Newsletters
Türkiye has revised its Eurofighter Typhoon acquisition and training plan, with the Turkish Air Forces Command updating its strategy to establish the first two squadrons using 56 jets from multiple sources within the next three to four years, according to Turkish media outlet Milliyet's report on Monday.
The revised plan incorporates 12 Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3 jets from Qatar, equipped with AESA radar and Meteor missile launch capability, alongside the 44 jets already agreed upon, to form the first two Eurofighter squadrons, the report said.
Türkiye signed an £8 billion ($10.7 billion) deal in October 2025 with the United Kingdom to purchase 20 newly built Eurofighter Typhoon jets.
The British government described the agreement as "a good model for all NATO allies to follow."
Türkiye also reached agreements to acquire 12 surplus fighter jets each from Qatar and Oman, according to Milliyet.
The jets from Qatar are the Eurofighter Tranche 3A version, equipped with AESA radar and Meteor missile firing capability.
The jets from Oman will undergo modernization in the U.K. before being delivered to Türkiye starting in 2028.
An additional 12 jets will be procured from Qatar, bringing 24 Eurofighter Typhoons into the inventory within one year, the report said.
The Tranche 4 jets ordered from the UK are also expected to begin arriving from 2028 onward.
A single Eurofighter Typhoon squadron consists of 12 to 16 aircraft. Türkiye will initially have 24 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, with the total fleet reaching 56 aircraft within three to four years, according to the report.
Pilot and ground personnel training will be conducted in the United Kingdom, Milliyet reported.
The Turkish Air Forces Command team is set to visit Coningsby Air Base for initial training preparations.
Turkish Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk confirmed the training timeline during a weekly press briefing on Feb. 19 at the Signal Electronic Information Systems (MEBS) School and Training Center Command.
"Within the scope of the Eurofighter Typhoon procurement project, a working visit will be conducted to the United Kingdom's Coningsby Air Base Command between Feb. 24-27 for the initial training of flight and ground class personnel," Akturk said.
Ankara's growing Eurofighter integration with NATO was further demonstrated on Feb. 20, when the shipborne unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) Bayraktar TB3 completed a joint mission with Eurofighter jets during a NATO's Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise, organized by NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) Brunssum and hosted by Germany, in Hamburg, Netherlands.
The TB3 remained airborne for eight hours and covered 1,700 kilometers (1056.33 miles) during the Steadfast Dart 2026 Exercise in the Baltic region, one of NATO's key activities in the area.
Turkish drone magnate Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar said the TB3 took off from TCG Anadolu as part of the exercise.
The long-endurance flight demonstrated the platform's durability, communication capabilities and ability to operate in joint missions, Bayraktar noted.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
