The UK and Turkey sign a preliminary deal for Eurofighter jets as Ankara seeks to modernize its air force. This move is essential for Turkey's defense upgrades.

The United Kingdom and Turkey have taken a crucial step towards enhancing their defense collaboration, with a preliminary agreement signed on Wednesday for the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey. This move signifies a pivotal moment in Ankara's agenda to revamp its air force capabilities.

The agreement was formalized by Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and his British counterpart, John Healey, during a defense industry fair held in Istanbul. This development was announced by Turkey's Ministry of National Defence. As a longstanding member of NATO, Turkey has been keen on acquiring 40 of these advanced fighter jets, which are manufactured by a consortium comprising British, German, and Italian companies.

While there were initial hesitations from Germany regarding the sale, the German government ultimately shifted its stance, allowing the UK to spearhead negotiations on the consortium’s behalf.

A statement from the Turkish defence ministry noted that the memorandum marks a "significant stride towards a comprehensive agreement on the Typhoon." It further stated, "Both ministers celebrate this signature as a positive development in integrating Turkey into the Typhoon club and express a shared ambition to finalize the necessary arrangements at the earliest."

Turkish representatives have indicated ongoing discussions focused on pricing and technical specifics are still underway, with an initial offer received and a counter-proposal forthcoming.

Concurrently, Turkey is also endeavoring to rejoin the US-led F-35 fighter jet program, from which it was previously excluded in 2019 due to its procurement of Russian S-400 missile defense systems. The US had criticized these systems for potentially compromising NATO technology and presenting a threat to the F-35s.

In addition, Turkey is progressing with its development of the homegrown KAAN fighter jet, a fifth-generation aircraft expected to be operational by 2028.