UK in 8bn deal to sell Typhoon jets to Turkey despite human rights concerns

"Britain has agreed to sell 20 Typhoon fighter jets to Turkey in an 8bn deal despite concerns about alleged human rights violations by its government. Keir Starmer signed the deal during a visit on Monday to Ankara to meet the country's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The prime minister said the deal would boost the Nato alliance, despite criticism of Turkey's increasingly authoritarian administration."

"The jet, also known as the Eurofighter, is a joint project between the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain, and has been one of the Royal Air Force's key aircraft for two decades, including in Iraq, and intercepting Russian planes since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The order comes after the managing director of the Typhoon programme, Richard Hamilton, told reporters in July that he was really confident of receiving export orders to preserve the Warton production line in Lancashire."

"BAE Systems will assemble Turkey's jets in the UK and the first delivery is expected in 2030. The order will secure the jobs of about 500 workers at the company's Warton site and benefit a facility making front fuselages at Samlesbury, 12 miles (20km) to the east. It will also give work to factories across Europe, where partner countries make sections of the aircraft."

Britain agreed to sell 20 Typhoon (Eurofighter) jets to Turkey in an 8bn deal signed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a visit to Ankara with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. BAE Systems will assemble the jets in the UK, with first delivery expected in 2030, securing about 500 jobs at Warton and supporting work at Samlesbury and partner factories across Europe. The aircraft has served the RAF for two decades in operations including Iraq and intercepts of Russian planes. The order followed optimism from the Typhoon programme director about export orders to preserve the Warton line. Critics raised concerns about Turkey's human rights record and fresh charges against opposition figure Ekrem Imamoglu.

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