Ankara( The COW News Digital) Turkey has finalized a landmark defense deal with the United Kingdom to purchase 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, a move aimed at significantly boosting its air defense and combat readiness amid rising regional tensions.
The agreement, valued at approximately $11 billion, was signed during a ceremony in Ankara, attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Both leaders hailed the deal as a new chapter in strategic cooperation between Ankara and London.
President Erdoğan described the agreement as “a symbol of the growing trust and partnership” between the two nations, emphasizing that the new aircraft will enhance Turkey’s national defense capabilities and support regional stability.
According to defense ministry officials, the first batch of Eurofighter Typhoons will be delivered to Turkey by 2030, with plans to integrate them into the country’s expanding air fleet alongside its domestically developed fighter program, the KAAN stealth jet.
The Eurofighter Typhoon, jointly produced by the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, is regarded as one of the world’s most advanced multi-role combat aircraft. It is capable of performing both air superiority and ground-attack missions, equipped with state-of-the-art radar and missile systems.
Turkish defense sources revealed that Ankara is also in talks with Qatar and Oman to purchase 12 Typhoon jets each, as part of a broader plan to acquire up to 120 advanced fighter aircraft in the coming years. The move is seen as part of Turkey’s ongoing efforts to maintain air superiority in a region where Israel and Greece continue to modernize their own air forces.
The deal follows an earlier preliminary agreement reached in July 2025, when both countries expressed intent to deepen defense industry collaboration, particularly in aerospace, cybersecurity, and intelligence sharing.
British Prime Minister Starmer, speaking at the signing ceremony, called the deal “a milestone in UK-Turkey defense cooperation” and reaffirmed London’s commitment to supporting NATO allies in strengthening collective security.
Defense analysts say the purchase not only enhances Turkey’s military deterrence but also signals Ankara’s strategic pivot toward Western defense partnerships, despite recent strains in relations with NATO allies.
The acquisition marks one of Turkey’s largest military procurements in recent years, positioning it among the top air powers in the Middle East.
