BAE Systems says assembly of the front fuselage of the first of 20 Typhoon fighters for Türkiye is under way at its Samlesbury site in Lancashire, England. According to reports by Defence Turkey, Air Force Technology and Türkiye Today, the company announced the milestone in a post on X on November 5, 2026, and Airbus Defence and Space is building the aircraft’s centre fuselage at its facility in Germany.

What was announced

  • Defence Turkey, Army Recognition and Air Force Technology report that BAE has begun assembling the front (forward) fuselage of Türkiye’s first Typhoon, the first step in building that aircraft. Türkiye Today does not name the site, but its photo caption refers to a Turkish Air Force visit to Samlesbury.
  • Türkiye Today quotes BAE’s post as saying: “The milestone marks the latest step forward in delivering 20 new Typhoon aircraft for Türkiye.”
  • Army Recognition reports that final assembly is planned at BAE’s Warton site, also in Lancashire. None of the reports Lens read says final assembly of a complete aircraft has started.
  • Air Force Technology and Türkiye Today link the announcement to a visit by Turkish Air Force representatives to the UK facility.

Where the parts are being built

The reports describe two pieces of work. The front fuselage is being assembled by BAE in the UK, and Airbus Defence and Space is producing the centre fuselage in Germany. Army Recognition’s wording on the German work is inconsistent, saying Airbus “initiated” centre fuselage manufacturing in one place and “manufactured” it in another. The reports Lens read do not describe other sections of the aircraft or say how much of the airframe is complete.

In its October 2025 announcement of the deal, the UK government said the UK manufactures 37% of each aircraft and the other Eurofighter partner nations produce the rest, with nearly 6,000 jobs at BAE’s Warton and Samlesbury sites supporting the programme.

Contract value

  • Defence Turkey reports that Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence put the aircraft contract at about £5.4 billion, covering the aircraft, mission equipment and munitions. Air Force Technology, citing Türkiye Today, gives about $7.2 billion.
  • The UK government described the agreement, finalised in Ankara on October 27, 2025, as a deal worth up to £8 billion for 20 Typhoon fighters. Air Force Technology and Defence Turkey say that figure includes training and support.
  • Dollar figures depend on the exchange rate used. The reports Lens read give £5.4 billion and about $7.2 billion, and none gives $6.9 billion.

Delivery schedule

BAE’s announcement, as reported by Defence Turkey and Air Force Technology, gives 2030 as the start of deliveries and no end date. Army Recognition reports a schedule of six aircraft in 2030, eight in 2031 and six in 2032, which would put the last delivery in 2032. Quwa, citing a Türkiye Today profile, attributes the same split to Defence Minister Yaşar Güler in December 2025. Lens did not see that statement. Neither government has announced a date for the rollout or first flight of a Turkish-marked Typhoon, according to Quwa.

What was said

Dave Ward, BAE Systems’ vice president for Türkiye, is quoted by Defence Turkey, Air Force Technology and Türkiye Today as saying: “This is an exciting moment for the programme.” He is also quoted as saying: “Typhoon will become a key part of Türkiye’s frontline.”

Earlier BAE statement

In its half-year results on July 30, 2026, BAE said manufacturing of Türkiye’s 20 Typhoons was already under way in the UK and across the Eurofighter partner nations, with the first delivery scheduled for 2030, according to Quwa and Army Recognition. Army Recognition’s headline describes the November news as BAE beginning “assembly of first Eurofighter Typhoon jet for Türkiye,” while its text and the other reports describe assembly of one section, the front fuselage.

What the reports do not include

The reports Lens read contain no statement from the Turkish government about the milestone and no figure for how much of the first aircraft has been built.

Sources and notes

This post is based on reports by Defence Turkey (November 5, 2026), Türkiye Today (November 5), Air Force Technology and Army Recognition (both November 6), Quwa, and the UK government’s October 27, 2025 announcement of the deal. Lens did not view BAE’s post on X or a BAE press release and found none on BAE’s website, so the quotations and the described milestone come from those outlets’ accounts. The £5.4 billion and £8 billion figures are reported values, and Lens did not see the contract. Lens did not contact BAE, Airbus or the Turkish Ministry of National Defence.

Image: A German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon (serial 30+58) on approach with its landing gear down, by Gerard van der Schaaf via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0; cropped. Stand-in photo; it is not related to BAE Systems’ work on Türkiye’s Typhoons and does not show the events described.