Bloque de noticias correspondientes a la segunda quincena de octubre y la primera semana de noviembre.
Ha terminado en la base aérea de Gando el ejercicio Ocean Sky 2025, liderado por el Mando Aéreo de Combate del Ejército del Aire y del Espacio, y en el que durante dos semanas, fuerzas aéreas de cuatro países aliados -Alemania, Grecia, Portugal, Estados Unidos,- junto a India, han completado el principal adiestramiento de combate europeo en el que España ha sido país anfitrión.
Con el repliegue de más de 50 aeronaves de las distintas unidades participantes a sus países de origen, y en el caso de las unidades españolas, a sus bases en la península, se termina un adiestramiento que, en palabras del teniente coronel Eladio Leal, el aviador que ha planeado el complejo ejercicio, “ha sido un éxito tanto por la calidad como por la cantidad de operaciones”, que cifra en unas 650, para añadir que el principal hito del Ocean Sky 2025 ha sido que “los países aliados han participado de manera muy activa en el planeamiento conjunto”.
Respecto a los vídeos, también es recomendable el canal de @thefightercommunity: https://www.youtube.com/@thefightercommunity
Turkiye has reached a deal with the United Kingdom to buy 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets for almost $11bn, as Ankara seeks to bolster its air defences while it develops its own fifth-generation KAAN fighter planes.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in Ankara on Monday to sign the agreement.
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The first Typhoons ordered under Monday’s agreement are expected to arrive in Ankara in 2030, according to Starmer.
The Ministry of National Defence (Turkish MoD) announced new details regarding Türkiye’s Eurofighter Typhoon procurement, confirming that the total cost of 20 newly built aircraft is approximately £5.4 billion. The statement was made during the ministry’s weekly press briefing, which also covered current defence activities and bilateral engagements.
According to the MSB, “To meet the operational needs of the Turkish Air Force Command, a contract was signed with the United Kingdom on 27 October 2025 for the procurement of newly produced Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, equipment, and various munitions.”
A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the agreement also includes a comprehensive weapons package featuring MBDA-made Meteor air-to-air missiles and Brimstone missiles. In the deal, whose details have not yet been disclosed by either side, the source said: “The agreement includes a comprehensive weapons package comprising MBDA-made Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, advanced short-range air-to-air missiles, and Brimstone air-to-ground missiles.”
Given the UK’s lead role in the deal, TurDef estimates that further British-origin munitions can be expected to be included.
The Turkish Air Force, however, has been determined to integrate domestic munitions into the platform. Therefore, relevant export and integration approvals are likely already secured within the scope of the agreement.
According to Downing Street, the £8 billion announced by Prime Minister Starmer represents the upper limit of Turkiye’s total package cost. This sum covers not only the 20 new aircraft but also MBDA-supplied weapons, pilot training, spare parts, and integration services. Within this framework, £5.4 billion emerges as the initial contract value, while BAE Systems’ £4.6 billion share represents only its portion of the total.
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Meanwhile, the 20 new Typhoons to be built in the United Kingdom are scheduled for delivery starting in 2030. Although the variant and radar type have not been confirmed, the late delivery timeline raises expectations that these aircraft will be Tranche 5 models equipped with the ECRS Mk2 AESA radar. Normally, Typhoons are delivered within 18–24 months, but neither Tranche 5 nor the Mk2 radar has yet entered serial production despite the fact that Germany has recently signed an agreement with Airbus.
Royal Air Force of Oman originally ordered its Typhoons in 2012, before the AESA radar era. As a result, its aircraft—though classified as Tranche 3A—are equipped with the CAPTOR-M Doppler radar used in earlier Tranche 1 and 2 models, resulting in notably reduced radar performance.
Qatar’s Typhoons, also Tranche 3A, feature the early-generation ECRS Mk0 AESA radar. Compared with the widely adopted Mk1, the 
Mk0 is known for its older technology and limited cooling capacity, resulting in reduced performance.
Due to developments in avionics, the total number of new aircraft in the planned fleet has been reduced from 24 to 20. Türkiye had initially considered acquiring 40 new Typhoons, but it now appears the country will adopt a hybrid model. One squadron will comprise 20 aircraft with advanced avionics, while the other will follow NATO’s conventional operational doctrine.
