TAI Hürjet
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The TAI Hürjet (named after
Vecihi Hürkuş Vecihi Hürkuş (6 January 1896 – 16 July 1969) was a Turkish fighter pilot, aviation engineer and aviation pioneer. He built Turkey's first aircraft, the Vecihi K-VI, and founded the first civil flight school of the nation. Born in Istan ...
) is a single-engine, tandem seat, supersonic advanced
jet trainer A jet trainer is a jet aircraft for use as a Trainer (aircraft), trainer, whether for basic or advanced flight training. Jet trainers are either custom designs or modifications of existing aircraft. With the introduction of military jet-powered ai ...
and
light combat aircraft A light combat aircraft (LCA) is a light, multirole jet/turboprop military aircraft, commonly derived from advanced trainer designs, designed for engaging in light combat. The mission can either be in a light strike or attack missions, reconna ...
, under development by
Turkish Aerospace Industries Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (, TAI or TUSAŞ) is a state-owned Arms industry, arms company in Turkey. History On 16 August 1925 the Turkish Aircraft and Engine Limited Company ''()'' factory was founded in Kayseri, Turkey. The company ...
(TAI). The first prototype made its first flight on 25 April 2023. The Turkish Air Force intends to use the design to replace the
Northrop T-38 Talon The Northrop T-38 Talon is a two-seat, twinjet Supersonic aircraft, supersonic jet trainer designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Northrop Corporation. It was the world's first supersonic trainer as well as the most produced. ...
in the trainer role and also to supplement the
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American single-engine supersonic Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superio ...
for
close air support Close air support (CAS) is defined as aerial warfare actions—often air-to-ground actions such as strafes or airstrikes—by military aircraft against hostile targets in close proximity to friendly forces. A form of fire support, CAS requires ...
. The aircraft is also planned to replace the
Northrop F-5 The Northrop F-5 is a family of supersonic light fighter aircraft initially designed as a privately funded project in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation. There are two main models: the original F-5A and F-5B Freedom Fighter variants, and th ...
used by the
Turkish Stars The Turkish Stars () are the aerobatic demonstration team of the Turkish Air Force and the national aerobatics team of Turkey. The Turkish Stars is the seventh and final aerobatic team established under the Turkish Air Force. The team was formed ...
aerobatic team. A naval version of the aircraft may also be developed. The company also plans to pursue export orders to countries looking to replace older trainer and ground attack aircraft.


