Sources in the Turkish Defense Ministry said that until the Kaan fighter jet, which is being designed with domestic resources, joins the Turkish armed forces, it is planned to procure Eurofighters “from related countries, primarily from our allies.”

During the weekly regular briefing of defense editors by Turkish Defense Ministry spokesman Commander-in-Chief Zeki Akturk, ministry sources said that work on the procurement of Eurofighter aircraft is continuing.

“Based on the talks held with the UK, positive steps have been taken and the aim is to complete the procurement in due course,” the sources said.

The sources concluded by pointing out that when the procedures enter the contracting phase for the Eurofighter supply, there will be an official update.

In the past twenty-four hours Turkish media reported that during his tour of Gulf countries, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was to raise the issue of Turkey’s purchase of used Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets from Qatar and Oman.

Reuters, citing an unnamed source, reported that Turkey is close to signing a deal to buy 12 Eurofighters from the two countries.

During Erdogan’s visit to Qatar on October 22, a number of bilateral agreements were signed between Turkey and Qatar, including a “Memorandum of Cooperation in the Defense Industry Sector.”

The sale of used aircraft requires the permission of the Eurofighter consortium, which consists of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain.

According to the same Reuters source, if the consortium gives the go-ahead, 28 new aircraft will be built under the final deal and delivered to Turkey in the coming years.

Turkey plans to procure a total of 40 Eurofighter aircraft.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wandefull, during his visit to Ankara last week, confirmed that Berlin – which initially objected to the delivery of the fighters – would approve the sale, saying: “We recognise Turkey as a reliable ally in NATO and we want to strengthen our defence alliance, so sending the Eurofighter to Turkey is quite natural for us.”

Turkey has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Britain since July 23 for the purchase of Eurofighter aircraft. The document was signed in Istanbul between Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler and his British counterpart John Healy.