Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over what he calls a dangerous diplomatic failure: the imminent sale of advanced Eurofighter Typhoon multirole combat jets to Türkiye. The deal, currently under advanced negotiation between Ankara, the United Kingdom, and Germany, could mark a dramatic shift in the military balance of power across the Eastern Mediterranean.
Lapid’s warning comes amid escalating tensions between Türkiye and its regional rivals and follows months of quiet but consequential diplomatic developments. In remarks that have reignited fierce debate within Israel’s political and security establishment, the Yesh Atid party leader accused the Israeli government of neglecting its strategic responsibilities at a time when Türkiye is accelerating its drive to achieve military parity with Israel.
“If Israel had a functioning Foreign Ministry or a normal government, the new deal for the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Türkiye by Germany and the UK would have already been blocked,” Lapid said in a televised statement this week. “Türkiye has the largest and most powerful naval fleet in the Middle East and now aims to achieve parity with Israel in airspace. This is a dangerous situation, and our dysfunctional government has done nothing to stop it.”
Lapid’s remarks reflect a broader concern within Israel’s defense community: that Türkiye’s sustained military modernization—particularly in its air force—may eventually erode Israel’s long-standing strategic superiority in the region. While Israeli officials stress that the Eurofighter Typhoon is not necessarily more advanced than the Israeli Air Force’s cutting-edge F-35I “Adir” or its upgraded F-15I “Ra’am,” they acknowledge that the scale and pace of Türkiye’s arms buildup pose long-term risks.
“This isn’t a game-changing threat to our Air Force. The Typhoon is a capable but not superior aircraft compared to our fighter jets,” a senior Israeli defense official told The Jerusalem Post. “But it’s a clear and worrying signal that Turkey is accelerating its arms buildup in a way that could eventually challenge Israel’s military edge in the region.”
The official’s remarks underscore a key point: it is not just about individual platforms, but the cumulative strategic effect of Türkiye’s military expansion.
Türkiye’s proposed acquisition of up to 40 Eurofighter Typhoons is estimated at around $5.6 billion and includes a phased procurement model. Defense insiders suggest Ankara could announce the deal during this week’s International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul. If finalized, the procurement will begin with 20 refurbished Tranche 1 aircraft from the UK, entering Turkish service by 2026. These will be followed by 20 state-of-the-art Tranche 4 jets—Europe’s most advanced fourth-plus generation multirole combat aircraft.
The Tranche 4 variant is equipped with the Captor-E Mk1 AESA radar system, providing superior situational awareness, tracking, and targeting capabilities in contested environments. Coupled with advanced electronic warfare suites, modern cockpit interfaces, and integration with a wide array of precision weapons, the Typhoon Tranche 4 is considered one of the most versatile non-stealth fighters in global service.
MBDA Meteor BVRAAM (beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile)
Storm Shadow cruise missile
SPEAR glide munitions
Brimstone and Paveway IV precision-guided bombs
IRIS-T and ASRAAM short-range AAMs
The aircraft’s twin Eurojet EJ200 engines offer supercruise capability, enabling sustained supersonic flight without afterburners, while the composite delta-canard airframe delivers exceptional agility and survivability.
Germany and Spain have already signed procurement contracts for Tranche 4 Eurofighters under Project Quadriga and Halcón, ensuring production continuity through the 2030s. While Berlin has expressed internal reservations about selling such systems to Türkiye—particularly given tensions over human rights and Turkish foreign policy—London has taken a more assertive role in pushing the deal forward.
This divergence between European partners has not gone unnoticed in Israel.
“What we’re seeing is a breakdown in diplomatic synchronization,” noted retired Israeli Air Force commander Amos Yadlin. “Israel’s strategic interests are increasingly misaligned with some of its traditional partners in Europe. The Eurofighter sale to Türkiye, especially without serious political conditionality, is emblematic of that shift.”
Türkiye’s drive to secure new fighter jets is largely motivated by the dual pressures of aging airframes and blocked access to American platforms. The country’s F-16 fleet—while still effective—is increasingly strained and outdated. Political tensions with Washington have delayed the delivery of 40 F-16 Block 70s approved earlier this year, and Ankara remains barred from the F-35 program due to its 2019 acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system.
