The United Kingdom has finalized a major defense export agreement with Turkey, approving the sale of 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets valued at up to £8 billion ($10 billion), according to an announcement from Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office on Monday.

Described by Downing Street as "the biggest fighter jet export deal in a generation," the agreement strengthens defense and industrial cooperation between London and Ankara while supporting the modernization of Turkey's air force.

The contract will also deliver significant economic benefits for the UK defense sector. The deal is expected to sustain thousands of skilled jobs in British aerospace hubs, including Warton, Samlesbury, Bristol, and Edinburgh, where the Typhoon's components are manufactured.

Fleet diversification

The Eurofighter Typhoon, developed by a consortium of BAE Systems, Airbus, and Leonardo, is one of Europe's most advanced multirole combat aircraft. The deal marks a renewed export success for the jet, whose production line had faced uncertainty due to a lack of new international orders in recent years.

The agreement builds on a preliminary understanding reached earlier this year, when both countries expressed intent to deepen defense cooperation under NATO frameworks. It also comes amid Turkey's efforts to diversify its air fleet following recent tensions over access to US F-16 fighter jets.

Dual procurement

Ankara's strategy now includes a parallel track involving both new-build Typhoons from the UK and a potential fast-track delivery of Tranche-3A aircraft originally ordered by Qatar. According to reports, Doha is considering redirecting between 12 and 24 of its Typhoons to Turkey after Germany lifted an export block that had previously prevented such transfers. The decision in Berlin removed a key obstacle within the Eurofighter consortium, enabling Qatar to reassign delivery slots while maintaining its own fleet balance through other aircraft such as Rafales and F-15QAs.

This development gives Ankara an immediate stopgap option to address a growing capability gap, allowing it to bolster air readiness ahead of its long-term plans for the indigenous fifth-generation KAAN fighter, which is not expected to enter service until the late 2020s. Defense analysts note that the combination of rapid second-hand acquisitions from Qatar and new-build Typhoons from the UK offers Turkey a faster route to restore deterrence and enhance interoperability within NATO, particularly amid tensions with Greece's modernized air fleet.

Export leadership

For Britain, the expanded Eurofighter framework, now involving both direct sales and reassignments through consortium partners, reinforces its export leadership and strategic role within NATO's defense industry network, while helping sustain domestic manufacturing lines.

Downing Street said the deal reflects the UK's commitment to maintaining “strong defense ties with key allies” and ensuring its defense industry remains globally competitive.

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