A large-scale transaction in the global defense market could reignite the Eurofighter Typhoon program and attract new customers. The head of the Eurofighter Typhoon consortium has stated that the $10.7 billion deal with Turkey for the acquisition of the fourth-generation combat jet could be the necessary impetus for other nations to finalize lucrative export contracts.
Turkey’s Impulse: A „Wake-Up Call” for the Global Market?
„We start with 20 [aircraft], it might grow even further and it may have a wake-up call effect with the rest of the nations,” Eurofighter CEO Jorge Tamarit Degenhardt told Breaking Defense on the sidelines of the International Fighter conference. This statement underscores the hope that the Turkish acquisition will unblock other ongoing negotiations. „We would be expecting all other export campaigns to materialize — Saudi [Arabia], Qatar, Portugal, Austria. Let’s see,” Degenhardt added, also mentioning efforts to secure new business with Poland. Furthermore, Turkey’s acquisition could double, in line with a pact signed with Britain at the International Defense Industry Fair.
Reinvigorating Production Lines: Towards a Critical Mass of Orders
New export opportunities covering Austria, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar amount to a total of 134 aircraft, according to an infographic shared at the conference. A major upside for the consortium, should the wave of additional contracts arrive, is that the volume of export aircraft on order would be greater than those signed by the Eurofighter home nations of Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. Degenhardt mentioned that the target is a production ramp-up to 30 aircraft a year beginning in 2028, more than doubling existing output — a goal directly tied to inking new export contracts. „We could [eventually] reach a critical mass of backlog,” Degenhardt stated, noting that the current backlog stands at 157 jets. He insisted that the plan to hit the ambitious 2023 target of securing contracts for 150-200 new aircraft „was structured,” even if it looked „optimistic” from the outside. „It’s not based on dreams,” he emphasized.
Geopolitical Context and the Home Nations’ Response
Since those 2023 statements, the home nations (with the exception of the UK) have all placed new orders as they look to recapitalize their combat jet fleets amidst Russia’s war against Ukraine and a worsening general threat environment across Europe, exacerbated by Moscow’s repeated drone incursions. This geopolitical situation has highlighted the need to modernize air capabilities.
Synergy with F-35: Collaboration or Competition?
While European air forces grapple with how the Eurofighter and Lockheed Martin’s fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II jets can overcome interoperability issues and work hand-in-hand, Degenhardt said that, at least conceptually, the two types offer a „very synergetic operation.” The US aircraft could perform Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) missions while the Typhoon deployed in an „assassin role” delivering strike capabilities. However, he warned, „interoperability needs to be developed, even from the technical aspects” if the two types of aircraft are to work together effectively.
Contracting Model Reform: Simplification and Efficiency
Backed by support from the four home nations, Eurofighter has started „preliminary discussions” with its management body and contracting authority — NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) — to reform an existing contracts model, Degenhardt added. The changes could incorporate regulation and framework updates, while also enabling a reduction in supply chain lead times, essential elements for agilely responding to market demands.
