Turkey Receives Offer for 40 Eurofighter Typhoon Fighter Jets

In an important step towards strengthening its air force, Turkey has received bids for 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets. According to information obtained from Defence Ministry sources, this move could be a turning point in Turkey’s fighter jet procurement strategy.

Historic Change: First European Fighter Jet Procurement Outside the US?

Turkey, which has the second largest fleet of US F-16 fighter jets in the world, has been equipping its air force with American-made aircraft for many years. However, with the recent developments, Turkey has decided to diversify its fighter jet purchases and turn to European manufacturers. Accordingly, the offer from the Eurofighter Typhoon manufacturer consortium (Airbus SE, BAE Systems Plc and Leonardo SpA) will be analysed in detail by Turkey.

Bid Evaluation and Counter Offer Preparation

Defence sources said that Turkey will evaluate the alternative proposal submitted by the Eurofighter consortium and prepare its own proposal in response. This process will be characterised by close negotiations between the two sides and will aim to find the best solution for Turkey’s air force.

Exclusion from the F-35 Programme and New Searches

The US withdrawal of Turkey from the F-35 programme in 2019 pushed Turkey to search for new fighter jets. The Eurofighter Typhoon offer is considered as a concrete result of these searches. The Eurofighter consortium has not yet made an official statement on the subject.