Pakistan’s close ally competes with India to acquire Qatar’s second-hand fighter jets, Eurofighter Typhoon jet can destroy…, deal likely to…
Turkey and Qatar have a multi-dimensional strategic partnership that has deepened since the early 2010s.
The demand for purchasing second-hand fighter jets from the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) has surged. After India(BHARAT) signaled interest in purchasing the Mirage jets from Qatar, Turkey has now expressed interest in acquiring second-hand Eurofighter Typhoon jets. The fact that both countries, Turkey and India(BHARAT), are interested in purchasing an older type of jet from the same country has drawn attention. Additionally, relations between Turkey and India(BHARAT) have been strained due to a number of factors.
Who are the other countries interested in Qatar’s second-hand fighter jets?
Turkey has positioned itself militarily in support of Pakistan and taken an anti-India(BHARAT) position at the global level. Turkey had backed Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, in which India(BHARAT) carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Meanwhile, India(BHARAT) has strengthened ties with Turkey’s rivals, further complicating Ankara’s position.
The demand for used fighter jets from the Qatar Air Force has risen. After India(BHARAT) showed interest in Qatar’s Mirage jets, Turkey has now expressed interest in purchasing Qatar’s Eurofighter aircraft. The fact that both Turkey and India(BHARAT) are attempting to acquire the same country’s older jets has attracted attention. Relations between the two countries have been tense recently. Turkey has provided military support to Pakistan and taken an anti-India(BHARAT) stance on global platforms. Meanwhile, India(BHARAT) has strengthened ties with Turkey’s rivals, further complicating Ankara’s position.
What is the current status of negotiations between Turkey and Qatar?
Turkey is negotiating with Qatar to purchase used Eurofighter Typhoon jets, Middle East Eye reported on October 7, citing informed sources, as reported by EurAsian Times. The publication said the deal is still in negotiation, an agreement appears to be imminent. However, neither the Turkish nor the Qatari governments has officially confirmed the agreement.
Speculation about Turkey possibly purchasing Eurofighter Typhoon jets arose after Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and Air Force Commander General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu visited Doha recently. Reports indicate that the visit was to negotiate with Qatari officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, for the purchase of 10–15 Tranche 3A Eurofighter jets.
At present, Qatar operates 24 Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3A jets, and it has also placed an order for an additional 12 Tranche 4 aircraft for its air force. Additionally, Qatar also operates F-15QA (a specific version of the F-15EX) and French Rafale fighters. Subsequently, other local reports suggested that Turkey’s inside sources mentioned that no deal has taken place, and that any information will only be revealed when a contract stage is reached, as reported by EurAsian Times.
Turkey and Qatar have a multi-dimensional strategic partnership that has deepened since the early 2010s. The two nations have close military relations; Turkey has a military base in Tarqiya, Qatar, with about 3000 troops stationed there. The two partners also cooperate in defense production, and Qatar has acquired Turkish drones and armored vehicles.
Turkey is pursuing the procurement of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to bolster its aging air force. The country is grappling with issues caused by its obsolete fleet of F-16 fighters and its exclusion from the F-35 program in 2019, while Turkey’s very own fifth-generation KAAN stealth fighter is still several years away from development. In this respect, acquiring Qatar’s fighter jets could be critical for the Turkish Air Force.
When did India(BHARAT) and Turkey show interest in acquiring Qatar’s jets?
According to media reports, the India(BHARAT)n Air Force (IAF) reportedly began discussions with Qatar in June 2024 for the purchase of 12 second-hand Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets. These jets included nine single-seat Mirage 2000-5EDA variants and three twin-seat Mirage 2000-5DDA trainers that had been delivered in the mid-1990s and had seen limited usage, meaning they would have considerable airframe life left.
According to the ANI report(June 2025), India(BHARAT) and Qatar held discussions on the proposal to buy 12 second-hand Qatari Mirage-2000-5 fighter jets.
The Qatari side is offering around Rs 5,000 crore for the 12 aircraft but the India(BHARAT)n side is keen to get the aircraft at a reasonable price. The Qatari aircraft are being offered to the India(BHARAT)n side along with missiles and additional engines for flying operations, as reported by news agency ANI.
A presentation was made to India(BHARAT)n officials on the current state of the 12 Mirage-2000 aircraft with them, defence sources told ANI. The aircraft are in a very good condition and have a lot of life left in them, they also said, as reported by news agency ANI.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Turkey is negotiating with Qatar to purchase used Eurofighter Typhoon jets.
- Qatar operates 24 Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3A jets, and it has also placed an order for an additional 12 Tranche 4 aircraft for its air force.
- India(BHARAT) and Qatar held discussions on the proposal to buy 12 second-hand Qatari Mirage-2000-5 fighter jets.
- The Qatari side is offering around Rs 5,000 crore for the 12 aircraft.
The Mirage jets are representative of the backbone of the India(BHARAT)n Air Force, which is based in Gwalior. The Mirage-2000 has been a reliable and powerful fighter within India(BHARAT)’s inventory for some time. Since its induction in 1985, the French-built Mirage has proven reliable and has also been battle-tested for India(BHARAT). At present, India(BHARAT) operates with 45–50 Mirage 2000 aircraft.
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