Turkey announced that talks with Qatar and Oman for the acquisition of Eurofighter Typhoon fighters are continuing, days after signing a contract with Britain for the purchase of 20 aircraft of the same type, reports “Reuters“, quoted by News.bg.
The agreement between NATO allies Turkey and Britain aims to deepen bilateral relations and strengthen Turkey's air defense. In addition to the new aircraft, Ankara is seeking to secure 24 more used Eurofighters from Qatar and Oman to cover the immediate needs of its air force.
According to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the value of the deal with London amounts to 8 billion pounds ($10.7 billion), while the Turkish Defense Ministry specified that the real value is 5.4 billion pounds, including the aircraft, equipment and ammunition.
According to Reuters, the contract includes a weapons package with MBDA Meteor air-to-air missiles and Brimstone air-to-ground missiles. British company BAE Systems will manufacture the main components of the aircraft, carry out final assembly and manage the integration of the weapons systems at its facilities in Lancashire.
“The weapons package will be provided primarily by MBDA, and the integration will allow compatibility with Turkish systems“, BAE Systems said in a statement.
The first batch of 20 fighters is expected to be delivered in 2030, while negotiations with Qatar and Oman continue to cover the more urgent operational needs of the Turkish Air Force.
“Work on the acquisition of Eurofighter Typhoon fighters from Qatar and Oman continues to meet the tasks of our air force“, the Turkish Defense Ministry said in a statement.