UK Defence Secretary John Healey (left) and Turkish Minister of National Defence, Yasar Güler sign the Eurofighter Typhoon MoU at the International Defence Industry Fair in Istanbul (BAE Systems)
IDEF 2025 — Turkey and the United Kingdom took what the UK called a “big step” closer to finalizing a contract for 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fourth-generation fighter jets today by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul.
Turkish Minister of National Defence Yasar Güler and UK Defence Secretary John Healey formally inked the document during a ceremony at the trade show, which acknowledges that a “future” export deal would “strengthen” Ankara’s combat capabilities, according to a UK Ministry of Defense readout.
The MoU, while not a final deal, “shows this government’s determination to secure new defence deals, building on our relationships abroad to deliver for British working people,” Healey said in the readout. “Equipping Türkiye with Typhoons would strengthen NATO’s collective defence, and boost both our countries’ industrial bases by securing thousands of skilled jobs across the UK for years to come.”
The Turkish Ministry of Defence echoed the sentiment in its own statement, calling the MoU “excellent progress.” The UK said negotiations with Turkey “will now continue over the coming weeks” for the “multi-billion-pound” purchase.
Still, the development is a welcome one for BAE Systems, which leads the export campaign on behalf of the four-country Eurofighter consortium comprising Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.
“This Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of Türkiye and the UK underscores the importance of their long-standing defence co-operation through NATO and the critical role Typhoon plays in security and defence in Europe and the Middle East,” said Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems CEO in a company statement. The manufacturer added it “will continue to work closely with the governments of Türkiye and the UK to formalise an agreement for procurement of Typhoon aircraft and associated supplies in due course.”
Similarly, Jorge Tamarit-Degenhardt, Eurofighter CEO, said in a separate statement that the MoU “is positive news for all parties involved and we look forward to supporting further discussions between Governments of Türkiye and the UK during the coming months.”
The momentum toward an order builds off Güler initially revealing in 2023 that talks were underway to buy 40 aircraft.
Ali Bakir, nonresident senior fellow at Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative told Breaking Defense at the time that Turkey’s position reflected a “dual purpose” by acting as “strategic leverage in negotiations with the US over” an alternative acquisition of F-16 combat jets or “complement it, depending on the outcome” of the Typhoon talks.
“I believe the ongoing negotiations for the F-16 deal, marked by prolonged delays and uncertainties, have led Turkey to consider the Eurofighter as a viable alternative,” he said in 2023.
Beyond Turkey, the Eurofighter consortium is working to export the jet to Austria, Poland and Saudi Arabia, as it bids to dramatically ramp production to a rate of 30 aircraft per year beginning in 2028, more than doubling existing output.
According to BAE Systems, the aircraft is in operation with nine air forces and “plays a key role at the heart of NATO operations and provides air policing along Europe’s eastern flank.”
A total of 729 Eurofighter Typhoons have been ordered to date, according to figures from the consortium’s website.
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Author: Tim Martin
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