Turkey and the United Kingdom have signed a new training and support agreement for Eurofighter Typhoon jets, marking the next phase of Ankara’s planned purchase of 20 fighter aircraft under a multibillion-dollar defense deal signed last year.
Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and British Defense Secretary John Healey signed the agreement in London today following bilateral and delegation-level meetings, according to statements from both governments.
The deal covers technical and logistical support for the operation and maintenance of the aircraft.
Millî Savunma Bakanı Yaşar Güler ve Birleşik Krallık Savunma Bakanı John Healey Londra’da bir araya geldi.
Birleşik Krallık Savunma Bakanlığındaki toplantıda her iki Bakan önce baş başa görüşme gerçekleştirdi müteakiben de heyetler arası görüşmeye başkanlık etti.
Görüşmelerin… pic.twitter.com/9N6EbT8w9T
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) March 25, 2026
Turkey and the United Kingdom signed the agreement for the sale of 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, valued at £8 billion, nearly $11 billion, during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Ankara on October 27.
The support agreement signed Wednesday builds on that deal.
The UK government said in a statement on Wednesday that the support agreement includes training for Turkish Air Force personnel, with 10 pilots and nearly 100 technicians set to be trained in the United Kingdom.
The training will cover mechanical systems, avionics, weapons and mission systems.
The contract also includes long-term maintenance support, spare parts production and the provision of training simulators and electronic warfare capabilities. British companies including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Leonardo UK are expected to be involved.
“This partnership does not just export world-leading British-built jets, it builds alliances, grows our economy and makes NATO stronger,” Healey said in a statement, adding that Turkey’s decision to acquire the jets was “a vote of confidence in British industry and British jobs.”
Simon Barnes, group managing director of BAE Systems’ air sector, said the agreement would deepen cooperation between the two countries.
“We’re proud to support the UK’s partnership with Türkiye by delivering a trusted defence capability that deepens collaboration and reinforces shared security commitments,” Barnes said.
“Türkiye’s acquisition of Typhoon strengthens this partnership and enhances the country’s advanced combat air capabilities,” he added, saying the company was “delighted to play a key role” in preparing Turkish forces to operate the aircraft.
The broader agreement has been presented by both sides as a significant step in expanding defense cooperation between the two NATO allies.
“This is a really significant deal because it’s £8 billion worth of orders,” Starmer said at the time, adding that the agreement would support jobs in the UK for years.
He also said the deal would “bolster security across NATO” and deepen defense cooperation between the two countries.
The British Defense Ministry previously described the agreement as “the biggest fighter jet deal in a generation,” highlighting its role in strengthening Turkey’s air combat capabilities and NATO’s defenses.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the deal “a new symbol of the strategic relations” between Ankara and London and thanked the Eurofighter consortium partners — Germany, Italy and Spain — for their support.
Ankara has been seeking to modernize its air force since it was removed from the US-led F-35 program in 2019 over its purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile system.
Negotiations with London gained momentum after Germany lifted its veto on the Eurofighter sale in mid-2025, clearing the way for the agreement.
British officials said more than one-third of each Typhoon jet will be manufactured in the UK, with production spread across multiple regions and involving hundreds of companies. The overall deal is expected to support around 20,000 jobs.
Turkish officials said the main procurement contract covering the aircraft, equipment and ammunition had already been signed in October 2025.
The newly signed support agreement is expected to facilitate the operational readiness of the jets once deliveries begin.