The Eurofighter Typhoon consortium is seeking to capitalize on renewed international interest in its multirole fighter aircraft, identifying opportunities for more than 200 additional jets, including a potential 54-aircraft order from Saudi Arabia. However, Riyadh’s continued reliance on American-made F-15 fighters for major combat operations against Yemen’s Houthi forces raises questions about the prospects for a fresh Eurofighter purchase.
An infographic presented by the Eurofighter consortium at the International Fighter Conference in Munich this week highlighted potential demand for more than 200 additional aircraft. The consortium, which brings together defence and aerospace companies from the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain, identified several prospective markets, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, alongside opportunities in other countries.
According to the presentation, Turkey could purchase a second batch of 24 Eurofighter Typhoons, while Saudi Arabia represents a potential market for another 54 aircraft. The graphic also identifies an existing order for 36 aircraft for Austria and more than 150 additional aircraft under an unspecified category of other opportunities.
These figures indicate potential export opportunities rather than confirmed contracts. Nevertheless, they represent a substantial increase in the consortium’s expectations compared with last year’s International Fighter Conference in 2025, when approximately 134 potential export aircraft were identified.
The growing projection suggests that the European consortium remains optimistic about rebuilding its international sales position after several years of losing major fighter competitions to the American-made Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.
Although the infographic does not identify all the countries included in its broader projection, several nations have emerged as potential customers. Poland, Portugal, the Philippines and Bangladesh are among the countries that have been approached or are considering the Eurofighter Typhoon as they seek to modernize their combat aviation capabilities.
Leonardo, one of the consortium’s principal industrial partners alongside Britain’s BAE Systems and Airbus, intensified its campaign to sell the aircraft to the Philippines in August 2026. The Italian aerospace and defence company presented a customized proposal designed to address Manila’s operational requirements and its plans to strengthen its air defence capabilities.
The Philippines has been examining several options to modernize its ageing combat aircraft inventory amid growing security concerns in the South China Sea. The Eurofighter is competing in a market where affordability, operational flexibility, delivery schedules and long-term industrial cooperation could influence the final decision.
Portugal has also emerged as a potential European customer. On September 24, 2026, Airbus announced that it intended to submit an unsolicited proposal for the Eurofighter Typhoon to replace the Portuguese Air Force’s ageing F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet.
The proposed package is expected to include military cooperation, industrial participation and financing arrangements. Ivan Gonzalez Exposito, Eurofighter’s campaign manager for Portugal, previously indicated that the proposal would incorporate public and private financing solutions to ease the financial burden of the acquisition.
Poland is another important potential market. Warsaw is considering the acquisition of 32 additional fighter aircraft to strengthen its air-superiority capabilities. However, the country could prioritize further purchases of the F-35 after securing a $4 billion Foreign Military Financing loan from Washington in September 2026.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, has already signed a letter of intent to begin negotiations over a possible Eurofighter acquisition. However, Dhaka is also reportedly examining China’s J-10C fighter, creating uncertainty over the eventual outcome of its procurement plans.
Turkey is among the most promising markets identified in the consortium’s presentation. Ankara signed an agreement with the United Kingdom in October 2025 to purchase 20 Eurofighter Typhoon fighters. It has subsequently discussed acquiring another 24 aircraft, potentially increasing the Turkish Air Force’s future Typhoon fleet to 48.
Turkey is also pursuing used Eurofighter aircraft from Qatar and Oman to accelerate the introduction of the platform into its air force. The procurement is particularly significant because Ankara has been seeking to strengthen its air-combat capabilities while navigating delays and uncertainty surrounding its wider fighter modernization programme.
Saudi Arabia, however, represents an even larger potential opportunity for the European consortium.
The Kingdom became the Eurofighter Typhoon’s largest export customer after ordering 72 aircraft in 2007 under Project Salam. The agreement was intended to replace ageing Panavia Tornado aircraft and modernize the Royal Saudi Air Force’s combat capabilities. Deliveries were completed in 2017.
In 2018, Riyadh and the consortium signed a memorandum of intent covering the possible acquisition of up to 48 additional Typhoons. However, the proposed agreement encountered several obstacles, including German export restrictions, disagreements over industrial offsets, radar modernization requirements and negotiations concerning technology transfer and domestic manufacturing under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme.
The latest consortium infographic identifies 54 aircraft as a potential Saudi order, suggesting that the European manufacturers remain hopeful of reviving the long-delayed procurement.
If Riyadh eventually purchases all 54 aircraft, its Eurofighter fleet would increase from 72 to 126, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as the largest operator of the aircraft outside Europe.
However, the potential acquisition comes at a time when the Royal Saudi Air Force appears to rely more heavily on its American-made F-15 fleet for demanding combat operations against the Houthis in Yemen.
The Royal Saudi Air Force operates one of the Middle East’s most capable and diverse combat aircraft inventories, with the Boeing F-15 and Eurofighter Typhoon forming the backbone of its modern fighter fleet.
