Istanbul, Turkey – The UK and Turkey signed a preliminary agreement on Wednesday for the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Turkey, marking a significant step in Ankara’s efforts to modernise its air fleet.

Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and his British counterpart, John Healey, inked a memorandum of understanding during a defence industry fair in Istanbul, Turkey’s Ministry of National Defence said.

NATO member Turkey has long aimed to buy 40 Eurofighter jets, which are built by a consortium of British, German and Italian companies.

Germany reportedly initially opposed the sale but later reversed its position. Britain led negotiations on behalf of the consortium.

A Turkish defence ministry statement said the memorandum takes the two countries ‘one step closer to a full agreement on the Typhoon’.

“Both Ministers welcome signature as a positive step towards bringing Turkey into the Typhoon club and share a mutual ambition to conclude the necessary arrangements as soon as possible,” it added.

Turkish officials have said that they are still negotiating over pricing and technical terms, saying that they have received an initial offer and expect to submit a counter-proposal.

Turkey is also seeking to return to the US-led F-35 fighter jet programme, from which the country was ousted in 2019 following its purchase of Russian-made S-400 missile defence systems.

The US said the systems were incompatible with NATO tech and posed a risk to the F-35s.

Turkey is also developing a domestic fifth-generation fighter jet, the KAAN, which is slated to be operational in 2028.

UK calls new MoU a ‘major step’

Meanwhile, in a statement, the UK Ministry of Defence said that the deal is a ‘significant step closer today’, that will also strengthen the UK-Turkey partnership.

The statement noted that the agreement strengthens NATO’s collective deterrence and builds on years of defence cooperation and growing industrial ties between the UK and Turkey.

“Negotiations on the potential deal with Turkey will now continue over the coming weeks,” it noted, adding that it would be the first export order the UK has secured for Typhoon since 2017.

“Signing a multi-billion export deal with Turkey… will bolster our vital defence industry, deliver on our Plan for Change and keep us and our allies safer during these uncertain times,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

For his part, Healey said: “Equipping Turkey 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.”

Charles Woodburn, chief executive of BAE Systems added: “This Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of Turkey 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.”

In a separate statement regarding the meeting of the two defence chiefs, the UK Ministry of Defence said both ministers underscored the importance of the two countries’ ‘longstanding defence cooperation’, including collaboration through NATO and growing ties in the defence industry and security.

“Both Ministers committed to deepening this strategic partnership in support of the Alliance’s collective deterrence,” it added.

The statement noted that the two nations continue to make ‘excellent progress’ on the export of Eurofighter Typhoon, describing it as ‘the start of a new chapter’ in the UK-Turkey partnership.

Meanwhile, the German weekly magazine Der Spiegel reported on Wednesday that the German Federal Security Council has approved Turkey’s preliminary request for 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets.

The report noted that the council approved Turkey’s request submitted in March 2023 and that the aircraft will be manufactured in the UK using parts supplied from Germany.

Agencies