Berlin, July 4 - Germany is poised to grant final approval for the sale of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to the Turkish Air Force, marking a significant step in Turkey’s efforts to modernize its aging air fleet and bolster its strategic position within NATO. This development, reported by defense and industry sources, follows years of negotiations and political hurdles, with Germany previously blocking the deal due to concerns over Turkey’s geopolitical actions and domestic policies. The Eurofighter Typhoon, a 4.5-generation multirole fighter developed by a consortium of Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain, requires unanimous approval from all four partner nations for export. The anticipated German approval, expected to be finalized under the new government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, signals a shift toward pragmatic defense cooperation and could reshape Turkey’s air capabilities while sustaining the Eurofighter program’s production line.
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The Turkish Air Force, heavily reliant on its fleet of over 240 Lockheed Martin F-16s, has faced challenges in maintaining air superiority due to the aging of its aircraft and exclusion from the U.S. F-35 program in 2019, prompted by Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems. This exclusion, coupled with delays in Turkey’s indigenous fifth-generation KAAN fighter program, has created an urgent need for interim solutions to bridge the capability gap. The Eurofighter Typhoon, powered by two Eurojet EJ200 engines and equipped with advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, offers Turkey enhanced air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities. The proposed deal includes a mix of 20 used Tranche 1 jets from the UK and 20 new Tranche 4 models, with deliveries expected to begin in 2026 and achieve full operational readiness by 2030. This acquisition would introduce cutting-edge radar and electronic warfare systems to the Turkish Air Force, significantly upgrading its operational flexibility in regional conflicts, such as those in Syria and Libya.
The deal, valued at approximately several hundred million euros, has been driven by the United Kingdom, with BAE Systems and other consortium members—Airbus and Leonardo—pushing for approval to secure export orders and maintain production viability. Germany’s earlier objections, rooted in concerns over Turkey’s military operations in Syria, its actions against Kurdish groups, and domestic political developments, including the arrest of opposition leader Ekrem Imamoğlu, had stalled progress. However, the new German coalition’s more permissive stance on arms exports, combined with diplomatic efforts during a NATO summit in The Hague, where Chancellor Merz met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has paved the way for this breakthrough. The UK’s formal offer in March 2025, supported by Italy and Spain, further pressured Germany to reconsider its veto.
This sale holds broader strategic implications. For Turkey, it diversifies its air force, reducing dependence on U.S.-made platforms like the F-16, for which Turkey secured a $23 billion deal in 2024 for 40 Block 70 jets. The Eurofighters complement this acquisition, offering a European alternative that aligns with Turkey’s NATO commitments while enhancing its deterrence against regional rivals like Greece. For the Eurofighter consortium, the deal is critical to sustaining production, especially as European air forces transition to next-generation platforms like the Future Combat Air System. Germany’s approval strengthens NATO’s southeastern flank and reintegrates Turkey into European defense supply chains, fostering deeper industrial and strategic ties. The decision, expected to be formalized soon, underscores a pragmatic shift in European defense policy, balancing geopolitical concerns with alliance priorities and industrial needs.
