Turkey begins Eurofighter pilot training, prepares for fleet sustainment

Türkiye has begun training pilots for the Eurofighter Typhoon and is preparing its maintenance infrastructure for the aircraft, indicating that work on the programme is moving beyond the procurement stage towards preparations to operate and sustain the future fleet.

Turkish Air Force pilots selected for Eurofighter Typhoon training have completed their terminology training and begun flight training as part of Türkiye’s planned procurement of the aircraft from the UK, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence said.

The pilots began their training programme in August following the agreement with the UK Government on the procurement of Eurofighter Typhoons. Their eight-month flight training will be followed by three months of instructor pilot training, according to the ministry. Additional pilots will be sent to the UK for training in successive groups.

Separately, a Turkish delegation inspected Eurofighter maintenance facilities at RAF Coningsby from 15 to 17 September as part of preparations for the programme. The delegation included specialists from the Ministry of National Defence, the Turkish Air Force Aircraft Maintenance Working Group and the General Directorate of Military Factories.
According to the ministry, the visit focused on planning maintenance and sustainment processes, technical infrastructure compatibility and strengthening cooperation with the UK.

The Ministry of National Defence has previously said that the first Turkish personnel training for the Eurofighter programme would take place at RAF Coningsby.

For the Turkish Air Force, the ability to maintain, repair and overhaul its aircraft is essential to keeping the fleet operational and maintaining high levels of readiness and availability for combat operations. This makes the establishment of an indigenous MRO capability for the Eurofighter particularly important. The capability was incorporated into the programme from an early stage: the UK and Türkiye signed a technical and logistical support agreement in March 2026 covering the operation and sustainment of the aircraft, including the training of Turkish pilots and ground personnel to fly and maintain the Typhoon.