Germany has cleared the way for the delivery of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey following a positive decision by the federal security council, Der Spiegel magazine reported on Wednesday.
Turkey has been in talks to purchase Eurofighter Typhoon jets, built by a consortium of Germany, Britain, Italy, and Spain and represented by companies Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo. Germany had been hesitant in approving the sale of the fifth-generation fighters due to reservations about Ankara’s human rights record.
The German government has now signaled support, potentially clearing the path for an agreement to be unveiled at the International Defense Industry Fair in Istanbul, which begins on Tuesday and runs until Sunday.
Turkey pressed Germany to approve Eurofighter deal
Turkey has been relentlessly lobbying the German administration for a green light, and it appears to finally be paying off, as hinted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on July 17 during a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London, where the two leaders signed the “friendship treaty.”
Merz said the two countries have made progress in the potential sale of jointly produced military equipment. When probed on whether the newly signed treaty would facilitate the export of jointly produced systems, such as Eurofighter jets, and if Berlin would approve the potential sale to Turkey, Merz acknowledged progress but did not mention Ankara directly.
Earlier this week, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Germany and Britain had taken a positive stance on the sale of the jets, adding that Ankara wanted to finalize the purchase as soon as possible. Citing sources familiar with the negotiations, The Wall Street Journal said the order could be worth up to $5.6 billion and include as many as 40 jets, though the final number and specifications remain under discussion.
Eurofighter Typhoon to bolster Turkish air force
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a highly capable and agile swing-role combat aircraft, adept at both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions. Powered by two Eurojet EJ200 turbofans, it can achieve supersonic speeds and deliver impressive thrust.
Equipped with a wide array of air-to-air missiles such as Meteor and ASRAAM, alongside air-to-surface weapons like the Paveway IV and Storm Shadow, the Typhoon offers exceptional operational flexibility and combat effectiveness. The acquisition of these cutting-edge fighters would significantly bolster the combat capability of the Turkish Air Force, which is currently composed of aging F-16 C/D procured from the US.
Turkey has been eager to secure fighter jet contracts in response to Greece’s procurement of Rafale jets and the impending acquisition of F-35 stealth fighters. In addition to the Eurofighter Typhoon, Turkey has its sights set on the American F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which has also remained out of bounds for the country’s aging air force.
Turkey was sanctioned by the US, a NATO ally, under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). However, it never abandoned its pursuit of the F-35, and six years after this debacle, Turkey is now resetting ties with the US and lobbying to secure the coveted fifth-generation stealth aircraft from Washington. Late last month, Turkish President Recep Erdogan stated that his country has not abandoned its pursuit of the F-35 fighter jet and has communicated its intention to rejoin the F-35 consortium.
Related: Turkey Receives Major Arms Boost From Germany
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