Türkiye could have operational Eurofighter Typhoons by 2027 with used jets from Qatar and Oman
November 3, 2025
Türkiye is moving rapidly to bring the Eurofighter Typhoon into service, with officials confirming that the first aircraft could be flying operational missions by early 2027, years ahead of schedule, through the purchase of lightly used jets from Qatar and Oman.
According to reporting in Türkiye Today, security sources have confirmed that at least part of the deal is secured. “We will acquire 12 aircraft from Qatar, and we can say the agreement is finalised,” the source told the publication.
Negotiations with Oman are ongoing, with between 10 and 12 aircraft under discussion.
The used aircraft are described as “lightly flown,” with fewer than 200 flight hours logged in most cases. Deliveries of the Qatari batch could begin as early as 2026, while the Omani jets will undergo maintenance and minor upgrades before transfer.
“Pilot training will also be conducted. There will be approximately five to six months of training,” the source added. “We estimate that the aircraft will be fully combat-ready by the first quarter of 2027.”
Up to 44 Eurofighter Typhoons for Türkiye
Under the plan now being finalised, Türkiye could ultimately field a fleet of 44 Eurofighter Typhoons, including up to 24 second-hand aircraft from its Middle East partners and 20 new-build Typhoons from BAE Systems in the UK.
The arrangement ensures that Turkiye’s air force will not have to wait another five years before receiving fresh fighters from Britain.
While the older aircraft from Oman and Qatar use earlier radar systems, the new Typhoons to be built for Turkiye are expected to feature an advanced active electronically scanned array radar, improving range and detection.
The weapons package includes Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles and Brimstone precision strike missiles supplied by MBDA.
The Turkish government had long sought to acquire around 40 Typhoons directly from the Eurofighter consortium, which also includes Germany, Italy and Spain. That process had stalled over German objections, which were finally resolved in July this year.
By turning to its Gulf partners, Turkiye has found a pragmatic way to meet short-term defence needs while keeping its larger order intact. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed during his recent Gulf tour that discussions were progressing “positively,” describing them as technically detailed but moving “in the right direction.”
According to TurDef, the United Kingdom – as the primary export authority for all Eurofighter sales – is overseeing the broader framework of the deal.
Cost of Turkiye’s Typhoon deal clarified
Officials familiar with the transaction have also moved to counter speculation about inflated pricing. They emphasised that Ankara is buying the aircraft at roughly the same cost that manufacturing nations pay for their own fleets.
“The aircraft were acquired at a price close to what the producing countries procure them at,” one security source said. “This was an important and fair deal, achieved under competitive conditions, and designed to make the aircraft combat-ready in the shortest possible time.”
The package for the 20 new jets, including weapons, spares, and pilot training, is valued at about £5.4 billion ($7 billion). The British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has cited £8 billion ($10.5 billion) in media reports, causing some confusion about what Türkiye was charged for its purchase.
“The British Prime Minister’s statement of £8 billion represents this agreement’s side revenues to the British economy and the potential contribution it will provide through new contracts in the coming period,” the security source clarified.
If deliveries and training proceed as planned, Türkiye will become the tenth nation to operate the Eurofighter Typhoon. The first ex-Qatar aircraft could arrive as early as next year, giving Ankara its most advanced fighters yet before the domestically produced KAAN enters service later in the decade.
