Turkey expects Qatar to soon submit a draft contract for the purchase of Eurofighter Typhoon jets. The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday that negotiations in this regard are still ongoing, despite Iran's attacks on this Gulf country.
Details of the Negotiations
According to statements from the Turkish Ministry of Defense, Turkish and Qatari delegations held several meetings in August and September to discuss the number of jets and weapon systems to be purchased, as well as pilot training and maintenance teams. In this context, the ministry stated: "Qatar expects to prepare and send us a draft training program and sales contract."
Background of the Jet Purchases
Turkey has turned to the Eurofighter, produced by a European consortium, due to the blockage of the purchase of F-35 jets from the United States in 2019. This blockage occurred due to the purchase of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system in 2017. After two years of negotiations, Turkey and the UK signed a contract worth $11 billion in October 2025 for the purchase of 20 Eurofighters, with the first delivery of these aircraft expected to arrive in Turkey by 2030.
Turkey also announced in 2025 that it is seeking to purchase 12 second-hand Eurofighters from Qatar and Oman to continue enhancing its air force capabilities. Currently, Turkey has about 230 F-16s, some of which are up to 40 years old.
However, the status of the planned purchases remains unclear, as Iran's attacks on Qatar following the start of the US and Israel's war against Iran have raised concerns regarding this country's defense needs. Thursday's announcement indicates that Ankara's negotiations with Qatar are still ongoing despite regional tensions.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense did not mention whether Ankara still intends to purchase 12 aircraft from Qatar.
Meanwhile, ahead of Thursday's announcement, Yasar Guler, Turkey's Minister of Defense, visited Doha on Wednesday and signed a memorandum of understanding with Qatar, Pakistan, and Indonesia to strengthen defense industry cooperation.
Read more: Meeting of Seyyed Shahab with the UK Defense Minister in London · Turkey Hosts Foreign Ministers of Regional and European Countries to Discuss Regional Conflicts
