Germany has officially initiated the process of selling Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Turkey, marking a significant shift after previous opposition to the deal. A designated “sales authority” has been appointed to facilitate the potential transaction of 40 jets, with expectations that the process will gain momentum, as reported by Reuters, citing a source within the Turkish defense ministry.
According to the source, the technical discussions surrounding the acquisition of the Eurofighter Typhoon are ongoing, as Turkey views the aircraft as a viable alternative to meet the operational requirements of its Air Force. This development comes on the heels of an announcement by Turkish Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler, who noted that Germany has eased its objections to the sale, primarily due to diplomatic efforts by the UK, Spain, and Italy. These three nations are part of the Eurofighter consortium that collaborates in the manufacturing of the jets alongside Germany.
Germany’s initial hesitance to support the sale stemmed from a variety of concerns regarding Turkish policies, particularly Ankara’s stance toward Israel, military operations against Syrian Kurdish groups, and its procurement of the Russian S-400 air defense systems. These issues have historically strained relations between Turkey and its Western allies.
Turkey’s interest in acquiring the Eurofighter jets began last year, primarily as a safeguard against potential setbacks in the sale of F-16 jets from the United States. The F-16 deal emerged as a pivotal focus for Turkey after it was excluded from the F-35 program due to its acquisition of the Russian S-400 system. Earlier this year, Turkey confirmed a sale of F-16s, along with the procurement of 79 modernization kits aimed at upgrading its existing fleet of F-16 aircraft.
The Eurofighter jets are viewed as a temporary solution for the Turkish military until the development of the indigenous fifth-generation TAI Kaan fighter jet reaches operational readiness. The move to secure Western fighter jets underscores Turkey’s strategic efforts to diversify its military capabilities amidst complex geopolitical dynamics.
