President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is reportedly closing in on a deal to acquire up to 24 used Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets from Qatar, marking a major step in Ankara’s long-delayed modernization drive. The move coincides with Turkey’s ongoing negotiations for new-build Tranche 4 jets and Meteor air-to-air missiles directly from the Eurofighter consortium. The United Kingdom is mediating the Gulf transfer, with Tranche 3A airframes on offer, after years of export hurdles created by Germany’s earlier opposition.
Airbus recently confirmed that Berlin will no longer block the deal, removing a significant obstacle that had stalled direct Eurofighter sales to Turkey. As a result, the Qatari and Omani fleets now present the fastest route for Ankara to acquire the aircraft, ensuring quicker deployment and capability upgrades for the Turkish Air Force.
Qatar’s Typhoons, delivered from 2022 onward, belong to the latest Tranche 3A configuration, featuring the advanced Praetorian electronic warfare suite and PIRATE infrared search and track system. Oman’s 12 Tranche 3 jets, accepted by 2019, also remain viable for re-export pending approval from all four Eurofighter partner nations—Germany, the UK, Italy, and Spain. For Turkey, immediate aircraft availability is a key advantage, particularly as F-16 Block 70 deliveries from the United States are not expected until late in the decade.
