Newsletters
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated on Friday that Eurofighter Typhoon delivery to Türkiye could occur within this year, but emphasized that a signed agreement must be finalized first before shipment can proceed.
Speaking to Turkish media outlet NTV after his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Wadephul said: "I think this will happen in a short time. I think it could happen this year. Eurofighter is a model that has been produced for a long time and I have heard that production capacity has been expanded."
"Shipment to Türkiye will take place in a short time. But these decisions will be taken by the companies. Companies can provide this information. First, we need a signed agreement. Work is being done on this," he noted.
Wadephul emphasized Germany's commitment to Turkish defense capabilities, saying, "We recognize Türkiye as a reliable NATO ally and we want to strengthen our joint defense alliance together and sending Eurofighters to Türkiye is extremely natural for us."
"They will be used to defend the alliance. And Greece is also included in this. As a government, we view the sending of these aircraft positively," he said.
He stressed the regional security context: "We must defend the alliance together. Currently, there is Russian aggression at hand. We view this shipment positively from this perspective," Wadephul said.
Türkiye plans to acquire approximately 40 units of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets. On July 23, Türkiye and the United Kingdom (UK) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) allowing Ankara to operate Eurofighter Typhoon fighter planes.
The agreement came after Germany's Security Council approved the sale of 40 Eurofighter jets.
During the 17th International Defense Industry Fair in Istanbul, Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler and UK Secretary of State for Defense John Healey signed the memorandum of understanding. "We plan to acquire some 40 units of the aircraft — there are various options and we're currently working on them," Guler said during the signing ceremony.
Turkish officials had initially focused on purchasing 40 F-16V aircraft from the United States and upgrading 79 existing F-16s to the F-16V standard, though the package was later revised to cover only the acquisition of 40 new aircraft.
On Oct. 10, Turkish Defense Ministry sources stated that no finalized agreement on Eurofighter procurement exists yet. "In order to meet the operational requirements of our Air Force Command until our national aircraft KAAN enters service, work continues on various configurations within the scope of acquiring and diversifying modern combat aircraft equipped with advanced technology," the ministry said.
"There is no finalized situation regarding Eurofighter procurement yet. When the contract reaches the approval phase, it will be announced to the public. We would like to remind once more that no attention should be paid to statements made other than from official sources," the ministry added.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a multirole fighter distinguished by its canard delta wing. Engineered with advanced aerodynamics and an innovative flight control system, it delivers exceptional agility and maneuverability.
A standout feature is its ability to achieve supercruise—sustained supersonic flight without the use of afterburners. The aircraft is available in both single-seat and twin-seat variants and is fully capable of executing a wide range of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
The aircraft measures 15.96 meters long, 10.95 meters wide, and weighs 11 tons when empty, with a maximum takeoff weight of 23.5 tons.
The Typhoon's mission systems feature the Captor-E active electronically scanned array radar, the Defensive Aids Sub-System for self-protection, an advanced mission computer, Link 16 datalink, and electro-optical sensors. Electronic warfare systems, flare and chaff dispensers, and radar warning receivers enhance self-defense capability.
The aircraft supports extensive weapons payload capacity with advanced air-to-air missiles such as Meteor, AIM-120 AMRAAM, IRIS-T, and ASRAAM, alongside precision-guided munitions like Brimstone, Storm Shadow, and the Paveway series, as well as cruise missiles such as Taurus.
The aircraft is also equipped with a 27mm Mauser BK-27 cannon.
1 min read
1 min read
