Türkiye to send flight crews to UK for Eurofighter training

National Defense Ministry spokesperson Zeki Akturk said on Thursday that Türkiye will dispatch flight crews to the United Kingdom in August to commence Eurofighter Typhoon training, marking the operational phase of the multi-year procurement contract signed between the two NATO allies. Speaking at the ministry's weekly press briefing held at defense contractor ROKETSAN's Lalahan campus — established in 1988 to develop strategic defense systems including precision-guided munitions and space technologies — Akturk noted that pilot instruction will begin shortly after personnel arrive in Britain, with both flight crews and maintenance teams to be deployed in phases over the coming years.

Regional security activities

Akturk stated that the Turkish Armed Forces continue contributing to regional stability through bilateral cooperation and multinational missions, marking the 52nd anniversary of the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation that secured the legitimate rights of Turkish Cypriots and established lasting peace on the divided island. Defense Minister Yasar Guler traveled to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on July 19-20 alongside senior military commanders and Deputy Defense Minister Salih Ayhan to attend anniversary commemorations and hold official meetings with local authorities.

Multinational exercises

The Turkish military maintains training schedules across Europe, with the Breeze exercise in Bulgaria concluding on July 19 while Sea Breeze 2 in the United Kingdom and Joint Fire in Slovakia remain underway alongside ongoing NATO naval operations and port visits under UNIFIL mandates, Akturk noted. TCG Osmangazi conducted a training visit to Alexandria, Egypt, while Turkish fighter jets carried out NATO missions over the Eastern Mediterranean, Romania, and Poland this week alongside a ceremonial flyover in Erzurum marking the 107th anniversary of the Erzurum Congress.

The General Directorate of Mapping has digitized 172 Turkish military cemeteries and memorials in 48 countries, making the database publicly accessible online.