In line with NATO standards, a full operational squadron is typically structured around 18 operational jets, with 4–6 used for reserve or training and 2–3 under maintenance rotation.
E-Scan radar for the RAF’s Typhoons, which is led by Leonardo in Edinburgh, has been successfully developed, but no production orders have been placed. I have previously urged Ministers to accelerate procurement to boost the lethality of our existing Typhoon fleet. When will E-Scan radar be in service for the RAF? The Typhoon needs an associated electronics upgrade known as P4E—phase 4 enhancement—to fully exploit the capabilities of E-Scan radar, but I understand that no contract for that has been placed yet either. When is P4E intended to be on contract?
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The hon. Gentleman will know that all our spending announcements will be made as part of the defence investment plan towards the end of this year. The radar he mentions is an incredible piece of technology, which is of benefit not only to the RAF, but to other Typhoon nations.
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I had the privilege of being at BAE Systems in Warton yesterday with the Prime Minister, and it is fair to say that the workforce are utterly buzzing about this announcement. It is the first new order of aircraft since 2017, as the Minister said, and the largest order since 2007. It was hard-won against the likes of the US, the Swedes, the French and other allies, but guess what? Lancashire won. It is for 20 aircraft signs now, with an option for a further 20, worth £8 billion. Generations of my constituents in South Ribble have worked or still do work in Samlesbury and Warton, and this deal has secured thousands of jobs for at least a decade, or even more. Can I please urge the Minister to still prioritise the Typhoon and to get us more orders as quickly as he can?
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I am pleased to hear the announcement of the order for 20 Typhoons from Turkey. Having met with representatives from the workforce at Warton in Parliament earlier in the year, I recognise that maintaining those crucial skills was balanced on a knife edge. I want to ask today about the European Common Radar System Mark 2, which is forecast to achieve an initial operating capability on our Tranche 3 Typhoon aircraft by the end of the decade. Given the Turkish Typhoon order will be Tranche 3 or 4, we can assume it will be specified with the ECRS MK2 and the wider Phase 4 Enhancement programme. Given that we are looking at the same staff, what impact will the Turkish order have on the timeline for the enhancement programme of our Typhoon fleet?
The security sources also clarified the significance of statements made by the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, adding, "The British Prime Minister's statement of £8 billion represents this agreement's side revenues to the British economy and the potential contribution it will provide through new contracts in the coming period."
Türkiye is also advancing procurement agreements with Qatar and Oman for additional Eurofighter aircraft, according to the security sources.
"We will acquire 12 aircraft from Qatar, and we can say the agreement is finalized. The incoming Eurofighter aircraft are considered new. They have not flown much. They have a maximum of 200 flight hours. This is essentially zero flight hours. Normal flight lifespans are between 8,000 and 10,000 hours," security sources noted.
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"Pilot training will also be conducted. There will be approximately five to six months of training. We estimate that the aircraft will be fully combat-ready by the first quarter of 2027," security sources added.
Qatar front: Qatar may want to keep one squadron of its existing 24 Eurofighter aircraft for itself. This could mean transferring the remaining 6 T3A aircrafts to Turkiye. The key issue for Qatar negotiations could be shifting the new +12 orders to Turkiye. This would allow Qatar to retain one squadron of Eurofighters for itself while handing over the other squadron to Turkiye
Airbus Defence and Space and the Portuguese Cluster for Aeronautics, Space and Defence Industries (AED Cluster Portugal) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to identify cooperation opportunities ahead of the upcoming fighter fleet replacement in the country.
In the frame of this agreement, Airbus and AED have set the base to launch a series of studies in order to create a valuable industrial proposition to replace the current Portuguese F-16 fleet with a truly European solution, the Eurofighter programme.
Airbus and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have reached another milestone with the modified Airbus A320 Advanced Technology Research Aircraft (ATRA) recently flying in its Initial Operational Capability (IOC) configuration, after the first flight earlier this year. This will be used to validate the airframe design and support integration of the European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk.1 on the Eurofighter Typhoon.
