BAE Systems and Turkish Aerospace sign MoU on UAS collaboration

BAE Systems and Turkish Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 6 November 2025 to explore collaboration in the development of uncrewed air systems (UASs).

The agreement will see specialists from Turkish Aerospace, Türkiye’s leading aerospace and defence company, work together with BAE Systems’ combat air experts to explore common opportunities on UASs.

“We see this as the start of a deep and meaningful alliance between our two organisations, each bringing complementary skills and capabilities to the table and a strong portfolio of uncrewed assets, which we can leverage and combine to create a range of compelling and cost-effective solutions,” Dave Holmes, managing director of BAE Systems’ FalconWorks division, was quoted as saying in a company press release.

“The agreement builds on the strong existing relationship between both companies and will allow us to bring our already proven uncrewed systems capabilities to new heights,” added Turkish Aerospace CEO Dr Mehmet Demiroğlu. “We want to jointly explore how we can accelerate progress and new market opportunities in this field.”

Nothing further was stated by the companies, but the MoU follows a brace of recent Turkish aircraft orders involving the UK. On 16 October 2025 the Turkish Ministry of National Defense confirmed that its long-expected plan to acquire 12 ex-Royal Air Force C-130J-10 Hercules transport aircraft was going ahead.

Then, on 27 October, a multi-billion-pound deal was signed in Ankara by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan under which Türkiye will be supplied with 20 new UK-built Eurofighter Typhoons. These aircraft will be supplemented by 12 second-hand Typhoons from Qatar and probably another 10-12 from Oman.