DefenseFirst ex-Qatar Eurofighter expected to arrive in Turkey in February
Turkey is expected to receive its first Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft from Qatar by the end of February, marking a concrete step in Ankara’s long-running effort to strengthen its combat aviation fleet.
The timeline follows trilateral talks held in Doha involving senior defense officials from Turkey, Qatar and the United Kingdom, according to statements released this week.
The discussions included Turkey’s Air Force commander, Gen. Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, and focused on the practical aspects of the Eurofighter procurement process. The meeting came months after Turkey signed an agreement with the United Kingdom covering the acquisition of 20 new-build Typhoons, a deal valued at around £8 billion.
In parallel with the British order, Ankara plans to supplement its future fleet with secondhand aircraft sourced from regional partners. The current plan foresees the transfer of 12 used Typhoons from Qatar and a further 12 from Oman. Turkish broadcaster NTV reported that delivery of the first ex-Qatar aircraft is expected by late February, adding that pilot training activities have already started.
Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler had previously indicated that the first aircraft from Qatar could arrive in early 2026, suggesting that the process may be moving faster than initially anticipated. By contrast, deliveries of the newly built Typhoons from the UK batch are not expected to begin before 2030, although the agreement includes options for additional aircraft.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is produced by a four-nation European consortium involving the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain, with industrial participation from BAE Systems, Airbus and Leonardo. For Turkey, the Typhoon represents a high-performance stopgap as it seeks to diversify suppliers and hedge against past procurement disruptions.
Ankara’s interest in the Typhoon dates back to 2022, when negotiations with the United States over new F-16 fighters stalled. Although Turkey finalized a separate deal in late 2024 for 40 F-16s, concerns over pricing and delivery schedules have persisted, alongside renewed political interest in rejoining the F-35 program.
Turkey was removed from the F-35 project in 2019 following its purchase of the Russian S-400 air-defense system, a decision Ankara continues to contest. While Turkish officials have recently signaled optimism about a possible reversal, the Eurofighter program offers a more immediate and politically reliable path to reinforcing the air force.
In the longer term, Turkey aims to reduce dependence on foreign combat aircraft altogether. The country is developing its own fifth-generation fighter, known as KAAN, which is intended to replace aging F-16s from the 2030s onward.
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