(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Turkey is reportedly awaiting a “positive response” from Germany regarding its proposal to purchase 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets.
According to local media reports, the Mediterranean country has already initiated technical meetings with Britain and representatives from the aircraft’s manufacturing company in its bid to acquire the fighter jet.
“However, they are still waiting for a ‘positive reaction’ from Germany, which is one of the four nations that developed the fighter jet,” a source from Turkey’s Ministry of Defense told local media.
Germany’s reluctance to sell the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets has been sharply criticized by senior Turkish officials and media, accusing it of not reflecting the “spirit of NATO.”
The Eurofighter Typhoon was developed by a consortium of four nations: Britain, Italy, Spain, and Germany.
Approval from all four countries is required before the aircraft can be sold to any nation.
Turkey’s proposal to acquire the Eurofighter Typhoon has been well-received by Britain, Spain, and Italy, but met with opposition from Germany, which has resisted the sale of the fighter jet to Ankara.
Germany’s refusal to sell the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Turkey is reportedly due to anger over Ankara’s harsh criticisms of Israel regarding its military actions in Gaza.
“German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected not to allow the sale of the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets,” a senior German official told international media last year.
In November of the previous year, Turkey announced that it had begun discussions with the consortium nations producing the Eurofighter Typhoon, particularly Britain, to acquire 40 units of the latest variant of the Eurofighter Typhoon, known as “Tranche 4.”
Equipped with the AESA “CAPTOR E” radar, the Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 4 is said to be the most modern variant of the European fighter jet, capable of serving until 2060.
Germany has reportedly ordered 38 units of the Typhoon Tranche 4.
Turkey’s Defense Minister Yasar Guler has criticized the treatment received by Ankara from Berlin, despite both countries being NATO allies.
“We are NATO member countries, but another NATO member country has blocked our efforts to purchase the fighter jet (Typhoon).
There should be no reason for a country considered an ally to say, ‘I will not sell you the aircraft,'” he said in an interview with the private TV station NTV.
Although the United States has approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits, Ankara still wishes to pursue its interest in acquiring the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Recently, after a two-year delay and various conditions, Turkey was finally granted permission by the United States to acquire 40 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets and 79 modernization kits worth US$23 billion (RM103 billion), following the country’s parliament’s approval of Sweden’s entry as a NATO member state.
Turkey is among the largest users of F-16 fighter jets outside the United States, with more than 250 units.
The U.S. administration and Congress have made Turkey’s approval of Sweden’s NATO membership a primary condition for approving the sale of F-16 Block 70 fighter jets to the Mediterranean country. — DSA