Britain edges closer to huge Typhoon jet export to Turkey

The agreement sets the stage for what would be the first Typhoon export order secured by the UK since 2017. According to the Ministry of Defence, the deal would sustain up to 20,000 UK jobs linked to the Typhoon programme and contribute to NATO’s collective defence posture.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The UK’s production of Typhoon fighter jets is an engine for economic growth – supporting the lives and livelihoods of thousands of British people right across the UK. Signing a multi-billion export deal with Türkiye will sustain and protect 20,000 UK jobs for future years to come.”

The Defence Secretary described the signing as a key delivery step under the government’s Strategic Defence Review, which identified defence exports as a central pillar of national security and economic policy. “Today’s agreement is a big step towards Türkiye buying UK Typhoon fighter jets,” John Healey said. “It shows this government’s determination to secure new defence deals, building on our relationships abroad to deliver for British working people.”

As part of the planned export deal, around 37 percent of each Typhoon aircraft would be manufactured in the UK. BAE Systems would lead final production at its Warton facility, supported by components such as radars from Edinburgh and engines from Bristol.

Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive of BAE Systems, said: “This Memorandum of Understanding underscores the importance of long-standing defence cooperation through NATO and the critical role Typhoon plays in security and defence in Europe and the Middle East.”

The agreement builds on existing defence-industrial ties between the UK and Türkiye. It also marks a new operational focus for the Ministry of Defence, which will assume responsibility for defence exports from 31 July 2025.

UK defence exports were valued at £14.5 billion over the most recent 12-month period, say the UK Government in a news update on this topic. The MoU with Türkiye is expected to strengthen both national defence capabilities and bilateral industrial cooperation, they added.