On Monday, October 27, 2025, Turkey and the United Kingdom inked a landmark deal in Ankara, setting the stage for a new era in defense cooperation and economic ties between the two NATO allies. The agreement, valued at up to £8 billion (approximately $10.7 billion), will see Turkey acquire 20 brand-new Eurofighter Typhoon jets from the UK, marking the largest fighter jet export deal for Britain in nearly two decades. The pact was signed during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s inaugural visit to Turkey, where he met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for a series of high-profile discussions and ceremonies.
This deal is more than just a handshake over hardware; it’s a strategic move that both leaders hailed as a symbol of deepening relations. According to BBC News, Starmer declared at the signing ceremony, “This will bolster security across NATO, deepen our bilateral defense cooperation and boost economic growth here and in the United Kingdom, securing 20,000 British jobs.” Erdogan echoed this sentiment, describing the agreement as “a new symbol of the strategic relationship between us as two close allies.”
The Eurofighter Typhoon, jointly produced by the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, is one of the most advanced multirole combat aircraft in service today. About 37% of each jet’s production takes place in the UK, including final assembly at BAE Systems’ facilities in Lancashire. The government estimates the deal will sustain around 20,000 jobs across the UK, including 6,000 at BAE’s Lancashire plants, 1,100 in southwest England (notably at the Rolls-Royce plant in Bristol), and 800 in Scotland. Charles Woodburn, chief executive of BAE Systems, noted, “The procurement marks the start of a new chapter in our longstanding relationship with this important NATO ally and underscores how investment in defense can fuel significant economic growth and returns across the UK.”
For Turkey, this acquisition is part of a broader push to rejuvenate its air force and maintain a technological edge in a volatile region. The Turkish defense minister, Yasar Guler, told reporters that Turkey’s plans extend beyond the 20 new jets from the UK. The country aims to purchase a total of 44 Eurofighter Typhoons, including 12 used jets each from Oman and Qatar. These secondary purchases were a hot topic during Erdogan’s recent Gulf tour, which included stops in Doha and Muscat. The consortium that manufactures the Eurofighter—requiring the approval of all member nations—gave the green light after Germany, previously opposed, lifted its objections earlier in 2025.
The first delivery of the new jets is expected in 2030, but the relationship is already taking flight. On the day of the signing, three Royal Air Force Eurofighter jets arrived at Ankara’s Mürted Air Base, escorted into Turkish airspace by Turkish F-16s—a symbolic gesture underscoring the growing military partnership. Starmer and UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey met with RAF pilots at the base, highlighting the practical military cooperation underpinning the deal.
Beyond the jets themselves, the agreement includes a sophisticated weapons package primarily supplied by MBDA, featuring the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile. This addition will significantly enhance Turkey’s aerial combat capabilities. BAE Systems anticipates recognizing approximately £4.6 billion in revenue from the program, including its shareholding in MBDA, according to Defense News.
The timing of the deal is notable. Turkey’s quest for modern fighter aircraft has been complicated in recent years. In 2019, Ankara was blocked from the U.S.-led F-35 program after purchasing Russian S-400 missile defense systems, a move deemed incompatible with NATO’s security protocols. The Eurofighter purchase is seen as an interim solution until Turkey’s domestically developed fifth-generation KAAN fighter jet becomes operational, a milestone not expected before 2028. During his visit, Starmer toured the Turkish Aerospace Industries’ facility in Ankara and received a briefing on the KAAN project, underscoring the UK’s interest in Turkey’s indigenous defense ambitions.
Meanwhile, Turkey is still seeking to diversify its air fleet. Alongside the Eurofighter deal, Ankara is negotiating with the United States to acquire 40 new F-16 Block 70 fighter jets. Washington granted formal approval for the sale in January 2024, but talks over the details are ongoing, with Turkey looking to scale back the $23 billion price tag. The Turkish government’s broader plan is to field a total of 120 new fighters—40 Eurofighters, 40 F-16s, and 40 F-35s—as a transitional fleet ahead of the KAAN’s entry into service.
While the defense deal dominated headlines, Starmer’s visit was not without diplomatic tension. On the same day as the signing, Turkish prosecutors filed new charges against Istanbul’s jailed mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, accusing him of “espionage” activities. Imamoglu, who was arrested in March on corruption charges he strongly denies, is widely seen as a key challenger to Erdogan. Turkey’s main opposition party, the CHP, has criticized European governments for what it perceives as a muted response to what it calls a politically motivated crackdown on opposition figures. Starmer did not directly address the Imamoglu case during his visit, but his spokesman, Tom Wells, stated that the UK expects Turkey “to uphold its international obligations and the rule of law, including the right to a fair trial,” and confirmed that London had raised the issue with Turkish counterparts “at a number of levels.” Wells added, “Economic partnership can coexist with frank dialogue on areas of disagreement.”
Regional security was also on the agenda. Starmer praised Turkey’s efforts in facilitating the Gaza ceasefire and highlighted the UK’s commitment to working with Turkey to implement the agreement “as fast as possible to put the region on to a better path.” Erdogan, for his part, lauded Britain’s recent recognition of the Palestinian state, calling it a bold step toward a two-state solution.
As the ink dries on this historic deal, both governments are positioning themselves for a future of closer military and economic partnership. For Britain, the agreement secures thousands of jobs and keeps vital production lines humming. For Turkey, it provides a crucial stopgap as it waits for its own fifth-generation jets to take to the skies. And for NATO, it signals a renewed commitment to collective security at a time when regional tensions remain high. The coming years will reveal just how transformative this deal will be—not only for the Turkish air force but for the broader geopolitical landscape of Europe and the Middle East.
