TUSAŞ General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu announced that the first delivery of the HÜRKUŞ trainer aircraft will take place in June. The 2026 target is the delivery of 22 aircraft.
Delivery Process for the HÜRKUŞ Trainer Aircraft Clarified
Responding to questions from NTV during the 5th Defense and Aviation Industry Meeting held in Antalya, TUSAŞ General Manager Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu made important statements regarding the long-awaited HÜRKUŞ trainer aircraft. Demiroğlu announced that the first delivery will be carried out in June.
“We Will Start With the First Delivery in June”
Providing information on the current process of HÜRKUŞ, Demiroğlu stated that testing activities are ongoing and used the following remarks:
“Our tests on the HÜRKUŞ aircraft are currently continuing. We have a few months of testing left ahead of us. Then we will move on to the final acceptance phase. Hopefully, we will start with the first delivery in June. Our delivery target for this year is 22. We are trying not to go below this number and aiming to exceed it.”
The HÜRKUŞ Project Began in 2006
One of TAI’s most important R&D projects, HÜRKUŞ was launched in 2006 with an agreement signed between the then Undersecretariat for Defence Industries and TUSAŞ . The A model of the aircraft made its maiden flight in 2013, taking to the skies.
According to the plan:
- EASA certification was obtained with the HÜRKUŞ-A model
- HÜRKUŞ-B was developed for the Turkish Air Force
- HÜRKUŞ-C was designed as an armed platform
Export Success and New Contract
In the first phase, 3 prototypes and 15 mass-production aircraft were manufactured. Some of the mass-produced aircraft were exported to Niger and Chad.
In line with the new requirements of the Turkish Air Force, a new contract was signed between the Presidency of Defence Industries and TUSAŞ in April 2024. Under this plan, which covers a total of 55 HÜRKUŞ aircraft, the delivery of the first aircraft is planned for June 2026.
Delivery Schedule Clarified
- 2026 target: Delivery of 22 aircraft
- Remaining aircraft: To be delivered in 2027
The delivered aircraft will enter service at the 2nd Main Jet Base Command located in İzmir Çiğli.
Next-Generation HÜRKUŞ Is Lighter and More Powerful
With the design changes made to the new HÜRKUŞ, the total weight has been reduced by approximately 450–500 kilograms. Considering the current HÜRKUŞ’s maximum take-off weight of 3,750 kilograms, this change stands out as a significant gain.
Increased use of composite materials
- Preference for lighter metals and alloys
- Weight reduction through thinning of metal parts
- Performance and Endurance Increased
Thanks to the reduction in weight:
- Aircraft performance has been increased
- Fuel consumption has been reduced
- Endurance has been extended
- The ability to carry more payload for longer durations has been achieved
- Notable Changes in Aerodynamics and Design
The prominent design differences in the new HÜRKUŞ are listed as follows:
- More aerodynamic nose (spinner) design
- Changes in engine air intakes and exhaust outlets
- Slimmed nose profile
- Design and weight optimisation of the nose landing gear
- Smaller and more efficient winglet (curved wingtip) structure
- Aerodynamic improvements at wing–fuselage junction points
- New and more effective tail design
A Strong Step in Defence Aviation
Experts state that with HÜRKUŞ’s new configuration and the clarified delivery schedule, an important threshold has been crossed for the Turkish defence and aviation industry, strengthening the project’s potential for both domestic use and exports.
