UK steps towards Typhoon exports to Türkiye

Image courtesy BAE Systems 

Building on years of defence cooperation, they have agreed that a future Typhoon exports deal would strengthen Türkiye’s advanced combat capabilities and help sustain the 20,000 UK jobs involved in the Typhoon programme here at home.

Negotiations on the potential deal with Türkiye will now continue over the coming weeks. It would be the first export order the UK has secured for Typhoon since 2017.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "The UK’s production of Typhoon fighter jets is an engine for economic growth – supporting the lives and livelihoods of thousands of British people right across the UK. 

"Signing a multibillion export deal with Türkiye will sustain and protect 20,000 UK jobs for future years to come – which is why my government is so dedicated to securing it. It will bolster our vital defence industry, deliver on our Plan for Change and keep us and our allies safer during these uncertain times."

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: "Today’s agreement is a big step towards Türkiye buying UK Typhoon fighter jets. It shows this government’s determination to secure new defence deals, building on our relationships abroad to deliver for British working people.

"Equipping Türkiye with Typhoons would strengthen NATO’s collective defence and boost both our countries’ industrial bases by securing thousands of skilled jobs across the UK for years to come.

"Last month’s Strategic Defence Review stressed the importance of exports, and now with our new defence exports office, we are developing defence’s role as an engine for economic growth as a foundation of the government’s Plan for Change.” 

It comes as the Defence Secretary John Healey makes the drive for new defence export deals a high priority.

The Ministry of Defence is preparing to take on responsibility for defence exports from 31st July, in a significant step of delivery for the Strategic Defence Review. The defence exports team will back British businesses on the global stage, drive potential exports and seek to enhance economic growth.

The latest statistics show UK defence exports were valued at £14.5 billion in just a 12-month period. Following the SDR’s direction, it moves responsibility for defence exports from the Department for Business and Trade, making the MoD the lead for securing deals for military equipment with our allies.

The Typhoon workshare agreement would see more than a third (37%) of each aircraft manufactured in the UK, the rest of each aircraft would be produced by the Eurofighter Partner Nations. Final production at BAE Systems’ Warton site would include radars from Edinburgh and engines from Bristol, helping secure thousands of UK jobs.

The aircraft plays a key role at the heart of NATO operations and provides air policing along Europe’s eastern flank. During 2023 and 2024, Typhoon aircraft delivered 80% of operational missions conducted by the Eurofighter partner nations, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, underlining operators’ confidence in its performance. 

BAE Systems plays a key role in the development, production and support of Typhoon aircraft for a number of air forces around the world, with much of the work carried out at the Company’s sites in Lancashire. 

Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive, BAE Systems said: "This Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of Türkiye and the UK underscores the importance of their long-standing defence cooperation through NATO and the critical role Typhoon plays in security and defence in Europe and the Middle East."

The UK also continues to invest in its own world-class Typhoon fleet, which will remain the backbone of the UK’s air defence until at least the 2040s. The RAF’s existing Typhoons are being upgraded over the next 15 years, supporting skilled jobs across the UK.