Signed during Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s first visit to Ankara, the agreement was finalised alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and strengthens NATO’s collective defence in a key region. The aircraft will bolster Türkiye’s advanced combat capabilities and enhance interoperability between NATO air forces.
“This landmark agreement with Türkiye is a win for British workers, a win for our defence industry, and a win for NATO security,” said Prime Minister Starmer. “Delivering highly skilled, well-paid jobs, including in Warton, Edinburgh and Bristol for years to come, this is yet another example of our Plan for Change in action, driving renewal and opportunity up and down the country.”
Under the agreement, BAE Systems will manufacture major airframe components and lead the final assembly and weapons integration at its sites in Warton and Samlesbury. The work will sustain more than 20,000 jobs across the UK, including nearly 6,000 at BAE Systems facilities in Lancashire, more than 1,100 in the South West with Rolls-Royce in Bristol, and over 800 in Scotland through Leonardo in Edinburgh.
The Typhoon workshare agreement allocates 37% of aircraft manufacturing to the UK, with the remainder produced by Eurofighter partner nations. BAE Systems expects to recognise around £4.6 billion from the deal, including its shareholding in MBDA.
Defence Secretary John Healey, who accompanied the Prime Minister in Türkiye, said: “This is another major export deal for the UK and is the biggest jet exports deal in a generation. It will pump billions of pounds into our economy and keep British Typhoon production lines turning long into the future.” He added: “Türkiye is an important NATO ally and the gatekeeper to the Black Sea. By equipping them with top-of-the-range Typhoon fighter jets, this deal will strengthen NATO deterrence and help make us all safer.”
Türkiye’s order marks the first new international purchase of UK Typhoons since 2017 and makes the Turkish Air Force the tenth global operator of the aircraft, joining the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The first delivery is expected in 2030.
Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive of BAE Systems, said: “Türkiye’s procurement of Typhoon marks the start of a new chapter in our longstanding relationship with this important NATO ally and reinforces the outstanding operational support the aircraft delivers across Europe and the Middle East as a fundamental pillar of defence and security.” He added: “Typhoon is an export success story and demonstrates how investment in defence can fuel significant economic growth and returns across the UK. Today’s announcement extends Typhoon production and preserves crucial sovereign skills which underpin the UK’s defence and security.”
The Typhoon jets continue to play a central role in RAF operations, including NATO Air Policing, homeland airspace protection through Quick Reaction Alert, and combat support in Operation Shader against Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
