When will HÜRJET enter service with the Turkish Air Force?
Short answer: HÜRJET is planned to enter Turkish Air Force service in 2026, according to TUSAŞ’s official product page. The first aircraft built for the Air Force made its maiden flight on 30 August 2026 and is now in flight testing. The contract schedule in the SSB’s sector strategy document puts the first four aircraft in 2027. No official handover date has been announced.
Türkiye’s first home-grown supersonic jet — a trainer that will teach the next generation of F-16 and KAAN pilots — is close to entering service. How close depends on which official document you read.
Two official timelines
TUSAŞ, the manufacturer, states on its product page that serial production is under way and the aircraft is “planned to be delivered to the Air Force Command in 2026”. The Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), the procurement authority, gives the contractual schedule in its 2024-2028 Sectoral Strategy Document: four Block-0 aircraft in 2027, followed by twelve Block-1 aircraft in 2028-2029. The contract was signed on 27 December 2022. The two dates are not in conflict: one is the manufacturer’s target, the other the binding schedule.
| Source / event | Entry-into-service information |
|---|---|
| TUSAŞ product page | Delivery to the Air Force in 2026 (target) |
| SSB 2024-2028 Strategy Document | 2027: 4 Block-0; 2028-2029: 12 Block-1 (contract) |
| 30 August 2026 | First delivery aircraft’s maiden flight (18 minutes) |
| Official handover date | Not announced |
The first Air Force aircraft is flying
On 30 August 2026, the anniversary of Türkiye’s Victory Day, the first HÜRJET built to Air Force standard took off from TUSAŞ’s Kahramankazan plant near Ankara, escorted by the first prototype. SSB President Prof. Haluk Görgün announced that the aircraft “successfully completed its first flight after ground and taxi tests”. Unlike the two prototypes flown since 2023, this is the production configuration. Entry into service still requires acceptance testing and a formal handover ceremony.
What entry into service changes
HÜRJET was developed to replace the T-38 Talon in advanced jet training and the F-5s of the Turkish Stars aerobatic team. The transition will be gradual: the first aircraft go to training units, and the T-38 fleet is withdrawn as HÜRJET numbers grow. See Will HÜRJET replace the T-38? and How many HÜRJET will Türkiye buy?
Frequently asked questions
Has HÜRJET entered service?
Not yet. As of September 2026 no aircraft has been formally handed over; the first delivery aircraft is in flight testing.
Which year will HÜRJET enter service?
TUSAŞ targets 2026; the SSB contract schedule shows the first four aircraft in 2027. No exact date has been announced.
How many aircraft are in the first batch?
Four Block-0 aircraft, followed by twelve Block-1.
Related reading
- What is HÜRJET?
- HÜRJET technical specifications
- First delivery aircraft completes maiden flight
- How many HÜRJET will Türkiye buy?
- Will HÜRJET replace the T-38?
Sources: TUSAŞ official HÜRJET product page and press releases; Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) 2024-2028 Sectoral Strategy Document; SSB President Prof. Haluk Görgün’s statement of 30 August 2026; TSKGV; AA/DHA. Updated as official statements are released.
