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Türkiye has intensified military diplomacy efforts to procure Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, increasing contacts with the manufacturer and partner countries involved in the program.
Defense Minister Yasar Guler met on Thursday in Ankara with Charles Woodburn, chief executive of BAE Systems, and the U.K.’s ambassador to Ankara, Jill Morris.
The meeting addressed technical aspects of the Eurofighter process and broader cooperation in the defense industry, according to information obtained from the Defense Ministry.
As part of the ongoing talks, Air Force Commander Ziya Cemal Kadioglu is expected to visit Qatar this weekend following earlier meetings in Italy, another Eurofighter partner country.
The Turkish Defense Ministry said Kadioglu will hold a trilateral meeting in Qatar with the air force commanders of the United Kingdom and Qatar.
The Eurofighter Typhoon program is jointly led by Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain.
Türkiye is pursuing the procurement process primarily through the United Kingdom.
During a visit to Ankara in October by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Türkiye and the U.K. signed an agreement covering the purchase of 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets.
Guler said six aircraft are expected to enter service in 2030, eight in 2031 and six in 2032.
He also said Türkiye aims to add a total of 44 Eurofighter Typhoons to its inventory, including 12 from Qatar, 12 from Oman, and 20 from the United Kingdom.
Guler described the aircraft to be acquired from Qatar as ready jets with limited flight hours, noting they would be transferred along with their munitions and equipment.
He said the aircraft from Oman are also lightly used and currently stored in hangars.
The Omani aircraft will require modernization, including the installation of AESA radar, Meteor missile capability and updated avionics systems.
Guler said the modernization process for the 12 aircraft is expected to be completed in 2028.
The 44 Eurofighter Typhoon jets planned for procurement are expected to significantly enhance the capabilities of the Turkish Air Force.
The aircraft are known for their multirole performance in air-to-air and air-to-ground missions and are expected to help address capability gaps following Türkiye’s removal from the F-35 program, while serving as an interim solution ahead of the future integration of Türkiye’s domestically developed KAAN fighter jet.
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