As a result, Türkiye has pursued a hybrid strategy: develop its indigenous fighter (the KAAN) while sourcing high-performance foreign jets like the Eurofighter Typhoon to bridge short- and medium-term gaps.
“This is not just about replacing old planes,” said Turkish defense analyst Arda Mevlutoglu. “It’s about redefining Türkiye’s airpower for the next 20–30 years. The Eurofighter deal gives Türkiye access to elite technologies that strengthen its deterrence capabilities in both NATO and regional theaters.”
Türkiye is also forging ahead with the KAAN fifth-generation fighter project, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). The aircraft has completed two test flights, with a third expected later this year. While promising, KAAN remains several years away from full operational status. Initial deployments are not expected before 2028, making the Eurofighter a vital stopgap.
According to TAI sources, the KAAN will incorporate stealth features, internal weapons bays, advanced avionics, and network-centric warfare capabilities, positioning Türkiye among a select group of countries capable of producing next-gen fighter jets.
Türkiye’s arms acquisition is also deeply influenced by its rivalry with Greece. In the past two years, Athens has taken delivery of 24 Dassault Rafale fighters from France—aircraft armed with Meteor missiles and the advanced Spectra electronic warfare system.
Greek pilots now fly a formidable platform that outclasses most of Türkiye’s existing fleet. The Typhoon purchase is Türkiye’s strategic answer to restore equilibrium in the air balance over the Aegean.
“This is an arms race, whether we want to admit it or not,” said Greek defense journalist Nikos Zymaris. “The Rafales changed the game. The Typhoons are Türkiye’s counterplay.”
While Israeli aircraft remain qualitatively superior, it is Türkiye’s growing multi-domain force projection that worries Tel Aviv. In recent years, Ankara has rapidly expanded its naval capabilities—fielding new frigates, amphibious assault ships, and even a UAV-capable carrier. It has also built a formidable drone fleet, with systems like the Bayraktar TB2, Akıncı, and the jet-powered Kızılelma redefining Turkish doctrine in asymmetric warfare.
“This isn’t about one deal or one system,” a senior Israeli intelligence officer told Haaretz. “It’s about an overall trajectory. Türkiye is developing the ability to project power across multiple domains—sea, air, cyber, and space. That should concern every serious planner in Jerusalem.”
Lapid’s most pointed criticism focuses not just on Türkiye’s buildup, but on the Netanyahu government’s diplomatic paralysis.
“A functional Israeli government would have engaged the UK and Germany months ago,” he said. “This sale should have been stopped or conditioned on regional guarantees. We didn’t even try.”
Indeed, multiple diplomatic sources confirm that Israel’s lobbying efforts in Berlin and London have been “muted” in recent months, overshadowed by Netanyahu’s internal political struggles and the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
Some experts believe that Israel may still have leverage in Germany, where parliamentary oversight and export control regulations require Bundestag approval. However, British enthusiasm for arms exports—especially post-Brexit—may override any concerns.
“Germany is hesitant. The UK is driving this,” said Israeli defense commentator Yaakov Katz. “If Netanyahu had any strategic clout left in Europe, this deal would be delayed. But he’s distracted, and Europe has moved on.”
The Eurofighter deal also reflects deeper global realignments. As the Ukraine war reshapes Europe’s defense posture and China’s rise shifts U.S. attention toward the Indo-Pacific, regional powers like Türkiye are seizing the moment to redefine their strategic position.
Israel, once a central pillar of Western strategic focus, now finds itself competing for attention—and leverage.
“The unipolar world is gone,” said Dr. Eyal Zisser, a Middle East historian at Tel Aviv University. “We’re in a multipolar scramble. Türkiye understands this and is acting decisively. Israel is stuck in reactive mode.”
If the Eurofighter deal proceeds as expected, Türkiye’s Air Force will undergo a dramatic transformation over the next five to eight years. This will impact not just its rivalry with Greece, but its posture toward Syria, Cyprus, Libya, and potentially the Red Sea and Persian Gulf arenas.
