Turkey says Qatar Eurofighter jet deal still on track despite Iran war

ANKARA — Turkey expects Qatar to submit a draft contract for the purchase of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, the Turkish Defense Ministry said Thursday, signaling that negotiations remain on track despite Iranian attacks on the Gulf state.

Details: Turkish and Qatari delegations held meetings in August and September to discuss the number of Eurofighter jets and weapons systems to be purchased, as well as training for pilots and maintenance crews, the ministry said in a statement.

“Qatar is expected to prepare and send us a draft training program and sales contract,” according to the statement. 

Background: Turkey turned to the Eurofighter, manufactured by a European consortium, after it was blocked by the United States from purchasing US F-35 fighter jets in 2019 over its acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system in 2017.

Following two years of talks, Turkey and the United Kingdom signed an $11 billion deal in October 2025 for Ankara's purchase of 20 Eurofighter jets. The first batch of aircraft is expected to arrive in 2030.

Turkish officials said the same year that Ankara was also planning to purchase 12 used Eurofighters each from Qatar and Oman in a bid to maintain the Turkish air fleet's deterrence capabilities in the meantime. Turkey operates roughly 230 F-16s, with the aircraft ranging in age from about 15 to nearly 40 years old.

Why it matters: Yet the status of the planned purchases has remained unclear as Iranian attacks on Qatar, following the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran, raised concerns over the Gulf country's own defense needs.

Thursday’s announcement indicated that Ankara’s talks with Qatar remain on track despite the regional turmoil. 

The statement did not clarify whether Ankara was still planning to purchase 12 aircraft from Qatar.

Know more: Ongoing conflicts in the region have prompted countries across the region to step up defense cooperation amid growing security threats.

Ahead of Thursday’s announcement, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler visited Doha on Wednesday, where he signed the Badr Memorandum of Understanding with Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia to strengthen defense industry cooperation.

“The memorandum aims to implement joint defense industry projects, increase research and development activities, strengthen infrastructure and supply chains,” the Turkish ministry said Thursday.