ISTANBUL— Turkey recently took a substantial stride towards the acquisition of the Eurofighter Typhoon. This decision would not only enhance its defence capabilities but also sustain production of the multirole combat aircraft.
During the International Defence Industry Fair in Istanbul on 23 July, the United Kingdom (UK) and Turkey’s Defence Ministry executed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
The Turkish Government and BAE Systems have entered into an agreement to expedite the process of negotiating a formal Typhoon purchase.
Photo: EurofighterTurkey Signs MoU with UK for the Eurofighter Typhoon
Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler and UK Defence Secretary John Healy signed the MoU to enhance defence cooperation and facilitate discussions regarding Turkey’s prospective participation in the Eurofighter program.
The UK Ministry of Defence stated that the pact formalises the strengthening defence partnership between the two countries. It also moves both sides closer to reaching a comprehensive agreement on the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Photo: EurofighterTyphoon’s UK Production Facility Risks Shut Down
Under the leadership of BAE Systems, the United Kingdom has been spearheading the export campaign to supply Turkey with the Eurofighter Typhoon.
BAE intends to maintain the continuity of its final assembly operations by assembling the aircraft at its production facility in northwest England.
A new order from Turkey is considered essential for maintaining the UK’s Typhoon production facility. Considering the absence of any domestic orders for the multirole combat aircraft, it risks shutting down.
Photo: EurofighterSaving Jobs and Boosting Defence Cooperation
The Eurofighter consortium, comprising the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain, has encountered an array of demand among its member nations.
Defence unions expressed worry regarding job security at BAE’s manufacturing facilities due to the absence of new domestic orders. An agreement with Turkey would alleviate these pressures and reaffirm the Typhoon’s long-term relevance.
BAE Systems CEO Charles Woodburn welcomed the agreement, highlighting its role in strengthening NATO ties and enhancing regional security in Europe and the Middle East.
Woodburn noted that the MoU reflects the enduring defence cooperation between the nations and reinforces the Eurofighter Typhoon’s vital contribution to collective defence efforts.
Photo: EurofighterImportant Fighter Jet for Turkey
BAE Systems confirmed that it will maintain a close liaison with both governments in order to finalise the procurement terms.
The MoU formalises Turkey’s intent and signals a transition from interest to active negotiation. This is despite knowing that the MoU does not constitute an official purchase contract.
Expected in the forthcoming months are the formalisation of contract terms, which will encompass the quantity of aircraft and the delivery schedule.
Upon its conclusion, the agreement would be Turkey’s first important combat aircraft order since being ousted by the United States from the F-35 program in 2019.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
Belgium Orders New and Most Expensive Fighter Jet in the World for $1.95 Billion
The post Turkey Shows Interest in This Multirole Fighter Jet appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
