Türkiye-Qatar reach understanding on Eurofighter T3A transfer PHOTO

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has announced that Türkiye and Qatar have reached a mutual understanding on the transfer of Eurofighter Tranche 3A aircraft.

In an interview with AHaber, Fidan said both countries share the political will for the transfer of Tranche 3A fighter jets from the Qatar Emiri Air Force to the Turkish Air Force, Caliber.Az reports, citing TurDef.  

He noted that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent visit to Qatar secured the political framework of the agreement, while the remaining steps now depend on the two air forces finalising the technical aspects.

The planned transfer will allow the Turkish Air Force to familiarise itself with the Eurofighter platform. This is significant as Türkiye currently relies almost entirely on F-16s for air combat missions, with F-4E 2020s kept primarily for strike roles.

If completed, the deal would nearly double Türkiye’s future Eurofighter fleet, complementing its existing agreement with the United Kingdom for the purchase of 20 newly built aircraft. Despite being second-hand, the Qatari jets are considered nearly new, having been delivered less than five years ago.

A key feature of the Tranche 3A variant is its compatibility with the Captor-E series AESA radar, including versions with a pivoting mechanism that offers a wider tracking envelope. Newly produced Eurofighters destined for Türkiye will also use the Captor-E radar; while the specific variant has not been confirmed, the ECRS Mk2 is regarded as the most likely choice, given its adoption by the UK and Italy. This version includes major electronic warfare enhancements over the baseline ECRS Mk0, developed in response to the UK’s prioritisation of EW capabilities.

The Qatari Eurofighters are also capable of employing advanced munitions, including the Meteor ramjet-powered beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile and the Brimstone air-to-surface missile, providing an additional boost to the Turkish Air Force’s operational flexibility.

By Khagan Isayev