yashar Güler and UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey signed a memorandum of understanding regarding Türkiye’s planned purchase of Eurofighter Typhoon jets.

The agreement represents a pivotal step in Türkiye’s prolonged search for an interim fighter solution. Complemented by several ongoing fully domestic defence aviation programs, this development signals the beginning of a new chapter in Turkish air power.

A NATO-certified expert evaluator outlined the implications of this agreement in a detailed article published by Anadolu Agency.

Türkiye began seeking a stopgap fighter solution after its exclusion from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 2019, aiming to maintain combat readiness and strategic deterrence until its National Combat Aircraft KAAN is fully deployed.

Initially, Ankara sought to purchase 40 F-16V aircraft from the US and upgrade 79 of its current fleet to the same standard. However, the plan was eventually scaled back to cover only 40 new jets. In parallel, the ÖZGÜR project — focused on integrating advanced indigenous mission systems into Türkiye’s existing F-16 fleet — remains ongoing.

Given that KAAN’s full combat readiness, powered by a domestically developed engine and delivered through a phased approach or “block” structure, won’t be achieved until the 2030s, complementary modernization and procurement programs are vital.

These measures are essential to ensure that the Turkish Air Force retains its operational edge, especially at a time when air power’s strategic relevance has dramatically increased. Within this framework, the Eurofighter Typhoon stands out as a key transitional platform.

History of Eurofighter project

The Eurofighter Typhoon was conceived as a multinational defence initiative to fulfil Europe’s need for a next-generation combat aircraft in the waning years of the Cold War. In 1983, the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain jointly outlined their requirements, officially launching the program in 1988. France was initially involved but withdrew in 1985 to pursue the independent development of the Rafale.

Despite encountering political and fiscal challenges, the program endured. By 2024, more than 600 Typhoons had entered global service.

With its canard-delta wing design, the Typhoon boasts advanced aerodynamics and an innovative flight control system that provides superior agility. One of its hallmark capabilities is supercruise – the ability to sustain supersonic speeds without afterburners.

Its mission suite includes the Captor-E AESA radar, advanced self-defence systems (DASS), mission computing, Link 16 communications, and electro-optical targeting sensors. The Typhoon’s survivability is reinforced by its suite of electronic warfare tools, including radar warning receivers and countermeasure dispensers.

The aircraft supports a wide range of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. It can be armed with high-performance missiles like the Meteor, AIM-120 AMRAAM, IRIS-T, and ASRAAM, as well as precision weapons such as Brimstone, Storm Shadow, and Paveway bombs.

It also carries cruise missiles like Taurus and features a 27mm Mauser BK-27 cannon. Among these, the Meteor is particularly notable for its extended range and advanced guidance system featuring a two-way datalink and dual-pulse motor.

Türkiye’s paths have crossed multiple times with the Typhoon over the past 40 years. In the 1980s, during negotiations over a Tornado purchase from the UK, Ankara was offered a place in the emerging Eurofighter initiative, contingent on finalizing that deal.

Later, in the early 2000s and around 2010, the Typhoon was again presented to Türkiye as part of possible industrial cooperation offers — though these ultimately did not materialize.

Contemporary Turkish fleet

At present, the Turkish Air Force operates roughly 240 F-16C/Ds and about 25 F-4E/2020 aircraft. While the F-4s were significantly upgraded in the early 2000s, they are nearing the end of their service life. The F-16 fleet, meanwhile, faces challenges in keeping pace technologically — particularly in radar and electronic warfare — relative to modern platforms being adopted by neighbouring states.

Greece has procured Rafales from France and is upgrading its F-16s to the V configuration. Israel is on schedule to receive 75 F-35I jets by 2028 (45 delivered by mid-2025), while also enhancing its F-15I fleet and preparing to integrate the new F-15IA variant.

Türkiye is simultaneously investing in a wide array of indigenous aerospace projects, including the KAAN fighter, the Anka 3 unmanned strike aircraft, and the multirole UAV Kizilelma — in addition to fielding operational drones like Anka, Aksungur, Akinci, and TB2.

With Kizilelma now in serial production and preparing for deployment, Türkiye is set to become one of the first nations to jointly operate manned and unmanned fighter aircraft.

KAAN, meanwhile, stands as the sole Western next-generation fighter platform currently undergoing flight testing. These advancements mark a bold transformation in Türkiye’s air combat capabilities.

Yet as this staged development continues, maintaining deterrence amid a complex and competitive regional environment is essential — making the Eurofighter Typhoon a key interim asset in Türkiye’s evolving force structure.

By Nazrin Sadigova