Turkey has moved closer to a long-awaited order for the Eurofighter Typhoon, a deal that would secure a vital export win for the multi-role type.
Ankara has yet to formalise its interest in the Typhoon but on 23 July agreed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK to progress the commitment.
Signed by Turkish defence minister Yasar Guler and his counterpart John Healey at the International Defence Industry Fair in Istanbul, the pact “codifies the relationship between the countries, taking them one step closer to a full agreement on Typhoon”.
“Both ministers welcome the signature as a positive step towards bringing Turkey into the Typhoon club and share a mutual ambition to conclude the necessary arrangements as soon as possible,” says the UK Ministry of Defence.
London has been leading the Turkish export campaign, with the jets to be assembled by BAE Systems in northwest England.
Absent any new commitment from its domestic customer, an order from Ankara is seen as vital to maintain BAE’s final assembly capabilities.
At present, the UK is the only one of the four Eurofighter partner nations without an outstanding Typhoon order book, leading to union fears over jobs.
Hailing the agreement, Charles Woodburn, BAE chief executive, describes the MoU between the pair as underscoring the “importance of their long-standing defence co-operation through NATO and the critical role Typhoon plays in security and defence in Europe and the Middle East”.
BAE says it “will continue to work closely with the governments of Turkey and the UK to formalise an agreement for procurement of Typhoon aircraft and associated supplies in due course”.
