Turkey’s Hurjet secures its first international order from this country

The Turkish Hurjet trainer has secured its first export deal with Spain. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) will supply 24 Hurjets, marking a major milestone for Turkey’s aerospace sector.

The hurjet is a supersonic, single-engine, tandem-seat jet trainer, designed for various missions like pilot training and light attacks. It can reach speeds of Mach 1.4 and fly at altitudes up to 45,000 feet.

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With modern avionics, it’s the perfect choice for Spain, which is replacing its aging fleet of Northrop F-5 fighters. This deal comes after a competitive evaluation process, where the Hurjet outperformed other contenders, including the Boeing T-7 Red Hawk, KAI T-50/FA-50 Golden Eagle, and Leonardo M-346.

Spain’s decision was made following extensive tests at Torrejon Air Base near Madrid, Hurjet’s first international visit, during July and August of this year.

Spain’s choice to order the tai hurjet follows its desire to replace its fleet of 19 SF-5M aircraft, which are nearing the end of their service life. The Spanish Air Force plans to retire these aging jets by 2028, and the Hurjet will fill that gap.

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This contract is not just a step forward in Spain’s defense modernization but also a boost to the local aerospace industry, which has been looking to revitalize its capabilities since the 1970s, when it developed the C-101 Aviojet.

The Spanish Air Force will begin receiving deliveries in 2025, with the first batch of 24 Hurjets expected to replace its F-5 fleet by the end of the decade. The Turkish Air Force itself has already placed an order for four aircraft, with an additional 12 expected by 2028. Furthermore, the Turkish Stars aerobatic team will also receive 12 Hurjets as part of their fleet.