Turkey moves forward with plans to buy several supersonic jets. (Image: Getty)
is said to be moving forward with its plans to boost its air force by acquiring several fourth-generation jets.
These supersonic aircraft, complete with advanced weapons systems such as Meteor missiles, have raised concerns in , with officials closely monitoring the situation.
has dropped its objections to the sale, while has also approved the inclusion of Meteor missiles. British officials also reportedly lobbied Paris to green-light the missile transfer.
Advantage analysts have suggested that Ankara’s new move is an attempt to counter Greece’s recent action to strengthen its own air force. Turkey recently acquired advanced Rafale fighter jets from France, which are also equipped with Meteor missiles.
have long been fueled by territorial disputes and military rivalries, particularly over the Aegean Sea.
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Turkey aims to acquire 40 Eurofighter jets, with 20 from the UK’s existing stock. (Image: Getty)
Despite being a member of , Turkey’s relations with other members – particularly Greece – are frequently complicated. Much of Turkey’s military planning, and almost all of Greece’s military planning, is centred around countering each other.
Greece is responsible for the only confirmed air-to-air loss when it downed a Turkish F-16 with a French-made Mirage 2000 as it allegedly violated Greek airspace in 1996.
While Greek officials closely monitor the situation, the country has not issued strong public objections.
Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis declined to comment in detail on the matter, stating that it was a sensitive issue.
He reiterated that Greece had significantly strengthened its defence position over the past five years and emphasised that all relevant ministries were in full coordination.
Turkey aims to acquire 40 Eurofighter jets in two phases. An initial batch of 20 from the UK’s existing stock, followed by 20 new-build aircraft.
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Turkey is also one of the world’s largest operators of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. (Image: Getty)
The first deliveries are expected in 2026, with full operational capacity by 2030.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has hinted that Ankara hopes to reverse Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) sanctions, which have blocked its participation in the program since 2019.
If lifted, Turkey could seek re-entry into the advanced stealth fighter initiative.
Turkey is also one of the world’s largest operators of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. According to , Turkey has a fleet of 157 old F-16C Fighting Falcons and 48 F-4E Phantom IIs. However, others suggest they have as many as 200 F-16s in service.
The Eurofighter Typhoon jets were built by a consortium of Germany, the UK, Italy, and Spain and were represented by Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo.