Turkey has ordered 20 Eurofighter Typhoons from BAE Systems in a deal valued at £8 billion, with first deliveries due in 2030. Turkish Air Force pilots are already undergoing conversion training at RAF Coningsby ahead of aircraft arrival.
What's happening
- Two Turkish Air Force pilots began Eurofighter conversion training at RAF Coningsby with 29 Squadron, the RAF unit responsible for Typhoon training.
- The initial conversion course runs up to 9 months, followed by 3 months of instructor training for both pilots to qualify as instructors for Turkish pilots.
- Both pilots will remain with 29 Squadron as instructors until the first new Typhoons arrive in Turkey in 2030.
- The contract includes 20 aircraft, weapons, support and training with deliveries beginning in 2030.
Why it matters
- The contract sustains 20,000 UK jobs across BAE Systems production facilities in Edinburgh, Warton, Samlesbury and Bristol.
- Early pilot training establishes operational readiness for Turkish Air Force crews before first aircraft delivery, reducing transition risk.
- The deal strengthens NATO interoperability between Turkish and UK air forces through shared training and standardized Typhoon operations.
Going deeper
- Pilots will initially study Typhoon systems and UK military airspace procedures before conducting their first sortie.
- The contract follows a UK-Turkey Security and Defence Partnership signed in July 2026.
- RAF Typhoons conduct NATO air policing, protect UK airspace on quick-reaction alert and support counter-Daesh operations in Iraq and Syria.
Financial impact
- BAE Systems will recognize revenue for 20 aircraft, weapons, support and training starting in 2030, the year first deliveries begin.
- Contract value of £8 billion will be split across airframe, engine, weapons systems and support packages over the delivery timeline through 2030 and beyond.
- Timing not disclosed for revenue recognition milestones tied to development, build and delivery milestones.
The fine print
- Contract ceiling is £8 billion; obligated funds and initial milestone timing not disclosed.
- Deliveries begin in 2030, suggesting the aircraft production schedule spans multiple years beyond first delivery.
Source: defence-industry.eu · Sep 27, 2026 · Drafted with Claude, reviewed by Industrial Base Alpha.
