Turkish National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and his British counterpart, Defense Secretary John Healey, signed a technical and logistical support agreement for the maintenance and operation of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets on Wednesday, solidifying a deepening defense partnership between the two NATO allies.

The signing took place during Güler's official visit to the British capital, where the two ministers also discussed broader defense cooperation. The Turkish Ministry of National Defense confirmed that the agreement covers the sustainment and operational readiness of the Eurofighter aircraft, marking a significant step forward in Ankara's ambitious air force modernization program .

Wednesday's signing represents the third implementation document of a broader agreement initially finalized in October 2025, when Türkiye signed an £8 billion ($10.7 billion) deal with the United Kingdom to acquire 20 new-build Eurofighter Typhoon jets .

The procurement, announced last year by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Ankara, was hailed by Starmer as a measure that would "bolster security across NATO, deepen our bilateral defense cooperation, and boost economic growth," securing approximately 20,000 British jobs in the process .

The new support agreement ensures that Türkiye will have the necessary technical and logistical infrastructure to operate and maintain the advanced fighter fleet effectively. Under the terms of the deal, 40 Eurofighters will be assembled in the United Kingdom, with components supplied from Germany .

The path to the agreement was cleared after Germany's new government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz lifted a previous veto on the sale. The previous German administration had repeatedly blocked similar sales, most recently in April, citing concerns over democratic backsliding in Türkiye . Bloomberg reported on March 18 that the German Federal Security Council had approved the deal during a recent meeting .

Britain, a leading partner in the four-nation Eurofighter consortium that includes Germany, Italy, and Spain, has been Türkiye's most vocal supporter throughout the negotiation process .

While the 20 new Typhoons are scheduled for delivery after 2030, Türkiye is pursuing a multi-stage strategy to accelerate the modernization of its air force. Ankara has also reached agreements with Qatar and Oman to acquire 24 second-hand Eurofighter jets, with the first aircraft from Qatar expected to arrive in the coming weeks .

Turkish media reports indicate that Turkish pilots have already begun training on the Eurofighter platform, and the first used jets are slated for delivery by the end of February, enabling the Turkish Air Force to begin familiarization and integration work well before the arrival of the new-build aircraft .

The total planned Eurofighter fleet currently stands at 44 aircraft, though defense analysts suggest the number could rise to 56 if additional negotiations yield positive results . Türkiye plans to operate these jets alongside its fleet of U.S.-made F-16s and its domestically developed fifth-generation KAAN fighter, which is expected to enter service in 2028 .

The deepening defense cooperation was underscored by remarks from Lord Vernon Coaker, the UK Minister of State for Defense, who spoke on the sidelines of the signing ceremony. Coaker declared that "NATO is Türkiye," emphasizing Ankara's indispensable role within the alliance .

"We work very closely with Türkiye," Coaker told Anadolu Agency, adding that the relationship has rapidly ascended to the top of Whitehall's priority list. "We understand its importance, and we respect it enormously for the work that it does within NATO" .

The UK's newly launched 2026 Defense Diplomacy Strategy is built on a "NATO First" principle, explicitly citing the record-breaking fighter jet agreement with Türkiye as a benchmark for future engagements that aim to bolster the alliance's "industrial resilience" .

Türkiye plans to acquire the latest Tranche 4 version of the Eurofighter Typhoon for its new-build aircraft, featuring advanced CAPTOR-E AESA radar, long-range Meteor air-to-air missiles, Brimstone air-to-ground missiles, and a modernized suite of weapons and avionics systems . The package also includes advanced missile systems from MBDA, a European consortium in which France plays a key role .

The acquisition represents Türkiye's first major combat aircraft purchase from non-U.S. sources in 75 years and signals a significant diplomatic and industrial realignment within Europe's defense landscape . The move comes as Türkiye continues to face restrictions on its participation in the U.S. F-35 program following its acquisition of Russian S-400 missile systems in 2019 .

The Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced that both ministers expressed their mutual commitment to further strengthening defense cooperation in the coming period . As Türkiye accelerates its multi-pronged air force modernization strategy, the Eurofighter Typhoon is set to play a central role in bridging capability gaps until the indigenous KAAN fighter reaches operational status. (ILKHA)