Germany halts Eurofighter jet delivery to Türkiye citing tense political environment

The German caretaker government led by the Social Democrats and Greens has blocked the planned export of approximately three dozen Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Türkiye, German media outlt Handelsblatt reported Thursday, citing sources familiar with confidential internal discussions.

According to German government sources, the primary reason for halting the export license is the arrest of Turkish opposition figure Ekrem Imamoglu over corruption charges, which Berlin officials described as “an attack on Turkish democracy.”

The opposition in Türkiye claims the corruption charges against Imamoglu are politically motivated.

The former mayor was arrested on March 23 over corruption allegations. The accusations against Imamoglu include the questionable acquisition of three villas in one of Istanbul’s prime locations by his family’s construction company, in which he owns 60 percent of the shares. According to official documents, a close business associate of Imamoglu purchased the villas on his behalf and transferred the property to Imamoglu’s company after three years with low price.

While outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz had supported defense exports to Türkiye during a visit to Istanbul in October 2024, the arrest of Imamoglu prompted a reversal. Scholz had previously argued, “Türkiye is a NATO member, and therefore we repeatedly make decisions leading to specific deliveries.”

Türkiye’s Eurofighter procurement timeline

Türkiye’s interest in acquiring Eurofighter jets began in 2022 amid challenges modernizing its aging fleet:

• 2022–2023: Türkiye initiated talks with the U.K. and Spain, seeking to bypass German objections
• November 2023: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Scholz during the U.N. General Assembly.
• November 2024: Germany approved the sale; Türkiye submitted its technical requirements.
• January–March 2025: Türkiye received and began evaluating a formal proposal from the U.K. Ministry of Defense.

The procurement plan reportedly includes up to 40 jets, split between 20 used Tranche 1 aircraft from the U.K. and 20 new Tranche 4 jets, intended to enter service by 2030.

Coalition tensions and European defense cooperation

The decision may strain the incoming CDU-SPD coalition, set to assume power in mid-May. While the CDU is reportedly more supportive of proceeding with the export to maintain cohesion within the Eurofighter consortium, the SPD has advocated leveraging the deal to pressure Ankara over democratic issues.

The Eurofighter Typhoon program is a joint project of Germany, the U.K., Spain, and Italy. Germany’s restrictive arms export policy has long created tension within the consortium, with the U.K. and France often criticizing Berlin’s stance.

Efforts to harmonize European arms export rules are outlined in Germany’s defense industry strategy and the coalition agreement, which calls for faster and more coordinated export licensing, particularly among NATO allies.

Turkish Air Force modernization strategy

Blocked from acquiring U.S.-made F-35 fighters due to its purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems in 2017, Türkiye has pursued several avenues to modernize its air fleet:

• F-16 Block 70 Program: Türkiye has signed a $1.4 billion agreement for 40 new F-16s and upgrades to its existing fleet.
• Domestic Production: The indigenous KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet completed its maiden flight in February 2024 and is undergoing trials.
• Meteor Missiles Acquisition: Türkiye seeks to equip the Eurofighters with Meteor missiles from MBDA, requesting around 400 units. France has approved the sale, though Greece has voiced security concerns.

The Ministry of National Defense (MoD) confirmed plans to integrate both the Meteor missile and Türkiye’s own developing Gokhan missile system into its arsenal.

Recently Turkish officials stated that they want to re-enter the F-35 program along with acquiring F-35s. “If CATSAA sanctions are lifted, the resumption of the F-35 procurement process will be considered, and we anticipate an acceleration in defense, industry, and security cooperation with the United States,” Turkish MoD sources recently said.

After the initial meetings about it, the United States and Türkiye agreed to initiate technical-level discussions aimed at addressing long-standing tensions over CAATSA sanctions and Ankara’s exclusion from the F-35 fighter jet program.

UK Eurofighters land in Ankara

Two British Eurofighter Typhoons landed at Murted Airfield Command near Ankara on December 18, 2024, for a demonstration, further indicating Türkiye’s strong interest in the aircraft.

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler stated during a defense review on December 14 that “technical negotiations regarding the Eurofighter procurement are progressing positively.” He reiterated Türkiye’s interest in rejoining the F-35 program and lifting U.S. sanctions imposed under CAATSA.