UK and Türkiye sign multi-billion-pound air defence deal (Reuters)

UK and Türkiye sign multi-billion-pound air defence deal (Reuters)

Britain and Türkiye on Wednesday signed a multi-billion-pound ​agreement for a major new ‌training and support contract as part of its 8 -billion-pound ($10.73 billion) Typhoon fighter ​jet deal the two ​countries concluded last year.

The new contract ⁠covers UK-based training for Turkish ​pilots and ground crew as ​Türkiye moves towards operating its first batch of British-built jets, Britain's Ministry of ​Defence said in a statement.

Defence ​firms including BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, MBDA, ‌Rolls-Royce and ⁠Martin-Baker will supply components and training equipment.

Defence Secretary John Healey and Turkish Defence Minister Yasar ​Guler signed ​the agreement ⁠in London, which the British government said marked ​the next phase of ​Türkiye's ⁠entry into the Eurofighter programme and reinforcing NATO's combat air capability ⁠on ​its eastern flank.