BEIRUT — Turkish Aerospace (TA) is developing a maritime version of its light attack and trainer aircraft Hurjet, as the company eyes increased exports to NATO countries.
“We have recently started work on a navalized version of HÜRJET,” TA CEO Mehmet Demiroglu said at a Turkish naval expo today, according to a transcript the firm provided to Breaking Defense. “It is still too early to define exactly what the aircraft will look like. Maritime operating conditions are significantly more demanding than land-based operations, and the aircraft will also need a more powerful engine.”
He added that TA has been in discussions with the UK for its trainer procurement program for nearly a year now. “We will continue to do everything required on our side as the process moves forward,” Demiroglu said.
In April, Turkey inked a contract to equip the Spanish military with Hurjet trainers, after TA and Airbus signed an agreement in 2025 to coproduce the aircraft in Spain.
“We believe HÜRJET has the potential to become not only the trainer aircraft of Türkiye and Spain, but also a training platform for NATO,” Demiroglu said.
He noted that the company plans to start deliveries to the Turkish Air Force by the end of 2027, followed by delivery to Spain by 2028.
“In addition to our first two flying aircraft, four more prototypes are currently in production,” Demiroglu said. “The first of these is expected to make its maiden flight very soon. Following that, we aim to fly at least two additional HÜRJET aircraft by the end of this year.”
The TA CEO’s comments were made at the Teknofest Blue Homeland naval expo, which is taking place in Kocaeli, northwestern Turkey, this week.
The state-owned TA is also designing and building Turkey’s ambitious fifth-generation fighter jet, the KAAN.
“We do not foresee any issues with the planned deliveries, and there is currently no issue regarding the engine,” Demiroglu said of the fifth-generation aircraft project.
KAAN’s first batches will be powered with General Electric-built engines, after the US cleared for export the American company’s F110 engines. TA will rely on the US-built engines until its national engine, TF35000, is ready for operation by 2030, according to Turkish authorities. The engine, which is being developed by the domestic firm Tusas Engine Industries, is still in the design phase.
“The KAAN P0 aircraft has already flown,” Demiroglu said, referring to TA’s designation for a prototype of the jet. “This year, we plan to fly two additional KAAN aircraft. We also have one static test aircraft, which is currently being used for structural and ground durability testing. Our objective is to begin KAAN deliveries by the end of 2028.”
The company’s CEO concluded that “with the third prototype, we will also begin KAAN’s weapon integration and live weapon testing activities. These tests will cover both external weapon stations under the wings and the aircraft’s internal weapon bays.”
Orijinal Haberi Görüntüle
