Türkiye receives bids for 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, evaluates process

Türkiye’s interest in acquiring the Eurofighter Typhoon stems from the need to modernize its aging air force fleet.

The Turkish Air Force has faced challenges in acquiring new fighter aircraft, particularly after the U.S. suspended F-35 deliveries due to Türkiye’s purchase of the Russian S-400 system in 2017.

This political tension, combined with delays in acquiring F-16 Block 70 Vipers and upgrading its existing aircraft, has pushed Ankara to explore European alternatives.

The Eurofighter Typhoon, a multirole 4.5-generation fighter jet, was developed by a consortium involving Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo and is operated by nine countries, including the U.K., Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar, and is highly likely to be soon by Türkiye.

For Türkiye, acquiring these aircraft is part of a broader strategy to enhance its air capabilities, especially in light of regional competition, particularly with Greece, which recently procured Rafale F3Rs and upgraded its F-16 fleet.

Türkiye’s Eurofighter acquisition timeline

Türkiye’s Eurofighter Typhoon acquisition process continues as Ankara receives the bid for the 40 fighter jets. Türkiye’s Eurofighter timeline of events is as follows:

• 2022: Türkiye reportedly expresses interest in purchasing Eurofighter Typhoon jets, initiating discussions with the U.K. and Spain.
• 2023: Negotiations intensify, with Türkiye seeking support from the UK and Spain to bypass Germany’s opposition. In November 2023, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, likely discussing the acquisition.
• November 2024: Germany authorizes the sale, marking a significant turning point. Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler confirms this in an interview with TV100, acknowledging the roles of Italy, the UK, and Spain in influencing Germany’s decision.
• January 2025: Türkiye submits a list outlining its technical needs to the UK’s defense ministry, awaiting a price proposal, as stated by a Turkish Defense Ministry source.
• February 2025: Reports emerge of Türkiye being open to purchasing used jets, with discussions ongoing to finalize the deal.
• March 2025: Türkiye receives the proposal from the U.K. Ministry of Defense and the relevant manufacturers according to the Turkish MoD. “The Requirement Definition document for the procurement of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets has been sent to the U.K. Ministry of Defense and the relevant manufacturer. We previously announced that we were expecting an offer. The proposal has been received, and the evaluation process is underway,” the MoD stated.

Details of the Türkiye’s Eurofighter Typhoon acquisition

Türkiye plans to acquire 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, a significant procurement to bolster its air capabilities. Reports suggest that the offer includes multiple alternative scenarios, such as:

• Purchase of 40 new aircraft.
• 20 new aircraft with an option for 20 more.
• 20 new and 20 used aircraft, with the used ones likely to be Tranche 1 from the UK and the new ones Tranche 4.

The offer was submitted by the U.K. Ministry of Defense on March 13, 2025, and Turkish authorities are currently evaluating it, according to sources within the Turkish Ministry of Defense.

The proposal includes pricing for these different scenarios, with the final decision depending on cost and assessment. For example, according to a report by Spanish newspaper La Razon, Ankara is set to procure 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets in a two-phase acquisition plan.

The newspaper claimed 40 Typhoon jets, the first 20 of which will be second-hand from the U.K. and the other 20 of which will be newly produced, are expected to enter service with Meteor missiles between 2026 and 2030.

Additionally, Türkiye seeks to equip the aircraft with Meteor missiles, with reports indicating that it has requested approximately 400 such missiles as part of the overall deal. France has agreed to sell the Meteor missiles, developed by the European consortium MBDA, though Greece has expressed concerns, arguing that this could disrupt the regional security balance.

The Turkish Ministry of National Defense (MoD) also confirmed plans to integrate the European-manufactured Meteor air-to-air missile into its inventory as part of the Eurofighter Typhoon procurement project.

“The Meteor missile is a new-generation, long-range European air-to-air missile. As part of the Eurofighter Typhoon procurement project, we plan to include Meteor missiles in our inventory,” the minister said.

“As we have always stated, our priority is domestic and national weaponry and systems. In this regard, we also aim to strengthen our Air Force with the Gokhan air-to-air missile, which we are currently developing as an equivalent to the Meteor missile. Until Gokhan enters service, the procurement of Meteor missiles alongside Eurofighter aircraft continues without issue,” the MoD sources added.

Negotiations and procurement process

The process for acquiring the Eurofighter Typhoon began in 2022 when Türkiye expressed interest and initiated negotiations with the U.K. and Spain.

Türkiye’s Eurofighter timeline followed Germany’s initial opposition was overcome through diplomatic efforts, including a meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in November 2023.

During an interview on Jan. 24, 2025, German Chancellor Scholz said, “Türkiye is also interested in strengthening itself by purchasing German defense systems, for example, our fighter aircraft. This is now being examined in Türkiye and we have made it possible. Let’s see how the review in Türkiye turns out.”

In November 2024, Germany authorized the sale, and in January 2025, Türkiye submitted its list of technical requirements to the U.K. Ministry of Defense, awaiting a price proposal.

In February 2025, reports indicated that Türkiye was open to acquiring used aircraft, with discussions continuing to finalize the deal. Technical work to expedite the process has been conducted without preconditions, according to an official from the Ministry of Defense in October 2024.

Strategic implications and regional dynamics

The acquisition of the Eurofighter Typhoon is seen as an effort by Türkiye to restore the balance of air power with Greece, which has recently strengthened its fleet with Rafale F3Rs and upgraded F-16s.

The Meteor missiles, in particular, will enhance Türkiye’s ability to engage in beyond-visual-range (BVRAAM) combat, providing a strategic advantage in high-speed aerial engagements. However, this has triggered reactions from Greece, which perceives it as a threat to its security, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the two NATO allies.

The acquisition also reflects Türkiye’s readiness to explore non-U.S. options when faced with restrictions.

Türkiye’s broader fighter jet strategy

Beyond the Eurofighter Typhoon deal, Türkiye continues efforts to modernize its air force through multiple procurement channels:

• F-16 Block 70 acquisition: Türkiye has signed a deal for 40 F-16 Block 70 jets and upgrades for its existing fleet, with an initial payment of $1.4 billion already made.
• F-35 program: Türkiye remains interested in rejoining the F-35 fighter jet program, from which it was removed because it acquired the Russian S-400 missile system.
• KAAN fighter jet development: Türkiye is developing its indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet, KAAN, aiming for operational deployment in the coming years.

Eurofighter Typhoon’s arrive in Ankara

Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets of the United Kingdom Air Force landed at Murted Airfield Command, an air base of the Turkish Air Force located 35 km northwest of Ankara on December 18, 2024.

During an annual review meeting on Dec. 14 at the Ministry of National Defense, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler stated that discussions regarding Eurofighter collaboration were progressing positively.

Guler also said in a television program that “two Eurofighters belonging to the United Kingdom, which are participating in exercises in Qatar, will come to Ankara on Dec. 18, and we will have the opportunity to see the planes. Regarding the F-35, we have said before that we want to buy it. We think that the positive atmosphere in the F-16 procurement process will also be reflected in the F-35 process.”

“We will also discuss with the new administration that will take office in the U.S. the lifting of CAATSA sanctions that are contrary to the spirit of the alliance. There is no change in our position on the S-400,” Guler added.