Türkiye sought Eurofighters after uncertainty over US F-16 buy: Report
ANKARA: Türkiye began discussing buying 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets with European states after it saw that its request for F-16 jets from the United States may not work out, a Turkish defence ministry source said on Thursday (Nov 23).
Defence Minister Yasar Guler said last week that Türkiye was in talks with Britain and Spain to buy Eurofighter Typhoon jets, though Germany objected to the idea.
Guler was holding talks on the issue with his British counterpart Grant Shapps in Ankara on Thursday, the source said. Türkiye wants to buy the most advanced, newly built version of the Eurofighter, he added.
NATO member Türkiye requested in October 2021 to buy 40 Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 fighters and 79 modernisation kits for its existing warplanes.
President Joe Biden’s administration supports the US$20-billion sale, but there has been objections in the US Congress over Türkiye’s delaying of NATO enlargement and its human rights record.
Türkiye has informed NATO that the ratification of Sweden’s membership bid will not be completed by the alliance’s foreign ministers meeting next week, further complicating matters.
“Turkish air forces are in need of new aircraft. Our first choice is F-16s … But considering the possibility that we might not get a positive response in this prolonged process, the Eurofighter Typhoon jets are the most suitable alternatives to F-16s,” the source said.
“The (officials from) the UK say that they could help convincing Germany to back down their objections,” he added.
The Eurofighter Typhoon jets are built by a consortium of Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain, represented by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo.
