Germany Torpedoes Türkiye’s Fighter Jet Ambitions Amid Political Backlash Over Imamoglu Arrest

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Germany has reportedly blocked a proposed sale of approximately 40 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighters to Türkiye, a move widely seen as politically charged and coming just months after Berlin signaled openness to the deal.

According to the influential German daily Handelsblatt, the abrupt reversal is believed to have been triggered by the controversial arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu—a prominent opposition figure and presidential contender challenging President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s grip on power.

İmamoğlu, a leading figure within the opposition and widely viewed as a serious electoral threat to Erdoğan, was detained on March 23 on corruption charges that international observers and critics have condemned as politically motivated.

The detention, which actually took place on March 19, ignited the largest wave of public unrest Türkiye has seen since the Gezi Park protests in 2013, intensifying an already fraught domestic political environment.

The arrest of the Istanbul mayor drew widespread international criticism, with the German government describing the move as “an attack on Turkish democracy,” sending a clear diplomatic rebuke to Ankara.

While İmamoğlu’s arrest has been cited as the immediate cause for the German block, geopolitical analysts also point to mounting pressure from Israel and Greece—both of which are believed to have privately lobbied Berlin to halt the sale, fearing a qualitative shift in regional air power in Türkiye’s favour.

To date, the German government has not formally confirmed its opposition to the sale, nor has it commented directly on the reports.

“As a matter of principle, we do not comment on internal government discussions,” a German government spokesperson told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The Eurofighter Typhoon, one of Europe’s most advanced multirole fighters, is co-developed by a consortium of four nations—Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain—and its export requires unanimous approval from all four governments.

Germany’s decision to withhold approval has effectively stalled Türkiye’s broader airpower modernization plan, which aimed to acquire 40 Typhoons—split evenly between 20 older Tranche 1 variants from the UK and 20 of the latest Tranche 4 models featuring cutting-edge avionics and AESA radar capabilities.

In March, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence formally submitted a proposal to Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence, outlining terms for the potential sale of Eurofighter jets.

According to reports from Turkish media citing defence ministry sources, Ankara is actively reviewing the proposal, which followed an earlier request for a formal procurement offer.

“We previously announced that an official document had been prepared regarding the procurement of 40 Eurofighter Typhoons to meet the operational needs of our air force. That document was sent to the UK Ministry of Defence and the relevant manufacturers, and we were expecting a response,” Turkish sources stated.

“The anticipated offer has now been received by our ministry, and the evaluation process is currently underway.”

In a demonstration of interest and operational compatibility, two Royal Air Force (RAF) Eurofighter Typhoon jets landed at Murted Air Base in Ankara in December last year for technical inspections by Turkish defence officials.

Their arrival in the Turkish capital signaled progress in Türkiye’s Typhoon acquisition effort, which had long been held back by persistent German opposition due to political and diplomatic friction.

That momentum had continued to build in September 2023, when Türkiye’s Chief of General Staff, General Metin Gürak, conducted a high-profile visit to the United Kingdom, including a tour of RAF Coningsby—the home base of the British Typhoon fleet.

By the end of 2024, Türkiye’s long-standing effort to acquire Eurofighter Typhoons appeared to gain significant traction, with reports suggesting that Berlin had provisionally lifted its objections to allow consortium discussions to proceed.

Ankara’s strategic interest in the Eurofighter Typhoon has intensified following its exclusion from the U.S.-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, a consequence of its decision to procure the Russian-made S-400 “Triumf” long-range air defence system.

Under the original terms of its participation, Türkiye was expected to receive 100 F-35s, but that plan was scrapped when the country was ejected from the program over security concerns related to its S-400 purchase.

German reluctance to endorse the Eurofighter deal is also believed to be influenced by Türkiye’s vocal condemnation of Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip, a stance that has put Ankara at odds with several Western capitals, including Berlin.

Türkiye has expressed interest in acquiring the Tranche 4 variant of the Eurofighter Typhoon, which features the CAPTOR-E AESA radar—an advanced sensor suite that dramatically enhances situational awareness, electronic warfare capability, and air dominance potential.

The Tranche 4 variant is widely regarded as Europe’s most capable fourth-generation-plus fighter, expected to remain in frontline service until at least 2060, and is also currently on order by Germany itself, with Berlin having placed an order for 38 units.

Türkiye’s request for 40 Typhoons is intended to help close the capability gap created by its aging fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons, many of which are nearing the end of their operational life and may face export limitations from the United States in the future.

The acquisition of the Eurofighter Typhoon—if it proceeds—would significantly enhance the Turkish Air Force’s deterrent posture and strike capability, particularly in contested airspace across the Eastern Mediterranean and broader Middle East.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA