A negotiation stalled for years due to German opposition has been resolved, but now it’s changing its tune. Erdogan has said he intends to finalize the purchase as soon as possible. Analysts estimate orders of approximately $5,6 billion.

Much more than a multi-billion dollar trade deal. It is about unblocking a situation that has been at a standstill for years which could pave the way for new developments. Türkiye and Great Britain have signed a memorandum of understanding for allow Ankara to use fighters Eurofighter Typhoon. He reports it Reuters.

For years Ankara has been in negotiations for the purchase of 40 jets, built by a consortium composed of Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain, represented by Airbus, Bae Systems and Leonardo. But in 2023, talks on the acquisition of the fighters failed due to the Berlin’s reluctance to approve an export license, due to concerns about the country’s foreign policy.

Leonardo on the stock exchange gains 0,52% to 48,56 euros, Airbus 1,62% to 184,30 euros and 1.860,32 pounds +0,044%.

But now the position of the Germany seems to have changed”The British and Germans are approaching the issue with enthusiasm. God willing, I believe we will receive our jets as soon as possible,” said Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan to journalists during a flight from Northern Cyprus, reports Reuters”In my meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, I saw that they also addressed the issue positively, and I hope we will take this step,” the Turkish leader added, adding that he intends to finalize the purchase as soon as possible. A preliminary agreement could be announced at the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF), which will take place in Istanbul until July 27, the Turkish official revealed. Wall Street Journal.

Previously, the magazine Spiegel had reported that the Germany had given the green light upon delivery of the 40 jets, following a positive decision by the Federal Security Council.

Analysts estimate orders of around $5,6 billion

According to two sources close to the negotiations cited by the wsj, Turkey may announce a preliminary agreement for a multi-billion dollar order Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet already this week, in what would be a boost for Europe’s defence industry and an aircraft programme that has been overshadowed by theUS F-35The contract, which analysts estimate could be worth approximately 5,6 billions of dollars, would concern a maximum of 40 jets, While the exact number and configuration of the aircraft are still under discussion, he says wsj.

Find out what’s new on ST website and app.

ISTANBUL – Turkey reached deals with NATO allies Britain and Germany on Wednesday that pave the way to acquiring dozens of Eurofighter Typhoon jets, which Ankara has sought to bolster defences in an increasingly volatile region.

Britain signed a preliminary deal allowing Ankara to operate the jets while Germany approved delivery of 40 of them to Turkey, which has relied on both foreign purchases and its own defence industry projects, including domestic jets, to ramp up deterrence.

Beyond the Eurofighters, Ankara is also in talks with Washington to purchase 40 F-16s.

Israel’s attacks on regional countries, including its 12-day conflict with Turkey’s neighbour Iran and more recent strikes on another neighbour Syria, have unnerved Ankara, prompting a push for rapid armament in order to counter any potential threats.

Turkey has been in talks since 2023 to purchase 40 Eurofighter Typhoons, which are built by a consortium of Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain, represented by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo.

Speaking at a signing ceremony with British Defence Secretary John Healey in Istanbul, Defence Minister Yasar Guler said the deal brought Turkey “one step closer to a fully comprehensive agreement” on the jets, adding it would also strengthen NATO and Turkey’s aerial capabilities.

“We welcome this positive step toward our country joining the Eurofighter Typhoon club, and want to reiterate our mutual ambition to complete the necessary arrangements as soon as possible,” he said.

Guler also told reporters that the composition of the planned acquisition was for 40 jets but that different options were being considered.

NEW LEASE OF LIFE FOR BAE UK FACTORY

Separately, the German government – initially opposed to the sale – has cleared the way for the delivery of 40 jets to Turkey following a positive decision by the Federal Security Council, the Spiegel news magazine reported on Wednesday.

The German defence ministry declined to comment and the Federal Council, whose approval is needed for arms exports, does not generally comment on its decisions.

The agreements come after weeks of positive statements from Ankara and the Eurofighter consortium on the sale, with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan praising the German and British stance on the issue this week.

Britain said negotiations with Turkey over an ultimate sale will continue over the coming weeks.

The deal would be the first export order secured by Britain for the jet since 2017 and would give a new lease of life to the final assembly line at BAE’s factory in northern England.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the multi-billion dollar agreement with Turkey would “sustain and protect 20,000 UK jobs for future years to come”, while an official at BAE Systems said last week the company was confident of winning new orders from countries, including Turkey. REUTERS

Find out what’s new on ST website and app.

ISTANBUL – Turkey and Britain signed a preliminary deal allowing Ankara to operate Eurofighter Typhoon jets on Wednesday while Germany approved the delivery of 40 jets, which Turkey has sought to bolster defences in an increasingly volatile region.

NATO member Turkey has leaned on its own defence industry projects, including domestic jets, and foreign acquisitions to ramp up deterrence. Beyond the Eurofighters, it is in talks with Washington to buy 40 F-16s.

Separately, the German government has cleared the way for the delivery of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey following a positive decision by the federal security council, the Spiegel news magazine reported on Wednesday.

The German defence ministry declined to comment and the federal council, whose approval is needed for arms exports, does not generally comment on its decisions.

Ankara has been in talks since 2023 to purchase 40 Eurofighter Typhoons, which are built by a consortium of Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain, represented by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo.

