ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey and Britain on Wednesday signed a preliminary agreement for the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Turkey, a significant step in Ankara’s efforts to modernize its air fleet.

Officials signed the deal in Istanbul on Wednesday, confirming a Dow Jones Newswires report published Monday.

Turkey and the UK signed an MoU to advance Eurofighter Typhoon procurement after Germany reportedly approved the export of 40 jets to Ankara.