British defense giant BAE Systems is optimistic about securing new export deals for its Eurofighter Typhoon jets, with potential orders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, a senior company executive revealed this week.
Speaking at BAE’s Warton facility in northern England, Richard Hamilton, Managing Director for Europe and International at BAE Systems Air, confirmed that the company is actively working with the UK government on ongoing sales campaigns targeting several nations. “We’re working with the UK government on a number of those campaigns presently,” he said, emphasizing confidence in the aircraft’s export prospects.
New Orders Could Total 150 Typhoons
When asked if the sales efforts were likely to result in new orders, Hamilton responded, “Yeah, absolutely,” noting that up to 150 new Typhoon fighters could be ordered. This follows recent export successes and comes as the UK government recommits to upgrading the Typhoon platform, extending its service life and strengthening its attractiveness to potential buyers.
BAE Systems sees this long-term capability investment as critical to export discussions. “The confidence it gives the export partner— you know, with the Saudis, with the Turkish—when they see that this thing has a life, it just makes the whole conversation so much easier,” Hamilton explained.
Upgrades Secure Platform’s Future
The UK Ministry of Defence has committed to a series of Typhoon capability enhancements, including radar upgrades, electronic warfare improvements, and weapons integration. These updates are designed to keep the aircraft relevant alongside newer platforms like the upcoming Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) jet, which is expected to enter service in the 2030s.
BAE’s pitch to prospective buyers emphasizes not only the Typhoon’s combat credibility but also its continued viability well into the next decade. For countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkey—longtime Eurofighter partners—modernized Typhoons offer an affordable, ready-now solution that complements future airpower ambitions.
UK Jobs Tied to Export Success
Trade unions in the UK have expressed concern that without new orders, final assembly lines at BAE’s facilities could run out of work during the 2030s. A 150-jet deal could help sustain thousands of jobs in Britain’s defense aerospace sector and extend production timelines into the next decade.
With active campaigns underway and the UK’s defense strategy reaffirming support for the Typhoon, BAE Systems is positioning itself to close new deals and keep one of Europe’s premier fighter programs viable well beyond its original timeline.
Javeria Sajid is an Aerospace Engineering student from NUST with a background in technology and a sharp focus on the global political landscape and defence innovation. She writes to make complex defence technologies understandable, and aspires to bridge journalism, policy, and engineering in her work.
