The UK has secured an £8bn arms export deal to supply 20 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Turkey. This marks the UK’s largest fighter jet sale in almost two decades and a major boost for the country’s defense manufacturing sector.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who signed the deal alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Monday, hailed it as “a victory for British workers, a victory for our defense industry and a victory for NATO security.”
The deal, reached after months of high-level diplomacy, is expected to secure 8,000 jobs across the UK, securing production at BAE Systems’ factories in Warton and Samlesbury, Lancashire, as well as jobs at Rolls-Royce in Bristol and at suppliers across Scotland and the South West.
“This is a milestone,” said Sir Keir. “I am proud that British Typhoons will continue to be an important part of the Turkish Air Force for many years to come, defending NATO’s southeastern flank for the benefit of all of us.”
Developed jointly by Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain, the Eurofighter Typhoon remains one of the most advanced multi-role combat aircraft in the world. Around 37% of each aircraft is built in the UK, with final assembly carried out by BAE Systems.
The government said the order – the first new Typhoon export since 2017 – will “keep Britain’s production lines running well into the future” and bring billions of pounds of value to the wider economy.
John Healey, defense secretary, called it “the biggest jet export deal in a generation” and added: “It will pump billions of pounds into our economy and secure high-skilled engineering jobs for years to come.”
Charles Woodburn, CEO of BAE Systems, welcomed the announcement, describing it as “the beginning of a new chapter in our long-standing relationship with a key NATO ally.”
He added: “Investing in defense not only strengthens security – it also drives significant economic growth, innovation and supply chain resilience across the UK.”
The agreement comes at a time when NATO is seeking to strengthen its southern and eastern defenses amid ongoing instability in the Middle East and tensions with Russia.
For Turkey, the acquisition represents a significant improvement in its air force capabilities after the country was excluded from the F-35 program in 2019 due to a dispute over the purchase of Russian missile systems.
President Erdoğan called the agreement “a new symbol of strategic relations between Turkey and the UK,” signaling closer bilateral defense cooperation and an alignment with NATO priorities.
The partnership also strengthens the UK’s position as a key defense supplier to Ankara, as both nations work together on energy, trade and regional security issues.
The first jets are scheduled to be delivered in 2030, with the agreement including an option for additional aircraft. The order follows a preliminary agreement signed in July for up to 40 Typhoon, with the first tranche now officially confirmed.
The Typhoons are manufactured in collaboration with the Eurofighter consortium and require approval from all four member states – Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain – before delivery.
The aircraft will be equipped with next-generation radar and avionics developed by Leonardo UK and MBDA, the rocket manufacturer behind the Meteor and Brimstone systems.
The UK aerospace and defense industry, worth over £24 billion annually, supports more than 130,000 jobs across the country. The Typhoon program alone employs around 20,000 highly skilled positions, including 9,000 at BAE Systems.
The government said the agreement underlines its commitment to using defense exports as a lever for industrial growth, supporting the Buy British, Build British agenda and strengthening the UK’s reputation as a global defense exporter.
The £8 billion package will directly support:
• 6,000 jobs in Lancashire at BAE Systems’ Warton and Samlesbury factories
• 1,100 jobs in the southwest, including at Rolls-Royce Bristol
• 800 supply chain jobs across Scotland
The order will also strengthen smaller suppliers in the UK aerospace sector, from precision engineering firms to electronics manufacturers.
The deal with Turkey follows renewed efforts by the UK to expand its defense export presence. It builds on previous Typhoon contracts with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and complements Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) partnerships with Japan and Italy.
Defense analysts say the Turkish order could help sustain Typhoon production over the next decade while bridging the transition to the sixth-generation Tempest fighter, scheduled to enter service in the 2030s.
Dr. Alex Walmsley, defense analyst at RUSI, said: “This agreement is hugely important for maintaining the UK’s aerospace industrial base and export credibility. It also signals a deepening relationship between the UK and Turkey at a strategically important moment for NATO.”
The signing by Ankara marks Sir Keir Starmer’s first official visit to Turkey as Prime Minister and a major initial success in his foreign policy agenda.
Officials said the deal showed “Global Britain in action” – combining industrial strength with international diplomacy to exert both economic and strategic influence.
As Britain prepares to deliver the aircraft by the end of the decade, the Typhoon deal is seen as one of the most visible symbols of Britain’s renewed push for export-led industrial growth and defense cooperation.