Defence Minister Yasar Guler, at a signing ceremony with British Defence Secretary John Healey in Istanbul, said the agreements would strengthen bilateral ties and boost the NATO alliance’s air power, while supporting Ankara’s aerial capabilities.

“We welcome this positive step toward our country joining the Eurofighter Typhoon club, and want to reiterate our mutual ambition to complete the necessary arrangements as soon as possible,” he said.

The agreement comes after weeks of positive statements from Ankara and the Eurofighter consortium on the sale, with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan praising the German and British stance on the issue this week. REUTERS

RAF Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 at RAF Coningsby RAF Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 takes off at RAF Coningsby, Coningsby, United Kingdom, 28th May 2025. (Photo by Mark Cosgrove via Reuters)

Turkey is approaching a deal to purchase Eurofighter jets for its aging air force, in a move that will surely ring alarm bells in Israel.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this week that Germany and Britain are sending positive signals regarding the deal for which the Turkish government has intensely lobbied for years.

“The British and Germans are approaching this positively. God willing, I believe we will receive our jet planes as soon as possible,” Erdogan told reporters.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is a fourth-generation fighter jet jointly produced by a consortium of Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain. All four countries have to sign off on the deal, which so far has been opposed by Germany and the UK.

The report drew strong criticism of Israel’s Foreign Ministry by opposition leader Yair Lapid. Israel has been increasingly worried by Turkey’s hostile rhetoric and its attempts to build up its military forces over the past years.

The @eurofighter Typhoon will form the backbone of air defence in to the 2060s and our teams are constantly pushing its capability forward.

Find out more about Typhoon’s latest digital leap: https://t.co/5GeuN3AB8y pic.twitter.com/eBrTSOpIJC — BAE Systems Air (@BAESystemsAir) July 7, 2025

“If Israel had a functioning foreign ministry, or a normal government, it would have long ago prevented the emerging deal for the sale of ‘Eurofighter Typhoon 4.5’ aircraft to Turkey by Germany and the UK,” Lapid wrote on 𝕏.

“Turkey already has the largest and most powerful naval fleet in the Middle East, and now it has set its sights on achieving air parity with Israel. This is dangerous, and our dysfunctional government has allowed this deal to move forward without doing anything about it,” he wrote.

Since the fall of the Assad regime, the Turkish and Israeli air forces have both been operating in Syria’s skies. In April, the countries agreed on a deconfliction mechanism to prevent miscommunications from turning into clashes.

The Wall Street Journal reported that a preliminary deal for an order valued at around $5.6 billion for up to 40 Typhoons could be announced as early as this week.

Despite being a member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), Turkey has faced German opposition to the sale of the fighter jets amid various concerns over Erdogan’s foreign policy.

However, the new Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is seen as a friend of Israel, signaled that a positive decision could be taken soon.

The WSJ also reported that the UK and Turkey could announce a principle of agreement at the International Defense Industry Fair in Istanbul, which started on Tuesday.

Several other countries are currently in negotiations to purchase Typhoons, including Austria and Qatar.

Saudi Arabia, which has also expressed interest in the fighter jet in the past, is currently focusing its efforts on receiving the American F-35, according to the WSJ.

Turkey has also been trying to purchase F-35s for years. A sale had already been approved before the first Trump administration suspended and banned Turkey from the Joint Strike Fighter program, through which the F-35 Lightning II is developed and sold.

In April, Fox News reported that President Donald Trump was considering lifting the ban on the sale after talking with President Erdoğan.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly also brought up the issue and tried to convince the Trump administration not to lift the sanctions.

Recommended –

Turkey could announce a preliminary deal for a multibillion-dollar order of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets as early as this week, according to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report.

Israeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid reacted to the potential deal, expressing his concern over the implications it could have on Israel’s safety, and blaming its advancement on the Foreign Ministry and the Israeli government.

“Turkey already has the largest and most powerful navy in the Middle East, and now it has set itself the goal of also reaching an air balance with Israel, said Lapid. “This is dangerous, and our dysfunctional government has allowed this deal to move forward without doing anything about it.”

The Turkish and UK governments have reached advanced talks, and the outline of an initial contract may be announced at the International Defense Industry Fair in Istanbul as early as this week. Analysts estimate the deal could be valued at around $5.6 billion for a maximum of 40 jets, but the exact number and aircraft details are still being discussed, WSJ reported.

The Eurofighter was developed by a partnership of three of Europe’s largest defense companies, BAE Systems, Airbus and Leonardo. The deal would significantly boost Europe’s defense industry — as well as Turkey’s air defense capabilities.

Turkey has tried to purchase Eurofighter jets from the consortium of its manufacturing countries, UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy, since 2023, but had failed to reach Germany’s approval of export license due to issues with Ankara’s foreign policy.

But Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the new chancellor of Germany, said at a press conference last week that the negotiators were nearing a decision that could make an export license possible, WSJ reported.

Lapid commented on Israel’s failure to stop the progress of the exchange.

“If Israel had a functioning Foreign Ministry, or a normal government, it would have long ago prevented the deal being formed to sell “Eurofighter Typhoon 4.5″ aircraft to Turkey by Germany and Britain,” he stated.