The Turkish Presidential Administration’s Defense Industry Directorate is taking steps to test, mass produce and export the country’s first indigenous jet supersonic trainer, the Hurjet.
Two prototype aircraft have already flown about 340 missions and accumulated 260 flight hours.
The aircraft, developed by a Turkish aerospace company, is expected to TUSAŞ, will be transferred to the Turkish Air Force aerobatic team Türk Yıldızları (“Turkish Stars”) in 2026. Currently, the assembly process of the aircraft that is planned to be handed over is still ongoing. The production Hurjet will make its debut flight in the first quarter of next year.
The Hurjet project was launched in August 2017, and the aircraft’s first flight took place in April 2023.
The first completed component was handed over to the final assembly line at a ceremony held on June 10, 2022. After the assembly was completed, ground testing of the Hurjet began, including checking the landing gear, electrical wiring, cabin lighting mechanism, and electrical testing. The avionics, electrical system and fuel required for the first engine start were also tested. The first engine start was carried out on January 30, 2023.
After the flight, the Hurjet continued flight tests. Currently, TUSAŞ is working on creating a mass production infrastructure designed to deliver two aircraft per month.
About 16 Hurjet aircraft will be transferred to the Turkish Air Force. This number is planned to increase to include a variety of aircraft configurations.
The single-engine jet is designed to play a key role in the flight training of modern fighter pilots due to its exceptional capabilities in combat readiness training, armed and unarmed air patrol, and aerobatics.
The Hurjet has a length of 13.6 meters, a height of 4.1 meters and a wingspan 9.5 meters. It is capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 1.4 and flying at a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet.
The aircraft will be able to carry up to 3,000 kg of payload through seven compartments.
Hürjet formation flights with different camouflage schemes and Hürjet performances as part of the Turkish Stars aerobatic team (Türk Yıldızları) have become a notable part of the testing and demonstration of the aircraft’s capabilities.
TUSAŞ is expected to sign a contract to export Hurjet aircraft to Spain in the near future. Company CEO Mehmet Demiroglu said in an interview with El Espanol that both parties are ready to conclude an agreement.
According to Demiroglu, the Hurjet is primarily designed as a training aircraft, but the aircraft can be quickly adapted to new requirements or modified at the request of customers.
Options, configurations and delivery schedule will be announced after signing contract.
The contract involves the purchase of about 45 Hurjet aircraft to replace the fleet of F-5 fighters in Spain. The estimated transaction value is 3.12 billion euros.
Delivery to Spain is planned to begin in 2028.