Spain Seeks to Buy 15 More Turkish Hürjet Aircraft, TAI CEO Says

The Spanish Air and Space Force plans to purchase an additional 15 Hürjet trainer and light combat aircraft.

The Ulusavunma media outlet reported this, citing a statement by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) CEO Mehmet Demiroğlu.

According to Demiroğlu, the new aircraft would supplement the previously agreed batch of 30. If an agreement is signed, Spain’s Hürjet fleet would grow to 45 aircraft.

The first deliveries under the existing contract for 30 aircraft are scheduled for 2028. No separate firm contract for the additional 15 aircraft has been signed yet, but Spain is already working on the relevant plans.

Hürjet

Turkish company TAI developed the Hürjet trainer and light combat aircraft to replace aging Northrop T-38 Talon and Canadair NF-5 aircraft and train pilots to fly modern fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets.

The Hürjet made its first flight in April 2023, followed by an intensive flight-test program.

The Spanish Air and Space Force selected the Turkish platform as part of a program to modernize its training aircraft fleet.

The Hürjet is intended to fully replace the aging American F-5M (SF-5M) aircraft used for advanced pilot training.

A single General Electric F404 turbojet engine powers the aircraft. The powerplant enables the Hürjet to reach a maximum speed of Mach 1.4 (about 1,700 km/h) and a service ceiling of 13,700 meters.

The aircraft is 13.6 meters long and has a 9.5-meter wingspan. Its empty weight is 4,500 kg.

In the light attack configuration, the Hürjet can carry up to 3,400 kg of external payload. It has seven hardpoints for weapons and additional equipment.

Airbus recently presented the first of 20 Tranche 4 Eurofighter aircraft built for the Spanish Air and Space Force under the Halcón I program.