Turkish FM: Political will and technical talks align in Eurofighter acquisition

Türkiye’s planned acquisition of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets represents a strategic, multi-level effort to enhance and diversify the operational capabilities of the Turkish Air Force, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Speaking to Turkish media, Fidan emphasised that the process has progressed to a point of clear consensus among the involved parties, per Caliber.Az.

“Since our allies have Eurofighter aircraft ready for sale, and considering that the British and Germans, who are part of the manufacturing consortium, may have the opportunity to sell them, unanimity was reached on this issue,” he said.

Describing the current stage of negotiations, Fidan added: “This signature means that after such a thorough review of all the details, this issue has now become ‘Let’s do it.’”

However, he cautioned that the process remains complex and ongoing. Fidan explained that technical commissions, primarily from the Turkish Air Force and the Ministry of National Defence, will carry out further discussions with their counterparts. “Sometimes it is not enough to simply say, ‘I want to buy this.’ Unexpected conditions may arise,” he said. “First, we need to agree on the price. Then there are the terms of delivery. This issue will, of course, be discussed during the negotiations. The results of these negotiations will definitely be brought to the attention of the president. If political obstacles arise, they will turn to us, and we will engage in diplomacy.”

Fidan’s remarks came days after a significant milestone: on July 23, 2025, Turkish Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler and UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the potential procurement of up to 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets. The signing took place during the IDEF defence exhibition in Istanbul and reflects a deal valued at approximately $5.6 billion.

At the signing ceremony, Güler described the MoU as a positive development in bilateral defence ties and a move that would bolster NATO’s collective airpower while strengthening Türkiye’s own capabilities. “We welcome this positive step toward our country joining the Eurofighter Typhoon club, and want to reiterate our mutual ambition to complete the necessary arrangements as soon as possible,” he stated.

The MoU was signed shortly after a key hurdle was cleared: Germany’s federal security council approved the export of 40 Eurofighter Typhoons to Türkiye. Although the German defence ministry has yet to issue an official statement, the export clearance marked a pivotal advancement in talks that began in 2023. Germany’s approval had previously been viewed as a potential stumbling block due to its cautious arms export policies and broader political considerations surrounding Türkiye.

The Eurofighter consortium includes Germany, the UK, Italy, and Spain, with primary industrial partners being Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo. With both London and Berlin on board, Türkiye’s pathway to joining the Eurofighter Typhoon user group is now significantly clearer.

Meanwhile, Türkiye continues to explore parallel efforts to modernise its air fleet. In addition to the Eurofighter discussions, Ankara remains in talks with the United States to acquire 40 new F-16 fighter jets, along with modernisation kits for its existing F-16 fleet. Simultaneously, the country is investing heavily in its domestic defence industry, including the ongoing development of an indigenous fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

By Tamilla Hasanova