**Turkey Eyes Eurofighter Typhoons to Bolster Air Force Amid F-35 Snub**

Turkey, barred from procuring the F-35 Lightning II stealth aircraft by the United States, is now setting its sights on the Eurofighter Typhoon. This move follows earlier negotiations with the Eurofighter consortium nations—the UK, Spain, Italy, and Germany—in the hopes of upgrading its aging air force fleet. However, Germany's hesitation stems from its ongoing concerns regarding Turkey’s human rights record.

In 2019, Berlin halted arms sales to Turkey due to Ankara’s military actions against the Kurdish YPG group in Syria. Despite Turkey's diplomatic outreach to have these restrictions lifted, Germany remains firm. Nonetheless, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s scheduled visit to Istanbul on October 19 brings a glimmer of hope for progressing these talks. Scholz commented that discussions regarding weapon supplies to NATO partners like Turkey are routine, acknowledging the UK's ongoing negotiations with Turkey about the potential sale.

Reports have surfaced claiming Germany had approved preliminary technical talks but imposed specific conditions on any sale. However, Turkish defense officials denied such conditions, emphasizing their focus on acquiring advanced fighter jets to diversify their fleet. The pursuit of about 40 Eurofighter Typhoons by Ankara carries an estimated cost of $5.6 billion. This number reflects Turkey's ambition to fill the capability gap left by the loss of the F-35 deal.

Earlier this month, Germany approved a $368 million weapon sale to Turkey, including anti-aircraft missiles and submarine torpedoes. This decision has fueled optimism about the potential approval for the Eurofighter Typhoon. Turkey’s initial interest in these fighter jets followed a lengthy process to secure F-16s from the US, a deal which proceeded after Turkey greenlit Sweden's NATO membership. Yet, Turkey quickly shifted focus to the Eurofighter Typhoon.

The Turkish Air Force currently relies heavily on aging F-16 fighter jets, creating an urgent need for modernization. Greece, a regional adversary, has advanced its capabilities with the 4.5th generation Rafale and the F-35 stealth fighter jet. The acquisition of Eurofighter Typhoons is seen as essential to counter Greece's growing air power until Turkey can field its fifth-generation KAAN aircraft.

What makes the Eurofighter Typhoon particularly attractive is its storied performance against even the most formidable aircraft. In 2012, during the Red Flag air combat exercises in Alaska, German Eurofighter Typhoons spectacularly bested the American F-22 Raptor in close-quarter dogfights. This exercise demonstrated the Typhoon's superior maneuverability and advanced technology, making it a desirable addition to Turkey's defense arsenal.

Should Germany approve the sale, the Eurofighter Typhoons would provide a robust stopgap for Turkey's air force as they continue developing the KAAN. The outcome of Chancellor Scholz’s visit to Istanbul could prove pivotal in deciding whether Turkey can advance its air capabilities with these advanced European fighter jets.