With IDEF approaching, British officials express strong optimism about a Typhoon sale to Türkiye, as recent high-level meetings in Ankara raise expectations.
With days remaining until Türkiye’s largest international defence exhibition, IDEF, British officials and industry leaders have intensified their reassurances regarding the future of the Eurofighter Typhoon programme—signalling optimism about a potential agreement with Ankara.
BAE Systems Typhoon programme director Richard Hamilton recently told British media he was “really confident” new export deals were imminent, listing Türkiye among the likely buyers alongside Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The company hopes for up to 150 additional Typhoon orders, with a significant portion to be assembled in the UK. “I want to build more Typhoons here, and I believe we will,” Hamilton said.
The political dimension of this optimism was reinforced by high-level engagements in Ankara. On July 4, Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler officially met with Charles Woodburn, the CEO of BAE Systems, and Jill Morris, the UK Ambassador. General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, the head of the Turkish Air Force, was also there.
The timing of the visit signals that the current talks over the Eurofighter are proceeding well, even if no public information was given.
There haven't been any formal announcements yet, but the body language of Turkish officials and the increased diplomatic activity between the UK and Türkiye suggest that something big is about to happen.
In Türkiye, only the President normally makes big announcements like the sale of the KAAN fighter to Indonesia.
For twenty years, the Royal Air Force has used the Eurofighter Typhoon. Now, it is undergoing improvements to its radar and mission systems.
A Turkish purchase might help BAE Systems and the UK government keep hundreds of jobs and keep manufacturing lines running at Warton. This is important since the Unite union has highlighted worries about a lack of new orders.
Author:Özgür Ekşi
