Turkey's Eurofighter Typhoon Production Begins: An £8 Billion Defense Move

Turkey has moved to the production phase in its Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet procurement program, initiated to strengthen its air force. In a statement on November 5, British defense company BAE Systems announced that assembly of the forward fuselage section of the first aircraft to be produced for Turkey has begun at its Samlesbury facility in the UK. This development is seen as a concrete step in Ankara's plan to support its air power with next-generation platforms. Under the program, different sections of the aircraft are produced in various European countries. Airbus manufactures the center fuselage in Germany, while other components are prepared at different European facilities. Dave Ward, BAE Systems' vice president responsible for Turkey, described the start of production as a significant milestone, stating that the Eurofighter Typhoons will form the backbone of Turkey's future air power and contribute to NATO's deterrence capacity. Within the framework of the agreement signed between Ankara and London in October 2025, Turkey will add 20 Eurofighter Typhoons in Tranche 4 configuration to its inventory. The base agreement is valued at approximately £5.4 billion, while the total program cost, including additional equipment and support services, could reach £8 billion (approximately 460 billion TL). The first aircraft are expected to be delivered in 2030, with the delivery process completed in 2032. According to reports in the Greek press, this development has resonated in the context of air power competition in the Aegean. It is noted that with its Eurofighter choice, Turkey aims to support its air power with modern fighter jets until the domestic KAAN project enters inventory. The Eurofighter Typhoon is a 4.5 generation multirole fighter jet produced by a consortium of the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, and can be used in missions such as air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare. Not investment advice.