Design and development

The project was initiated by TAI in August 2017 as a private venture. A mock-up was displayed at the 2018
Farnborough International Airshow The Farnborough International Airshow is a trade exhibition for the aerospace and defence industries, where civilian and military aircraft are demonstrated to potential customers and investors in Farnborough, Hampshire. Since its first show in ...
. On 22 July 2018, the Turkish Under-secretariat for Defence Industries announced that the
Turkish Air Force The Turkish Air Force () is the Air force, air and space force of the Turkish Armed Forces. It traces its origins to 1 June 1911 when it was founded as the Ottoman Aviation Squadrons, Aviation Squadrons by the Ottoman Empire. It was composed ...
had signed an agreement with TAI, giving the project official status to move development forward. the aircraft did not have an engine selected, although the
Eurojet EJ200 The Eurojet EJ200 is a military low-bypass turbofan used as the powerplant of the Eurofighter Typhoon. The engine is largely based on the Rolls-Royce XG-40 technology demonstrator, which was developed in the 1980s. The EJ200 is built by the ...
and the General Electric F404-GE-102 were under consideration at the time. Capabilities are planned to include
air-to-air refuelling Aerial refueling ( en-us), or aerial refuelling (en-gb), also referred to as air refueling, in-flight refueling (IFR), air-to-air refueling (AAR), and tanking, is the process of transferring aviation fuel from one aircraft (the tanker) to anot ...
,
fly-by-wire Fly-by-wire (FBW) is a system that replaces the conventional aircraft flight control system#Hydro-mechanical, manual flight controls of an aircraft with an electronic interface. The movements of flight controls are converted to electronic sig ...
with parameter limiting, built in
auxiliary power unit An auxiliary power unit (APU) is a device on a vehicle that provides energy for functions other than propulsion. They are commonly found on large aircraft and naval ships as well as some large land vehicles. Aircraft APUs generally produce 115&n ...
,
night vision goggle A night-vision device (NVD), also known as a night optical/observation device (NOD) or night-vision goggle (NVG), is an optoelectronic device that allows visualization of images in low levels of light, improving the user's night vision. The ...
-compatible cockpit,
head-up display A head-up display, or heads-up display, also known as a HUD () or head-up guidance system (HGS), is any transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints. The origin of the name stems from a ...
and an integrated helmet display system. TAI completed the first test simulator for the aircraft in September 2020. Designated Hürjet 270, the artificial intelligence based simulator will incorporate feedback from the test pilots to change the flight control algorithms and the avionics software during the flight test process. The company has developed simulator avionics, flight control systems, screen, cockpit and communication systems for the simulator. Turkey has invited Malaysia to join the Hürjet project, in the role of producing some parts for the aircraft. While Malaysia has some experience developing composite materials, it has never designed and built any aircraft. On January 12, 2022, the Defense Industry Executive Committee convened and announced that the first stage mass production decision was taken for the Hürjet, which is scheduled to make its first flight in 2025. On April 25, 2023, the maiden flight of the Hürjet was conducted from TAI's testing airfield in Ankara, by Hürjet's Chief Testing Pilot Ercan Çelik. On September 3, 2023, the Hürjet prototype successfully conducted a formation flight with the Turkish Stars aerobatic team, completing a total of 17 flights, accumulating a total of 9 hours and 8 minutes of flight time. In May 2024, the Hürjet prototype successfully conducted a formation flight with an ANKA-3 stealth UCAV prototype, completing a total of 66 flights. On July 11, 2024, the Hürjet prototype successfully conducted a
transonic Transonic (or transsonic) flow is air flowing around an object at a speed that generates regions of both subsonic and Supersonic speed, supersonic airflow around that object. The exact range of speeds depends on the object's critical Mach numb ...
flight test, reaching a speed of Mach 0.9 at an altitude of 30,000 feet, completing a total of 79 flights. On July 22, 2024, TAI,
GE Aerospace General Electric Company, doing business as GE Aerospace, is an American aircraft engine supplier that is headquartered in Evendale, Ohio, outside Cincinnati. It is the legal successor to the original General Electric Company founded in 1892, w ...
and TEI signed a Memorandum of Understanding on integrating the F404 engine into new Hürjet aircraft variants and performing assembly, inspection, and testing of the F404 engines in Turkey. TEI would also provide assembly, maintenance, repair, and overhaul for the engine for Hürjet aircraft and export customers. TEI also plans to perform production of the engines and provide integrated logistics support (ILS) for end-users. On July 28, 2024, the first Hürjet, designated tail number #24-001 with Turkish Air Force
insignia An insignia () is a sign or mark distinguishing a group, grade, rank, or function. It can be a symbol of personal power or that of an official group or governing body. An insignia, which is typically made of metal or fabric, is a standalone sy ...
, successfully landed in
Torrejón Air Base Torrejón Air Base (Base Aérea de Torrejón de Ardoz) is both a major Spanish Air and Space Force base and the co-located Madrid–Torrejón Airport, a secondary civilian airport for the city and metropolitan area of Madrid, east-northeast of t ...
for evaluation by the
Spanish Air and Space Force The Spanish Air and Space Force () is the Aerial warfare, aerial and space warfare branch of the Spanish Armed Forces. History Early stages Hot air balloons have been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with th ...
regarding Spain's tender to replace its F-5 aircraft fleet. The flight started in TAI facilities in Ankara ( LTAE) with stops in Tekirdağ ( TEQ), Belgrade ( BEG), Brescia ( VBS) and Mont-de-Marsan ( LFBM) before arriving in Madrid ( TOJ). On August 16, 2024, the Hürjet prototype successfully conducted its 100th flight piloted by TAI test pilots Ercan Çelik and Orhan Boran, accumulating a total of 118 hours of flight time. The Hürjet prototype is expected to be showcased to the Egyptian Air Force and other militaries from Africa and the Middle East with a demonstration flight at the Egypt International Airshow 2024. On 12 November the second prototype of Hürjet successfully completed its first flight. The second Hürjet prototype (PT-2, TUS-A003), remained airborne for 26 minutes on its first flight, reaching a speed of 260 knots and an altitude of 10,000 feet, with an F-16D flying ‘chase’. On 21 November the second prototype of Hürjet took off into the sky with its new paint. On 26 February 2025,
Turkish Air Force The Turkish Air Force () is the Air force, air and space force of the Turkish Armed Forces. It traces its origins to 1 June 1911 when it was founded as the Ottoman Aviation Squadrons, Aviation Squadrons by the Ottoman Empire. It was composed ...
Commander General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu and
Spanish Air Force The Spanish Air and Space Force () is the aerial and space warfare branch of the Spanish Armed Forces. History Early stages Hot air balloons have been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with the help of Al ...
Commander General Francisco Braco Carbo performed a formation flight with two Hürjet prototypes.


Future operators


Türkiye

The initial procurement order of 4 Block 0 units (with option of additional 12 Block 1 units) was later converted to a final order of 16 units with advancement of delivery dates.


Spain

In July 2024, TAI Hürjet flew to Spain, participating in the tender to replace Spain's ageing
Northrop F-5 The Northrop F-5 is a family of supersonic light fighter aircraft initially designed as a privately funded project in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation. There are two main models: the original F-5A and F-5B Freedom Fighter variants, and th ...
fleet. The next month, there were rumors that Spain is interested in procurement of 24 Hürjets, in exchange for six
Airbus A400M The Airbus A400M AtlasNamed after the Atlas (mythology), Greek mythological figure. is a European four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It was designed by Airbus Military, now Airbus Defence and Space, as a tactical airlifter with ...
tactical airlifters, which were then softly denied by the Turkish
Ministry of National Defense A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and military forces, found in states where the government is divide ...
. On 20 December 2024, Spanish and Turkish officials signed the memorandum for cooperation, formalizing the deal for the first time. With the agreement signed between TAI,
Airbus Airbus SE ( ; ; ; ) is a Pan-European aerospace corporation. The company's primary business is the design and manufacturing of commercial aircraft but it also has separate Airbus Defence and Space, defence and space and Airbus Helicopters, he ...
and the Spanish Ministry of Defense on May 14, 2025, the Spanish Air Force will receive 24 Hürjets through joint infrastructure production.