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Following the IOC flights and subsequent testing phases, Airbus and DLR plan to install additional equipment aboard the A320, including a Eurofighter avionic test rig, cooling and power systems, and cockpit interfaces to simulate Typhoon conditions. This will enable end-to-end integration testing of the radar with representative avionics and pilot displays.
The ECRS Mk.1 is expected to enter service by mid-decade, representing one of the most significant sensor upgrades for the Eurofighter. Together with future enhancements under the Phase 4 Enhancement (P4E) package, the radar will ensure that Europe’s primary multirole fighter remains competitive against evolving threats, while also forming the technological bridge toward sixth-generation combat aircraft programs.
A couple of interesting tidbits concerning @RoyalAirForce at @DefenceIQ Fighter Conference #IFC25, in that Typhoons have had four successful air-to-air engagements (ie, kills) over the Middle East in the last 18 months (no further details given), and also flying Eastern Sentry combat air patrols over Poland directly out of RAF Coningsby – 8 hour sorties!
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Yes, will be the massed Iranian Shahed attack against Israel in April 2024. To my knowledge, three 'kills' were acknowledge from that night (per the 'Top Guns: Inside the RAF' documentary earlier this year). Unsure if fourth from that night or another time.
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RAF. I believe Saudi Typhoons have scored hundreds of drone kills.
Según el Ministerio Federal de Defensa alemán (BMVg), los nuevos Eurofighters de la quinta serie estarán equipados con el sistema de autoprotección Arexis de Saab, junto con futuras capacidades de inteligencia artificial. También se prevé la incorporación de armamento adicional, incluyendo el misil guiado antirradar AARGM y el misil de crucero Taurus en los Eurofighters para la Fuerza Aérea Alemana.
Otro requisito común es una interoperabilidad mejorada y más eficaz. Según el Ministerio Federal de Defensa alemán (BMVg), esta adquisición también representa un compromiso con el proyecto europeo Eurofighter.
Entre las propuestas aprobadas por el Parlamento la semana pasada, que suman 25 millones de euros, se encuentra una destinada a optimizar el Eurofighter con el sistema de autoprotección Arexis y los misiles aire-superficie guiados correspondientes, lo que permitirá la guerra electrónica. El desarrollo de este proyecto requiere una financiación aproximada de 1.130 millones de euros. Previsto hasta 2033, el proyecto se financiará con el fondo especial de la Bundeswehr y el presupuesto ordinario de defensa.
En otras palabras, además de la adquisición de los 20 nuevos Eurofighters, también se encargó el desarrollo del sistema Arexis. Se había decidido que, a más tardar en 2023, el conjunto de sensores de Saab se integraría en 15 Eurofighters de la Fuerza Aérea Alemana, los cuales, como sucesores del Tornado ECR, asumirían el rol de supresión de las defensas aéreas enemigas (SEAD) junto con el Grupo de Reconocimiento y Defensa Aérea (AARGM). Dado que está previsto que los Tornados sean retirados del servicio a finales de la década, se presume que estos planes se mantienen. Según se informa, el desarrollo del sistema Arexis avanza según lo previsto.
Tal y como explicó ayer un experto de Airbus en rueda de prensa, prevé que los cuatro países que fabrican el Eurofighter encarguen el proyecto "Long Term Evolution (LTE)" el próximo año, al que describió como una modernización de media vida. Según él, las modificaciones de hardware asociadas al avión de combate también podrán aplicarse a lotes de producción anteriores. En concreto, esto incluye mejoras como aviónica avanzada, transmisión de datos y una nueva cabina de mando. La seguridad en vuelo también se diferenciará de la seguridad de la misión.
Según el experto de Airbus, los Eurofighters del quinto lote que se han encargado ya recibirán, según lo previsto, un nuevo software de mando y control que permitirá a la aeronave controlar vehículos aéreos no tripulados.
The Eurofighter consortium is preparing to mark the one million flight hour milestone for the programme at the same time as preparing the ‘fourth-generation' combat aircraft for the second half of its projected operational service life.
A briefing slide presented at the IQPC International Fighter Conference (IFC) 2025 in Rome noted that the flight hour milestone is due to be passed in December, while Eurofighter CEO Jorge Tamarit Degenhardt outlined aspects of the mid-life upgrade (MLU) that is now being defined with the goal of taking the jet out into the 2060s.
