On November 13, 2024, Türkiye’s Defense Minister Yasar Guler officially announced, according to the Turkish newspaper Türkiye Today during a live interview on the Turkish news outlet TV100, that Germany has authorized the sale of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Türkiye. This decision follows intense negotiations between Türkiye and the Eurofighter consortium partners, including the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain, who played a key role in securing Germany’s approval. This acquisition aims to enhance Türkiye’s air capabilities and modernize its military fleet.
The Turkish Defense Ministry’s announcement of Germany’s authorization to sell 40 Eurofighter Typhoons marks a significant turning point in defense relations between Türkiye and several European countries. This process began several years ago when Türkiye expressed interest in strengthening its air fleet, with the Typhoon as a leading option. However, Germany’s hesitations, which surfaced as early as 2021, slowed the negotiations, driven by concerns over human rights issues and Turkish military operations in sensitive areas like Syria. Active support from the United Kingdom, one of the primary Eurofighter backers, followed by Italy and Spain, emerged in 2023, increasing pressure on Germany to reconsider its stance.
Since their introduction in the 1980s, F-16 fighters have been the backbone of the Turkish Air Force. With over 240 aircraft in service over the decades, the F-16 Fighting Falcon has played an essential role in Türkiye’s military operations, supporting air surveillance, national defense, and regional interventions. However, over time, Türkiye’s defense needs have grown, requiring more advanced technology and expanded capabilities to meet an increasingly complex security environment.
To meet these modernization needs, Türkiye explored new options for its air fleet in the early 2020s. Although Ankara initially considered upgrading its F-16s or acquiring fifth-generation F-35s, Türkiye’s participation in the F-35 program was suspended in 2019 due to diplomatic tensions with the United States related to Ankara’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system. In this context, the Eurofighter Typhoon emerged as a credible alternative, backed by European partners such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain, who seek to strengthen strategic ties with Ankara. Other aircraft were briefly considered, but none offered the same balance of operational performance and political cooperation.
The acquisition of Eurofighter Typhoons takes place in a complex geostrategic context, marked by increased tensions with Greece, Türkiye’s historic neighbor and rival. This choice can be seen as a direct response to the modernization of the Greek fleet, which has recently integrated French Rafales and is considering the acquisition of American F-35s. These developments enhance Greece’s air capabilities, potentially altering the balance of power in the region. Additionally, the Eurofighter offers Türkiye a strategic alternative to diversify its defense supply sources and reduce its reliance on American systems. In parallel, Türkiye has also initiated the development of its fifth-generation fighter jet, the TAI KAAN, aiming for increased long-term autonomy in its air defense.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a multi-role combat aircraft developed by a consortium of European aerospace companies, including Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo. Designed for a wide range of air operations, the Typhoon features a delta wing and canard configuration, providing significant maneuverability. The aircraft is intended to meet both current and future operational needs, with continuous upgrades keeping it updated with combat aviation technology. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 23,500 kg and a maximum speed of Mach 2.0.
Powered by two Eurojet EJ200 afterburning turbofan engines, each providing 60 kN (13,000 lbf) of thrust dry and 90 kN (20,000 lbf) with an afterburner, the Eurofighter Typhoon can reach a maximum speed of 2,125 km/h or Mach 2.35 at high altitude and 1,530 km/h or Mach 1.25 at sea level. It has a supercruise capability at Mach 1.5, a maximum range of 2,900 kilometers, and a service ceiling of 19,812 meters (65,000 feet).
The Typhoon’s armament includes a 27 mm Mauser BK-27 revolver cannon with 150 rounds and 13 hardpoints (8 under-wing and 5 under-fuselage) capable of carrying over 9,000 kg of payload. In air-to-air combat, the Eurofighter Typhoon can climb at a rate of 315 meters per second (62,000 feet per minute). It is equipped with advanced radar and targeting systems, including the Captor-E AESA radar, capable of tracking up to 20 targets simultaneously and engaging them with precision. Its armament includes air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM, MBDA Meteor, IRIS-T, AIM-132 ASRAAM, and AIM-9 Sidewinder for beyond-visual-range (BVR) engagement.
The Eurofighter Typhoon also performs well in air-to-ground missions. It can carry precision-guided munitions, including Paveway IV laser-guided bombs, Storm Shadow cruise missiles, Brimstone anti-tank missiles, Taurus air-to-surface missiles, and AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles. Its targeting pod, the LITENING III, allows for accurate identification and engagement of ground targets under various weather conditions. This capability supports roles such as close air support, interdiction, and strategic strike missions. Furthermore, the Typhoon can also carry anti-ship missiles such as the Marte ER and the Joint Strike Missile (JSM).
The technical comparison between the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Eurofighter Typhoon highlights two different approaches in the design and capabilities of multirole fighters, each offering specific advantages in terms of performance, technology, and suitable missions.
The F-16, developed by General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin), is a fourth-generation fighter widely adopted since the 1980s for its versatility, maneuverability, and relatively low operating costs. Its single-engine design makes it light and particularly agile, making it an effective aircraft for ground attack and air superiority missions. In contrast, the Eurofighter Typhoon, designed by a European consortium (Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain), is an advanced fourth-generation fighter with a twin-engine design, providing greater power and acceleration suitable for high-altitude air superiority missions.
The Eurofighter is equipped with advanced electronic systems, particularly its Captor-E AESA radar (Active Electronically Scanned Array), which offers increased detection range, better coverage, and the ability to track multiple targets simultaneously. The F-16, though upgradeable, lags in this regard, initially lacking AESA technology (only available in modernized versions). The Eurofighter also has better electronic warfare and defense capabilities, allowing it to operate in more hostile environments and against more sophisticated aerial threats.
The F-16 remains a versatile, economical, and effective fighter for traditional missions, including ground attack and air defense, but its lack of stealth and advanced detection systems makes it less suited to modern high-intensity warfare environments. The Eurofighter, designed for air superiority missions, excels in long-range engagements and can perform air-to-ground missions, although it is primarily optimized for air defense environments where the ability to detect and engage distant targets is crucial.
In summary, the F-16 and the Eurofighter meet different needs: the more economical and maneuverable F-16 is suited for versatile, cost-effective operations, while the Eurofighter Typhoon, with its advanced systems and ability to operate in hostile environments, is a preferred choice for high-intensity air superiority missions.