BAE secures £8billion Typhoon deal

BAE Systems Lancashire military aircraft factories received a major boost with an £8 billion deal to supply 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey.

The contract will guarantee 6,000 jobs at the defence giant’s Samlesbury and Warton factories.

It is the largest fighter jet deal in almost 20 years and the first new order for UK Typhoons since 2017.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer signed the agreement during a visit to Turkish capital Ankara, describing it as “a win for British workers, a win for our defence industry, and a win for Nato security”.

Sir Keir said the deal also represented a boost for Nato security saying: “Having that capability locked in with the United Kingdom is really important for Nato.”

Around 37 per cent of Typhoon production takes place in the UK, including final assembly at BAE Systems plants in Warton and Samlesbury.

Downing Street said the Typhoon programme directly supported nearly 6,000 jobs at the two Lancashire plants, with Monday’s deal guaranteeing the future of the main Warton production line.

The jet’s front fuselage, canopy and spine tank are manufactured as Samlesbury.

Monday’s deal, which includes an associated weapons and integration package, represents the conclusion of long-running discussions, with Ankara reported to have been seeking to buy Typhoons since 2023.

In July, Defence Secretary John Healey signed a memorandum of understanding with his Turkish counterpart paving the way for the export deal.

Typhoons are produced in a partnership between the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy.

Mr Healey said: “This is another major export deal for the UK and is the biggest jet exports deal in a generation.

“It will pump billions of pounds into our economy and keep British Typhoon production lines turning long into the future.

“This deal goes far beyond the procurement of aircraft.

“It is the leading edge of the growing defence and industrial partnership between our two nations.”

Previous reporting suggested the UK would agree to provide 40 jets.

The first delivery of the new warplanes is expected to take place in 2030.

The Turkish Air Force becomes the tenth Typhoon operator alongside the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

BAE Systems Chief Executive, Charles Woodburn, said: “Türkiye’s procurement of Typhoon marks the start of a new chapter in our longstanding relationship with this important NATO ally and reinforces the outstanding operational support the aircraft continues to deliver across Europe and the Middle East as a fundamental pillar of defence and security.

“Typhoon is an export success story and demonstrates how investment in defence can fuel significant economic growth and returns across the UK.

“Today’s announcement extends Typhoon production and preserves crucial sovereign skills which underpin the UK’s defence and security.”

Last week Defence Procurement minister Luke Pollard visited BAE Systems at Samlesbury to see the Typhoon production line for himself and told the company and the Unite union to sort out their industrial dispute over pay in advance of a potential strike next month.