Potential operators


United States

The TAI Hürjet will participate in the US Navy tender to replace its
T-45 Goshawk The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) T-45 Goshawk is a highly modified version of the British BAE Systems Hawk land-based training jet aircraft. Manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) and British Aerospace (now BAE Systems), the T-45 is u ...
aircraft. The replacement plan has been delayed by 2 years, postponing the period to the second quarter of 2028. The US Navy will acquire 145 jet trainers in total. Participants will be the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk
TF-50N
version of KAI T-50 modified in cooperation with
Lockheed Martin The Lockheed Martin Corporation is an American Arms industry, defense and aerospace manufacturer with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta on March 15, 1995. It is headquartered in North ...
, M-346N version of Alenia Aermacchi M-346 modified in cooperation with
Textron Textron Inc. is an American industrial Conglomerate (company), conglomerate based in Providence, Rhode Island. Textron's subsidiaries include Arctic Cat, Bell Textron, Kautex, Textron Aviation (which itself includes the Beechcraft and Cessna b ...
, a version of TAI Hürjet modified in cooperation with
Sierra Nevada Corporation Sierra Nevada Corporation (also styled SNC) is an American aerospace, defense, electronics, engineering and manufacturing corporation that specializes in aircraft modification, integration and other space technologies. The corporation contracts ...
to meet US Navy criteria.


Failed bids


Malaysia

The TAI Hürjet participated in the
Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
Light combat aircraft A light combat aircraft (LCA) is a light, multirole jet/turboprop military aircraft, commonly derived from advanced trainer designs, designed for engaging in light combat. The mission can either be in a light strike or attack missions, reconna ...
tender which started in 2021. Malaysia had a budget of $900 million to acquire 18 LCA. The companies and their products that submitted their bids for the tender for the light combat aircraft of the Malaysian Air Force were the
KAI T-50 The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle () is the first South Korean supersonic advanced jet trainer, light combat aircraft, and light strike-fighter developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) with Lockheed Martin. It is South Korea's first indigenous s ...
, TAI Hürjet,
Aero L-39NG The Aero L-39 Skyfox, also known as Aero L-39NG ("Next Generation"), is a turbofan-powered military trainer and light combat aircraft developed and produced by the Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody. It is a successor of the Cold War e ...
,
Alenia Aermacchi M-346 The Aermacchi M-346 Master is a family of military twin-engine transonic advanced jet trainers and light combat aircraft. Originally co-developed with Yakovlev as the Yak/AEM-130, the partnership was dissolved in 2000 and then Alenia Aermacchi p ...
,
HAL Tejas The HAL Tejas () is an Indian single-engine, delta wing, Multirole combat aircraft, multirole Military aircraft, combat aircraft designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for t ...
, and
Mikoyan MiG-35 The Mikoyan MiG-35 (; NATO reporting name: Fulcrum-F) is a Russian multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter that is designed by Mikoyan, a division of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). Marketed as a Fourth-generation fighter, 4++ gener ...
. In 2023 Malaysia announced the KAI T-50 as a winner of the tender.


Variants

;Trainer :Advanced supersonic jet trainer version :* Block 0 - prototype variant :* Block 1 - production variant ;SNC/TAI Freedom :An aircraft based on the same design for the U.S. Air Force's
T-X program The T-X program is a United States Air Force development and acquisition program for a new two-seat jet trainer to replace the Northrop T-38 Talon. On 27 September 2018, the US Air Force selected the Boeing/Saab T-X entry to become its train ...
, developed in cooperation with
Sierra Nevada Corporation Sierra Nevada Corporation (also styled SNC) is an American aerospace, defense, electronics, engineering and manufacturing corporation that specializes in aircraft modification, integration and other space technologies. The corporation contracts ...
(SNC). The program aimed to find a successor to the Northrop T-38 Talon. The companies formed Freedom Aircraft Ventures LLC, based in
Centennial, Colorado Centennial is a home rule city located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 108,418 at the 2020 United States census, making Centennial the 11th most populous municipality in Colorado. Centennial is a principal ...
, to develop the aircraft. The SNC/TAI proposal lost to the Boeing-Saab T-7 Red Hawk. ;Light Combat Aircraft :Version for close air support and armed air policing roles. The combat variant will carry locally produced air-to-air missiles and air-to-ground bombs.


Specifications


See also


References


External links

* {{TAI aircraft Single-engined jet aircraft 2020s Turkish military trainer aircraft Shoulder-wing aircraft Hurjet Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear Aircraft first flown in 2023