Britain has signed an £8 billion defense export deal to supply 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey, marking Britain's biggest fighter jet sale in almost two decades and a major boost for the country's defense manufacturing sector.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who signed the deal with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Monday, hailed it as “a win for British workers, a win for our defense industry and a win for NATO security.”
The contract – finalized after months of high-level diplomacy – is expected to support 8,000 jobs across the UK, securing production at BAE Systems plants in Warton and Samlesbury, Lancashire, as well as the role of Rolls-Royce in Bristol and suppliers in Scotland and the South West.
“This is a historic moment,” Sir Keir said. “I am proud that British Typhoons will form a vital part of the Turkish Air Force for many years to come and will defend NATO's south-eastern flank for the good of us all.”
Jointly developed by the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain, the Eurofighter Typhoon is one of the world's most advanced multi-role combat aircraft. About 37% of each aircraft is manufactured in the UK, with final assembly carried out by BAE Systems.
The government said the order – the first new Typhoon export since 2017 – “will keep British production lines running long into the future” and deliver billions of value to the wider economy.
John Healey, the Defense Secretary, called it “the biggest jet export deal in a generation”, adding: “It will invest billions of pounds into our economy and sustain high-skilled engineering jobs for years to come.”
BAE Systems CEO Charles Woodburn welcomed the announcement, calling it “the beginning of a new chapter in our long-term relationship with an important NATO ally.”
He said: “Investing in defense not only strengthens security – it also boosts vital economic growth, innovation and supply chain resilience across the UK.”
The deal comes as NATO seeks to strengthen its southern and eastern security amid ongoing instability in the Middle East and tensions with Russia.
For Turkey, the acquisition represents a significant upgrade to its air force capabilities after the country was kicked out of the F-35 program in 2019 due to controversy over its purchase of Russian missile systems.
President Erdoğan described the deal as “a new symbol of strategic relations between Turkey and the UK”, indicating close bilateral defense cooperation and alignment on NATO priorities.
The partnership also strengthens the UK's position as a major defense supplier to Ankara, with the two countries cooperating on energy, trade and regional security issues.
The first jets are expected to be delivered in 2030, with the agreement also including an option for additional aircraft. The order follows an initial agreement signed in July for up to 40 Typhoons, with the first tranche now formally confirmed.
The Typhoon will be produced in partnership with the Eurofighter Consortium, requiring approval from all four member states – the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain – before delivery.
The aircraft will be equipped with next-generation radar and avionics developed by Leonardo UK and MBDA, the missile manufacturer behind the Meteor and Brimstone systems.
The UK's aerospace and defense industry, worth more than £24 billion annually, supports more than 130,000 jobs across the country. There are approximately 20,000 highly skilled roles in the Typhoon program alone, 9,000 of which are within BAE Systems.
The government said the deal underlines its commitment to using defense exports as a lever for industrial growth, supporting the “Buy British, Make British” agenda and enhancing the UK's reputation as a global defense exporter.
The £8bn package will directly support:
• 6,000 jobs at BAE Systems' Warton and Samlesbury plants in Lancashire.
• 1,100 jobs in the South West, including Rolls-Royce Bristol
• 800 jobs across Scotland in the supply chain
The order will also boost smaller subcontractors in the UK aerospace sector, from precision engineering firms to electronics manufacturers.
The agreement with Türkiye follows new efforts by the UK to expand its defense export footprint. It builds on previous Typhoon deals with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and complements partnerships on the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) with Japan and Italy.
Defense analysts say the Turkish order could help sustain Typhoon production over the next decade, bridging the transition to the sixth-generation Tempest fighter jet, due to enter service in the 2030s.
Dr Alex Walmsley, defense analyst at RUSI, said: “This deal is vitally important for maintaining the UK's aerospace industrial base and export credibility. It also signals the deepening of UK-Turkey relations at a strategically important moment for NATO.”
The Ankara signing marks Sir Keir Starmer's first official visit to Türkiye as prime minister and a major early breakthrough in his foreign policy agenda.
Officials said the deal shows “Global Britain in action” – combining industrial strength with international diplomacy to demonstrate both economic and strategic influence.
As the UK prepares to deliver the aircraft by the end of the decade, the Typhoon deal stands as one of the most visible symbols of Britain's renewed push for export-led industrial growth and defense cooperation.
jamie young
Jamie is a senior reporter at Business Matters, with over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting. Jamie has a degree in Business Administration and regularly attends industry conferences and workshops. When Jamie is not reporting on the latest business developments, he is passionate about mentoring budding journalists and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders.
