Talks between Türkiye and the Eurofighter consortium are entering their final phase, with Germany signaling it will not oppose the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon jets, Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schoellhorn told Anadolu Agency.
In an interview published on Thursday, Schoellhorn said political barriers that previously delayed the agreement have been resolved under Germany’s new coalition led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. “The German government has stated very clearly: we will not be blocking, we support the idea of delivering Eurofighters to Türkiye,” he said.
According to Schoellhorn, the negotiations are now focused on commercial and technical details, led by the UK’s BAE Systems on behalf of the Eurofighter consortium. Ankara is seeking to purchase 40 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, a multirole combat jet jointly produced by the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain.
The deal had stalled in recent years due to objections from Germany’s former Social Democrat–Green coalition. However, the current administration in Berlin has shifted its stance, emphasizing the importance of bolstering Europe’s defense industry and NATO’s capabilities amid growing global security challenges.
Schoellhorn said the agreement could pave the way for deeper industrial collaboration. “Eurofighter is more than just an aircraft,” he told Anadolu. “There’s a system behind it... and future connectivity that includes manned-unmanned teaming solutions.”
He added that Türkiye’s potential participation in the Eurofighter program would integrate it into a network of users that includes the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, and four Gulf nations — Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar.
Having served as a helicopter pilot in the German military before joining Airbus, Schoellhorn highlighted Türkiye’s growing defense and aerospace capabilities. “I have learned by myself the capabilities and skills of the Turkish industry. Türkiye has invested a lot into defense and that’s being seen,” he said.
He also pointed to ongoing collaboration between Airbus and Turkish partners, including work with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) on the Hurjet trainer jet, which Spain is considering purchasing.
Schoellhorn said Europe must take greater responsibility for its own defense. “European governments have realized they cannot solely depend on the US,” he said. “The US might be having to do something else, so Europe needs to ramp it up. And that’s happening.”
He noted that while defense budgets have grown in recent years, more strategic coordination is still needed across Europe.
The Airbus executive also expressed hope for broader cooperation between European and Turkish defense industries despite political differences. “Türkiye is not part of the EU, but it is a member of NATO. As such, there should be a way and a route for collaboration,” he said.