Keir Starmer has finalized a significant £8 billion agreement with Turkey to procure UK Typhoon fighter jets. The deal was sealed during the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Ankara for discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. According to Downing Street, this multibillion-pound contract for 20 UK Typhoon jets marks the first new order of these aircraft since 2017.
The agreement, slated for initial deliveries in 2030, is expected to create 20,000 job opportunities in the UK while enhancing NATO security measures. Starmer expressed his satisfaction with the deal, emphasizing its positive impact on British workers, the defense industry, and NATO’s security framework.
The accord signifies the culmination of lengthy negotiations, with Ankara expressing interest in acquiring Typhoons as far back as 2023. Earlier in July, UK Defence Secretary John Healey inked a memorandum of understanding with his Turkish counterpart, setting the stage for the export deal following Germany’s participation.
The Typhoon jets, also known as Eurofighters, are a collaborative effort between the UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy. Healey, who accompanied the Prime Minister during the negotiations, hailed the agreement as a significant boost to the UK’s export profile, marking the largest jet export deal in a generation.
Healey highlighted the economic benefits of the deal, stressing its long-term impact on British Typhoon production lines. He also underscored the broader implications of the agreement, emphasizing the deepening defense and industrial ties between the UK and Turkey.
By equipping Turkey with advanced Typhoon fighter jets, a crucial NATO ally and Black Sea gatekeeper, the deal is expected to reinforce NATO’s deterrence capabilities and enhance overall security. Healey expressed the government’s commitment to leveraging defense as a catalyst for economic growth across the UK.