Why is Türkiye planning to acquire Typhoons from Qatar and Oman? PHOTO / VIDEO

The process of acquiring Eurofighter Typhoon Generation 4.5 fighter jets is accelerating for Turkey through a combination of diplomatic and technical channels.

According to Caliber.Az, citing SavunmaSanayiST.com on X, Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schelhorn confirmed that the sale of Eurofighter jets to Türkiye has reached its final stage.

İngiltere devreye girdi Almanya ikna olmak durumunda kaldı…

✈️ Eurofighter için kritik final: Alman hükümeti engel olmayacak

Airbus Savunma ve Uzay CEO’su Michael Schoellhorn, Türkiye ile Eurofighter savaş uçağı satışında son aşamaya gelindiğini açıkladı.

Almanya’nın… pic.twitter.com/3NaL7A8MRX

— SavunmaSanayiST.com (@SavunmaSanayiST) October 24, 2025

He noted that Germany’s previous reservations have been lifted, removing obstacles to the deal. Schelhorn emphasised that Europe cannot rely solely on the U.S. for defence and called for broader defence cooperation, describing the arrangement as “not just the purchase of aircraft, but a wider systemic partnership.”

However, a significant challenge remains: production lines are fully booked until 2034 due to orders from consortium members like Spain and Germany. This leaves Türkiye with limited options. It may either order around 20—or even 40—Typhoon Tranche 4 aircraft from the UK or acquire used Tranche 3A Eurofighters from Qatar and Oman, with delivery expected in the late 2030s.

The Qatar Air Force currently operates 22 Eurofighter Tranche 3A jets, with deliveries beginning in 2022 and two more expected this year. Qatar also placed an order for 12 additional Tranche 4 aircraft in 2024.

Türkiye is reportedly interested in obtaining 12 of the existing 24 Tranche 3A jets from Qatar and possibly the production slots for 12 Tranche 4 aircraft.

Oman’s air force includes roughly 20 F-16 and BAE Hawk 2000 jets alongside 12 Eurofighter Tranche 3A aircraft. Türkiye is considering acquiring Oman’s entire Typhoon fleet.

If these acquisitions proceed, Türkiye could field a combat-ready fleet of 24 Eurofighter Tranche 3A jets by 2028. Procuring 20 or 40 Tranche 4 fighters in the 2030s would ensure the Turkish Air Force remains fully combat-capable.

A key advantage of the Eurofighter over the current F-16s is its AESA radar, which significantly enhances performance in aerial combat.

By Tamilla Hasanova