The Union Jack was flying proudly across Britain this week as the country sealed its largest fighter jet order in years. The sale of 20 Eurofighter Typhoons to Turkey marks a major boost for the UK’s aerospace sector, the first Typhoon order since 2017, and one that restores confidence in the future of the Typhoon programme.
“This landmark agreement with Türkiye is a win for British workers, a win for our defence industry, and a win for NATO security,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Around one-third of each aircraft will be produced in the United Kingdom, with the remainder built by European partners.
According to the British government, “The deal will help to sustain a 20,000-strong UK-wide workforce, with production lines in Edinburgh, Warton, Samlesbury and Bristol.” The deal is worth a roughly 10 billion euro’s.
Strength but interim solution Turkish Air Force as well
For Turkey, the Eurofighter represents a welcome addition to its ageing fleet of F-16s. Ankara has long sought a replacement. The original plan to acquire the American F-35 was halted after the Turkish government purchased a Russian S-400 air-defence system, a move Washington feared could compromise sensitive data from the F-35.
The acquisition of twenty Eurofighter Typhoons, with an option for additional units, appears to be an interim solution for the Turkish Air Force. Turkey’s own defence industry is currently developing the KAAN, a domestically produced fifth-generation fighter jet that bears similarities to the F-35, featuring advanced sensors and internal weapons bays. While the Eurofighter remains a highly capable 4.5-generation aircraft, the KAAN aims to bring Turkey into the next era of air combat.
European defense industry
Even so, the Eurofighter is expected to remain a potent force in the skies for years to come. For aerospace firms BAE Systems, Airbus and Leonardo, the order is especially welcome. Encompassing not just aircraft sales, but also training, maintenance, and spare-parts supply.
The deal comes in the same week that President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a letter of intent with Swedish manufacturer Saab for the purchase of more than 100 Gripen fighters. Another sign that Europe’s aerospace industry currently has the wind firmly at its back.
