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The UK and Turkey have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to the Turkish Air Force. The agreement was signed on July 23, 2025, during the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul, by UK Defense Secretary John Healey and Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler.

The signing of the MoU would pave the way for strategic and industrial cooperation between the two NATO allies at a time when Turkey is pursuing multiple avenues to modernize its aging air fleet. The potential deal would be the first export order for the Typhoon since 2017 and is expected to secure thousands of highly skilled jobs across the UK’s defense industrial base.

“This government’s determination to secure new defense deals, building on our relationships abroad to deliver for British working people,” said Defense Secretary John Healey. “Equipping Turkey with Typhoons would strengthen NATO’s collective defense, and boost both our countries’ industrial bases.”

The Typhoon program is central to NATO’s aerial capabilities, with the aircraft currently in use by nine air forces. It has a proven operational track record, including providing the bulk of NATO air policing missions along Europe’s eastern flank. In 2023 and 2024, the Typhoon was responsible for 80% of operational sorties conducted by Eurofighter partner nations, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK.

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler echoed the significance of the agreement, calling it “one step closer to a full agreement on the Typhoon.” According to a Turkish Ministry of Defense statement, both sides “welcome the signature as a positive step towards bringing Turkey into the Typhoon club and share a mutual ambition to conclude the necessary arrangements as soon as possible.”

Industrial and economic impact

The Typhoon is produced by a consortium of companies across Europe, with the UK’s BAE Systems playing a leading role in design, manufacturing, and integration. About 37% of the aircraft parts and assembly are done in the UK, including final assembly at BAE Systems’ Warton site, radars from Edinburgh, and engines from Bristol. The deal could help sustain the 20,000 UK jobs currently supported by the Typhoon program.

Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive of BAE Systems, stated, “This Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of Turkey and the UK underscores the importance of their long-standing defense co-operation through NATO and the critical role Typhoon plays in security and defense in Europe and the Middle East.”

The Typhoon program contributes approximately $1.9 billion in exports annually and generates an estimated $2.1 billion for the UK economy, with significant value added in engineering and high-tech manufacturing sectors.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted the importance of the deal for the UK’s economic strategy, stating, “The UK’s production of Typhoon fighter jets is an engine for economic growth, supporting the lives and livelihoods of thousands of British people right across the UK. Signing a multi-billion-dollar export deal with Turkey will sustain and protect 20,000 UK jobs for future years to come.”

Strategic defense shift

This agreement also reflects a broader shift in UK defense policy. By July 31 this year, the UK Ministry of Defense will take over responsibility for defense exports from the Department for Business and Trade. The change comes as part of the new Strategic Defense Review (SDR), which emphasizes leveraging defense as an engine for economic growth.

Under this strategy, the newly created defense exports office is tasked with aggressively pursuing export opportunities, particularly in key platforms like the Typhoon, and deepening international defense cooperation.

“The latest statistics show UK defense exports were valued at £14.5 billion (aprx $20 billion) over 12 months,” said the Ministry of Defense. “With this MoU, we are demonstrating our commitment to building international partnerships while protecting and expanding our industrial capacity.”

Turkey’s fighter jet strategy

For Turkey, the agreement marks an important step in a broader strategic effort to modernize its air force. Ankara has long expressed interest in acquiring 40 Eurofighter Typhoons to replace its aging F-4 and early-model F-16 fighters.

Turkey has been in talks to purchase 40 Eurofighters since 2023 which reportedly faced initial hesitation from Germany within the Eurofighter consortium, have advanced under UK leadership. Turkish officials confirm they are now in talks over pricing and technical specifications and expect to submit a counter-proposal to the UK’s initial offer in the coming weeks. Beyond the Eurofighters, Ankara is also in talks with Washington to purchase 40 F-16s.

Turkey’s interest in the Typhoon comes amid uncertainty surrounding its participation in other fighter programs. In 2019, the United States removed Turkey from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program after Ankara purchased Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems. The U.S. cited NATO interoperability concerns and the risk posed to F-35 technology.

Though Turkey is now seeking re-entry into the F-35 program, that path remains politically and technically complicated. Meanwhile, Turkey has accelerated development of its fifth-generation fighter, the KAAN, which it hopes to have operational by 2028. Until then, acquiring the Typhoon offers an immediate solution to bolster the country’s air defense posture.

If concluded, the Turkey-Typhoon deal would not only reinforce NATO’s southern flank but also deepen industrial ties between two key allies in an increasingly complex global security environment.

Negotiations are expected to continue over the coming weeks. While the exact terms and quantities have not been finalized, both governments have made clear their intention to complete the deal as soon as possible.

BAE Systems confirmed it “will continue to work closely with the governments of Turkey and the UK to formalize an agreement for the procurement of Typhoon aircraft and associated supplies in due course.”

As geopolitical tensions rise across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey’s alignment with NATO and modernization of its armed forces is being watched closely by allies and adversaries alike. A finalized Typhoon deal would not only be a milestone in bilateral UK-Turkey relations but also a signal of NATO’s evolving defense architecture in a time of global uncertainty.