It has been claimed that Turkey is in negotiations to purchase second-hand Eurofighter Typhoon jets from Qatar. According to a report by the Middle East-based news site Middle East Eye (MEE), it is assessed that an agreement between the two countries could be finalized in the near future.
The report stated that Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and Air Force Commander General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu met with Qatari Ministry of Defense officials in Doha yesterday to discuss the potential jet purchase.
"DEAL IS CLOSE" CLAIM
Regional sources close to the matter suggested that negotiations between the two countries are ongoing and that reaching an agreement is "close." A Qatari official confirmed that the visit of Güler and Kadıoğlu to Doha was carried out within this scope.
CONSORTIUM APPROVAL REQUIRED FOR EUROFIGHTER SALE
The approval of the Eurofighter consortium, which includes the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France, is required for the potential jet purchase. According to sources speaking to MEE, consortium members view this sale positively and consider Turkey a potential buyer for jets equipped with advanced Tranche 4 radar systems in the future.
In July, Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Kingdom for the purchase of 40 new Eurofighter jets. However, Ankara found the offered price to be high, and it was stated that negotiations were continuing on the final terms.
It was reported that Qatar currently actively uses 24 Tranche 3A Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft and could therefore provide faster delivery to Turkey.
This option aims to partially fill the potential gap in Turkey's air power capacity during the period leading up to the commissioning of the domestic combat aircraft KAAN, which is planned to enter service in the early 2030s.
"CONSORTIUM SUPPORTS THE SALE"
The report stated that the Eurofighter consortium views the sale favorably and that Turkey is seen as a "priority customer" for the procurement of more advanced model jets in the future.
News Source: 12punto