Both aircraft have participated in operations associated with the Yemen conflict. However, the F-15 family is generally considered the preferred platform for high-volume strike operations, particularly missions requiring substantial weapons loads, extended range and sustained operational tempo.
Numerical strength is one of the principal reasons behind this preference.
Saudi Arabia operates 84 newly built F-15SA aircraft delivered between 2016 and 2020. These are supplemented by approximately 68 older F-15S aircraft upgraded to a near-identical F-15SR configuration. Together, the two variants give the Royal Saudi Air Force an advanced Eagle fleet approaching 150 aircraft.
By comparison, the Kingdom operates 72 Eurofighter Typhoons.
This numerical advantage allows Saudi commanders to distribute operational responsibilities across a substantially larger fleet of American-built aircraft. It also provides greater flexibility in generating sustained sorties during prolonged military campaigns.
The F-15SA is particularly suited to missions involving repeated attacks against missile launchers, drone facilities, command centres, weapons storage sites and air-defence installations.
Its substantial weapons-carrying capacity is another important advantage.
The F-15SA features up to 11 external weapons stations and can carry approximately 13,000 to 13,400 kilograms of external payload, depending on configuration. Its weapons inventory includes AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles, Joint Direct Attack Munitions, Paveway precision-guided bombs and longer-range weapons such as the AGM-84 Harpoon and SLAM-ER.
This combination allows the aircraft to perform different mission profiles without requiring a large number of specialized platforms.
The Eurofighter Typhoon, meanwhile, has a maximum external weapons payload of approximately 9,000 kilograms. It carries an advanced selection of air-to-air weapons, including Meteor, AMRAAM and IRIS-T missiles, alongside air-to-ground weapons such as Paveway IV, Brimstone and Storm Shadow.
Although the Typhoon is highly capable of conducting precision strikes, its lower maximum payload limits the volume of weapons it can deliver in a single sortie compared with the F-15SA.
Range is another factor that potentially favours the American aircraft in operations over Yemen.
The F-15SA’s conformal fuel tanks increase its fuel capacity and combat radius, allowing it to conduct longer missions and remain on station for extended periods without immediately requiring aerial refuelling.
The Typhoon, by contrast, is designed around high performance, agility and air-superiority capabilities. Its supercruise capability provides an important operational advantage, but longer-range missions can require external fuel tanks or aerial refuelling support.
The F-15SA also benefits from its two-seat configuration. A dedicated weapons systems officer can manage sensors, targeting systems, electronic warfare functions and complex weapons employment while the pilot concentrates on flying the aircraft and responding to threats.
This division of responsibilities can be particularly valuable during complicated strike missions involving multiple targets and mixed weapons configurations.
Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia’s preference for the F-15 in certain combat missions should not be interpreted as evidence that the Eurofighter Typhoon is an inferior aircraft.
The two platforms were developed around different operational priorities, and their capabilities complement each other within the Saudi combat aviation structure.
The Typhoon is particularly effective in air-superiority missions, defensive counter-air operations and engagements requiring rapid response, high manoeuvrability and advanced air-to-air weapons.
Its Meteor missile, powerful radar and aerodynamic performance provide significant advantages in modern air combat. It can also conduct precision ground attacks and has demonstrated its ability to operate in demanding combat environments.
Saudi Eurofighters have reportedly undertaken precision-strike and air-defence missions during the Yemen conflict, including the employment of Paveway IV guided bombs. Meanwhile, F-15 variants have played a major role in strike operations against Houthi military infrastructure.
The Houthi movement has also claimed to have downed both aircraft types, although such claims require independent verification and should not automatically be treated as confirmed combat losses.
Another consideration is Saudi Arabia’s established defence relationship with the United States. Decades of cooperation have created a mature ecosystem for F-15 training, maintenance, spare parts, weapons integration and operational support.
This infrastructure makes it easier for Riyadh to sustain a large American-origin fighter fleet during prolonged military operations.
The Eurofighter programme has faced a more complicated industrial and political environment, particularly because of European export restrictions and the need to coordinate approvals among consortium members. Nevertheless, BAE Systems and other partners have maintained substantial support arrangements for the Saudi fleet.
Ultimately, the consortium’s latest projection of more than 200 potential aircraft sales demonstrates its determination to expand the Eurofighter’s international footprint. Saudi Arabia remains one of its most attractive prospects, particularly given the Kingdom’s existing fleet, financial resources and modernization ambitions.
However, securing another major Saudi order will depend on more than the aircraft’s combat performance. Export approvals, industrial participation, financing arrangements, technology transfer and Riyadh’s broader strategic relationships will all influence the outcome.
For the Eurofighter consortium, a 54-aircraft Saudi agreement would represent a significant commercial and strategic achievement. For Riyadh, the decision will involve determining how much additional capability it needs from the European fighter while continuing to rely on the F-15 as a central component of its high-intensity strike force.
