Turkish Eurofighter Typhoon Production Begins as Pilots Start UK Training
With BAE Systems’ August half-year results confirming that manufacturing of Türkiye’s Eurofighter Typhoons has begun in the UK, Turkish aircrew have also started training in Britain as the programme shifts from paperwork to hardware.
At a Glance
- BAE Systems confirmed on July 30 that component manufacture for Türkiye’s 20 Eurofighter Typhoons has started at its Samlesbury site in Lancashire.
- Turkish aircrew began training in the UK’s Typhoon programme as of August 2026.
- Delivery of the first 20 aircraft is expected in 2030; Türkiye has also ordered 20 more jets under the newer Tranche 5 batch, with deliveries planned for 2031-2034.
- The combined value of both order blocks is estimated at around $10.7 billion.
- A planned transfer of second-hand Tranche 3A aircraft from Qatar as a “bridge fleet” was paused earlier this year amid regional tensions.
Background
Türkiye’s pivot to the Eurofighter Typhoon traces back to its 2019 removal from the F-35 programme following the purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defence system, a decision that cancelled the planned delivery of 100 F-35As to the Turkish Air Force and pushed Ankara toward an alternative fighter. After lengthy negotiations, Türkiye and the UK signed an initial letter of intent in 2025, which has since matured into a firm production and delivery schedule. BAE Systems’ half-year report confirming that manufacturing is underway, alongside the start of UK-based training for Turkish pilots, marks the programme’s shift from planning to execution. The Tranche 5 batch, jointly ordered with Germany, Spain and Italy, is part of a larger 89-aircraft European order.
What It Means for Türkiye
The Typhoon fleet offers Türkiye a bridging solution to close the air-power gap left by its F-35 exclusion. However, a delivery timeline stretching to 2030 means the Turkish Air Force will remain dependent on modernising its existing F-16 fleet and on the KAAN programme maturing in the interim. Starting pilot training in the UK now is a deliberate step to shorten the time to operational readiness once deliveries arrive. The partnership also deepens Türkiye’s defence-industrial integration with its European NATO allies, while the suspension of the Qatari bridge-fleet transfer illustrates how regional geopolitics can directly disrupt supply arrangements.
FAQ
How many Eurofighter Typhoons has Türkiye ordered?
20 in the initial batch plus 20 more under Tranche 5 — 40 aircraft total, with deliveries spread across 2030-2034.
When will Turkish pilots start flying the jet?
Training began in the UK in August 2026; operational flying awaits the first deliveries in 2030.
Why was the Qatari bridge-fleet transfer paused?
Qatar suspended it in spring 2026 amid regional security concerns following the US-Israel air campaign against Iran.
Sources
- Defence Security Asia, “Türkiye Accelerates Eurofighter Typhoon Deal After F-35 Fallout — $10.7B Airpower Pivot Reshapes Eastern Mediterranean Balance”
- Quwa Group, “Türkiye’s First Eurofighter Typhoons Are Now Being Built”
- Militarnyi, “Production of Eurofighter Typhoon Begins for Turkey: Deliveries Expected in 2030”
