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Britain has agreed to sell 20 Typhoon jets to turkey In a deal worth up to £8bn.
Sir keir starmer signed the agreement in ankara On Monday, it called it “a win for British workers, a win for our defense industry, and a win for nato Security”.
It is the largest fighter jet deal in almost 20 years and the first new UK Typhoon order since 2017, supporting thousands of British jobs.
Sir Keir said the deal also represented a boost to NATO security, telling broadcasters in Turkey: “Locking in that capability with the United Kingdom is really important for NATO.”
Monday’s deal represents the conclusion of long-running discussions, with Ankara seeking to buy Typhoons from 2023.
In July, the Defense Secretary John Healy Signed an MoU with its Turkish counterpart to pave the way for export deals Germany The agreement was reportedly signed.
The jets, also known as Eurofighters, are produced in a partnership between the UK and Germany. spain And Italy.
Around 37 per cent of production takes place in the UK, including final assembly BAE Systems Plants at Warton and Samlesbury, near prestonLancashire.
Downing Street said the Typhoon program directly supported about 6,000 jobs at the two plants, with Monday’s deal saving the Warton production line.
The program also supported more than 1,100 jobs in the south-west of England, including a Rolls-Royce plant. bristolAnd 800 jobs in Scotland.
Mr Healey said: “This is another major export deal for the UK and the largest jet export deal in a generation.
“This will inject billions of pounds into our economy and keep British Typhoon production lines running long into the future.
“This deal goes far beyond the purchase of aircraft.
“This is a pioneering aspect of the growing defense and industrial partnership between our two countries.”
Previous reports had suggested the UK would agree to provide 40 jets instead of the 20 jets announced on Monday.
Prime MinisterAn official spokesperson said that 20 jets was “still a significant number” and that it was “a decision for the Turks in terms of future orders based on their operational requirements”.
First deliveries of the new jet are expected in 2030.
Sir Kiir’s visit to Ankara is his first visit to Turkey since becoming prime minister, although he has met the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Many times in international summits.
During his visit, the Prime Minister paid floral tributes at the Samadhi Sthal Mustafa Kemal AtaturkThe founders of the modern Republic of Türkiye, before finalizing the Typhoon Agreement, at the Presidential Palace in Ankara.