Turkey’s Fighter Quest: Eurofighters Still in the Game After F-16 Deal

Turkey’s interest in the Eurofighter Typhoons remains high.

A Turkish Defense Ministry official announced on the 1st (local time) that even after the United States sold F-16 fighters worth $23 billion to Ankara, there is still interest in purchasing 40 Eurofighter Typhoons.

Turkey announced in November last year that it was in talks with the UK and Spain to purchase the Typhoons but met opposition from Germany.

A Turkish Defense Ministry source said negotiations began after Ankara realized its request for American-made F-16 jets in October 2021 might not be fulfilled.

The following week, the Biden administration officially notified Congress of its intent to sell 40 Lockheed Martin F-16s and about 80 modernization kits to Turkey, just one day after completing the approval of Sweden’s NATO membership.

According to a Turkish Defense Ministry official, while Congress is not expected to block the sale of F-16s, Turkey still wants to purchase the Eurofighter Typhoon jets.

The official also stated, “We expect a positive approach from consortium member Germany.”

A consortium of Germany, the UK, Italy, and Spain, with Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo as the leading manufacturers, manufactured the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Turkey is currently working to strengthen its air force and is developing its fighter jet, KAAN, in collaboration with BAE Systems.