Aviation & Space TURKISH DEFENSE INDUSTRY

What Is the HÜRJET? Türkiye’s Indigenous Jet Trainer and Light Combat Aircraft — 45 Jets Exported to Spain

Bottom Line: HÜRJET is an indigenous, supersonic advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ). It first flew on 25 April 2023 and will replace the Turkish Air Force’s half-century-old T-38 trainers; Spain’s ~€3.1 billion deal for 45 HÜRJETs is the first Western export of a Turkish combat jet.

An air force’s strength is measured not only by its fighters but by the trainers that produce their pilots. The Turkish Air Force long relied on 1960s-era Northrop T-38 Talon trainers; HÜRJET fills that gap with an indigenous solution.

But HÜRJET is not just a trainer. TUSAŞ has evolved the aircraft from a supersonic advanced jet trainer into a light combat aircraft, so it can both train pilots and take on light strike missions. Spain’s order for 45 jets has turned the programme into an export success.

At a Glance

TypeAdvanced jet trainer + light combat aircraft

MakerTUSAŞ (Turkish Aerospace Industries)

EngineGE F404-GE-102 (single), Mach 1.4

First flight25 April 2023

ExportSpain — 45 HÜRJET, ~€3.1 billion

RolePilot training (incl. KAAN) + light strike

ReplacesNorthrop T-38 Talon / F-5

What Is HÜRJET and Why It Was Developed

HÜRJET is a single-engine, tandem two-seat, supersonic advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft. Roughly 14 metres long, it reaches Mach 1.4 on a GE F404-GE-102 turbofan, with a 45,000 ft ceiling and a 2,222 km range, and can carry up to 3,000 kg of payload.

The programme aims to replace the Turkish Air Force’s half-century-old T-38 Talon trainers with an indigenous platform and to train the pilots of the future — including for the indigenous fighter KAAN — on a modern aircraft. The first prototype took off on 25 April 2023.

A Turkish Air Force Northrop T-38 Talon trainer. HÜRJET is replacing these 1960s-era aircraft. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

From Jet Trainer to Light Combat Aircraft

HÜRJET’s most striking feature is that a single aircraft can take on two roles. In its training configuration, with a modern cockpit and avionics, it provides advanced flight training — even serving as a Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) for transition to next-generation aircraft like KAAN.

In its light-combat configuration, HÜRJET can carry various munitions on underwing stations: the SOM-J cruise missile, the BOZDOĞAN air-to-air missile, precision-guided bombs and a gun. In that respect it sits in the same class as global rivals such as the M-346, the T-7A Red Hawk and the FA-50.

Feature	Value
Type	Advanced jet trainer + light combat
Maker	TUSAŞ
Engine	GE F404-GE-102 (single)
Top speed	Mach 1.4 (supersonic)
Range	2,222 km
Service ceiling	45,000 ft
Payload	3,000 kg
First flight	25 April 2023
Export	Spain — 45 jets (~€3.1 billion)

The Spain Export: A Turning Point

HÜRJET’s most strategic development is the export deal with Spain. After a memorandum signed between TUSAŞ, Airbus and the Spanish Ministry of Defence in May 2025, the Spanish government approved an acquisition of 45 HÜRJETs worth around €3.1 billion in October 2025. The Spanish Air Force will replace its old F-5 trainers with these jets, with part of production carried out in joint infrastructure.

This is a historic step as the first export of a Turkish combat jet to a Western European / NATO country. Türkiye is rising to the status of an aerospace producer that not only meets its own needs but can sell jets to an allied European nation. TUSAŞ has ordered 100 engines for domestic and export demand.

HÜRJET's tail (Turkish Aerospace emblem) and a munition under the wing. Beyond training, the aircraft can carry weapons in a light-combat role. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0) — HÜRJET’s tail (Turkish Aerospace emblem) and a munition under the wing. Beyond training, the aircraft can carry weapons in a light-combat role. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Strategic Meaning for Türkiye

HÜRJET is part of Türkiye’s vertical integration in aviation. The country now produces indigenously not only the fighter (KAAN) but the trainer that produces its pilots. This means an end-to-end national air-power ecosystem that reduces dependence on foreign supply and export licenses.

The ecosystem links are strong: HÜRJET will bridge the training of KAAN pilots and, in its light-combat role, can carry indigenous missiles like BOZDOĞAN. The aircraft brings together different Turkish defense projects — airframe, engine integration, missile, avionics — on a single platform.

The export dimension makes the model sustainable. The Spain deal showed that Türkiye is a serious player in the middle-tier jet market, competing with South Korea (FA-50), Italy (M-346) and the U.S. (T-7A). A Turkish jet about to fly in European skies symbolizes the level the Turkish aerospace industry has reached.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HÜRJET and who makes it?

An indigenous, supersonic advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft developed by TUSAŞ. It first flew on 25 April 2023.

Which aircraft will HÜRJET replace?

It will replace the Turkish Air Force’s 1960s-era Northrop T-38 Talon trainers and train the pilots of the future, including for KAAN.

What is the deal with Spain?

Spain approved an acquisition of 45 HÜRJETs worth around €3.1 billion in 2025 — the first export of a Turkish combat jet to a Western European country.

Can HÜRJET carry weapons?

Yes. In its light-combat configuration it can carry the SOM-J, the BOZDOĞAN air-to-air missile, guided bombs and a gun, placing it in the same class as the M-346, T-7A and FA-50.

Conclusion

HÜRJET symbolizes Türkiye’s move to indigenize not just its fighter but the trainer that produces its pilots. With a design spanning from a supersonic trainer to a light combat aircraft, and an export of 45 jets to Spain, HÜRJET strengthens the Turkish aerospace industry’s identity as both indigenous and an exporter.