Germany approves sale of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Türkiye

Germany has approved the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Türkiye, removing key obstacles in Türkiye’s plan to enhance its air combat capabilities.

The decision ended a lengthy delay and discussions caused by a unliteral embargo imposed by Berlin, paving the way for the procurement of 40 advanced Eurofighter jets.

Türkiye’s strategic air force upgrade

Türkiye has long aimed to acquire 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to meet the evolving needs of its air force. The sale had already been endorsed by the Eurofighter Consortium members Italy, Spain, and the U.K., but faced resistance from Germany.

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler announced during a live interview on Turkish news outlet, TV100 that Germany has now agreed to the sale, citing positive input from NATO allies.

“We will acquire 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets. Germany had been reluctant for a long time, but with the constructive contributions of our NATO allies Italy, the UK, and Spain, they finally gave a positive response,” Guler stated.

New-generation Eurofighter Typhoons

According to sources, Türkiye has been in technical discussions with the U.K. regarding the purchase of the latest-generation Eurofighter Typhoon jets.

The Turkish Air Force plans to acquire a total of 40 aircraft, split into two phases of 20 jets each, with the goal of integrating two full squadrons into its fleet.

Eurofighter Typhoon program overview

The Eurofighter Typhoon program was initiated by a coalition of European countries to meet the need for a next-generation fighter aircraft. The project, led by the U.K., Germany, Italy, and Spain, resulted in the development of the EF-2000 Eurofighter Typhoon. France initially participated but later opted to develop its own Rafale fighter.

Ownership shares in the project are divided as follows: 33% for the U.K., 33% for Germany, 21% for Italy, and 13% for Spain. Key industry players include BAE Systems for the U.K., Airbus Defence & Space for Germany and Spain, and Leonardo for Italy.

To date, over 550 Eurofighter Typhoon jets have been delivered to seven countries: Germany, the U.K., Italy, Spain, Austria, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.

Türkiye’s relations with US on F-16 purchases

Responding to a question about accelerating F-16 sales under Trump’s presidency, Guler expressed optimism, noting positive relations with U.S. counterparts.

“We want to buy 40 F-16 Viper jets. The contracts have been signed. Additionally, we will purchase 40 Eurofighter Typhoons. Germany had resisted for a long time, but thanks to support from our NATO allies like the UK, Italy, and Spain, we received a positive answer,” Guler said.

Guler also mentioned the potential withdrawal of US troops from Syria under Trump’s administration.