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Prime ministers

UK Agrees to Sell 20 Typhoon Jets to Turkey in £8 Billion Deal

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed the deal to sell 20 Typhoon jets to Turkey during a visit to Ankara, calling it "a win for British workers, a win for our defence industry, and a win for Nato security". The agreement is the largest fighter jet deal in almost 20 years, supporting thousands of British jobs and representing a boost for Nato security. The UK government has confirmed that the deal will save the Warton production line and support nearly 6,000 jobs in the UK, as well as over 1,100 jobs in the South West of England and 800 jobs in Scotland.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK has agreed to sell 20 Typhoon jets to Turkey in a deal worth up to £8 billion, the largest fighter jet deal in almost 20 years.
  • The deal supports thousands of British jobs, with nearly 6,000 jobs at the BAE Systems plants in Warton and Samlesbury, and over 1,100 jobs in the South West of England and 800 jobs in Scotland.
  • The first delivery of the new jets is expected to take place in 2030, and the deal will involve production across the UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy.
  • The Typhoon programme is owned by Airbus SE, BAE Systems PLC, and Leonardo Spa, with around 37% of the production taking place in the UK.
  • The deal was signed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his visit to Ankara, and will also support British exports and boost Nato security.
  • The deal has been welcomed by Defence Secretary John Healey, who said it is "another major export deal for the UK and is the biggest jet exports deal in a generation".
  • The UK government has also agreed to relaunch Tatli Dil, a UK-Turkey forum to "bring together government, business and scientists to forge new relationships between the two countries".

Statistics:

  • £8 billion: the maximum value of the deal
  • 20: the number of Typhoon jets to be sold to Turkey
  • 37%: the percentage of Typhoon production taking place in the UK
  • 6,000: the number of jobs supported by the Typhoon programme at the BAE Systems plants in Warton and Samlesbury
  • 1,100: the number of jobs supported by the Typhoon programme in the South West of England
  • 800: the number of jobs supported by the Typhoon programme in Scotland
  • 2030: the expected date for the first delivery of the new jets

Sources:

  • Alliance News
  • Press Association
  • PA Political Correspondent Christopher McKeon
  • UK Government statement on the Typhoon deal
  • Amnesty International statement on human rights in Turkey

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