Eurofighter Typhoon Deal: Turkiye and Britain's Strategic Leap

On Wednesday, Turkiye and Britain took a significant step forward in modernizing Turkiye's air capabilities by signing a preliminary agreement for the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets. The memorandum of understanding was inked by Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler and his British counterpart, John Healey, during a defense industry fair in Istanbul, according to the Turkish Ministry of National Defence.

NATO member Turkiye has long been interested in acquiring 40 Eurofighter jets, which are manufactured by a consortium of British, German, and Italian companies. Initially, Germany was opposed to the sale but later reversed its stance, allowing Britain to lead the negotiations on behalf of the consortium. A statement from the Turkish defence ministry noted that the memorandum signifies the two countries are "one step closer to a full agreement on the Typhoon." The ministers acknowledged the signing as a positive move toward integrating Turkiye into the Typhoon club and expressed a joint desire to finalize the arrangements swiftly.

Turkish officials have indicated that negotiations are still open regarding pricing and technical specifics, having received an initial offer and planning to make a counter-proposal. Additionally, Turkiye is exploring rejoining the US-led F-35 fighter jet program after their expulsion in 2019 due to their purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems. Meanwhile, Turkiye is advancing a domestic project to develop a fifth-generation fighter jet, named the KAAN, expected to be operational by 2028.

(With inputs from agencies.)