Turkish Aerospace Industries will exhibit a full-size model of its Hurjet trainer in Spanish Air Force markings at the Feindef 2025 exhibition.
Few months after Spain and Turkey signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to procure the Turkish Aerospace Industries’ (TAI) Hurjet, the Turkish manufacturer is set to showcase full-size model of the aircraft in Spanish Air Force markings at the Feindef 2025 exhibition. Feindef, the International Defense and Security Exhibition of Spain, will be held in Madrid from May 12 to 14, 2025.
Spain evaluated the Hurjet prototype between July and August 2024 at Torrejon air base, near Madrid, and has now provisionally selected the aircraft as the new trainer which will replace the Spanish Air Force’s aging fleet of 19 SF-5M jet trainers. The program is set to be launched this year and, given the presence of TAI’s President and CEO Mehmet Demiroğlu at Feindef, it is possible that new developments will be announced soon.
The full-scale model of Hurjet has been painted in a grey low-visibility livery, although the aircraft is still disassembled and missing wings and both horizontal and vertical stabilizers. A Spanish Air Force roundel is visible near the tail, while the codes “231-01” are painted below the cockpit.
The new aircraft would be assigned to Ala 23 (23rd Wing) at Talavera La Real Air Base, which currently operates the F-5Ms. The F-5s have the code 23 painted below the cockpit, however the Hurjet’s code 231 could possibly be a reference to Ala 23’s 231 Escuadrón (231st Squadron), the unit of the flight instructors.
According to InfoDefensa, Ala 23 is currently assigned 19 F-5Ms used to train pilots as part of the Fighter and Attack Phase of their training to become Eurofighter and F-18 (Spain doesn’t use the F/A-19 designation) pilots. The report mentions that 28 or 30 new aircraft might be acquired, with a budget of €275 million ($309.5 million).
InfoDefensa further highlights that the choice of the future trainer has not been confirmed yet, although Hurjet appears to be the most likely winner. Additionally, the service’s Chief of Staff General Francisco Braco has also flown on the Turkish aircraft.
Hurjet
The Hurjet is a twin-seat, single-engine supersonic “new-generation” jet trainer, which can also be employed as a light attack aircraft, and first flew on Apr. 25, 2023. The initial studies for the “Jet Trainer Aircraft & Light Attack Aircraft Project” commenced in July 2017, with the project officially starting in August of that year.
The Hurjet was developed as a supersonic domestic jet trainer to replace the T-38M and NF-5A/B 2000 aircraft in the Turkish Air Force fleet by the 2030s. The aircraft is also expected to equip the Turkish Stars aerobatic team and complement the F-16 in the light Close Air Support role, according to the reports.
TAI (also known as TUSAS) announced on Jul. 11, 2024, that the Hurjet successfully completed its 79th sortie, clocking a speed of Mach 0.9 at an altitude of 30,000 ft. Hurjet is expected to be able to reach Mach 1.4 at a maximum altitude of 45,000 ft, with a payload of 6,000 lb and a range of 1,200 NM.
Among the jet’s features, the company mentions carefree handling with high AoA (angle of attack) controllability, a full authority, Digital Fly-by-Wire Flight Control System, aerial refueling capability, Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) for autonomous operations, full glass cockpit with Head-up Display (HUD), Helmet Mounted Display (HMD), State-of-the-art HMI (Human-Machine Interface), NVIS (Night Vision Imaging System) compatibility, datalinks and Embedded Tactical Training & Live Virtual Constructive Training systems.
Just before the visit to Spain, where the aircraft arrived at the end of July, TAI, GE Aerospace and Turkish Engine Industries (TEI) signed an MoU to integrate the F404 -GE-102 turbofan engine on the Hurjet. This also included an agreement for local assembly, maintenance, repair and overhaul. Initially, the Eurojet EJ200 was also considered.
The jet made its first international appearance at the Egyptian International Airshow in September, although it was expected to attend the Farnborough International Airshow in July. Shortly before, in August, the jet completed the 100th test flight.
The second prototype performed its first flight in November, showing some modifications. Among them are a new radome, different air inlets and the installation of wingtip missile rails.
The aircraft is still in its developmental phase and has not yet entered serial production. However, TAI says it plans to start production in 2025 with the first deliveries in 2026.
Spain’s SF-5M replacement effort
Since 2023, SASF has been seeking a new generation jet trainer to replace its 19 Northrop SF-5M Freedom Fighter jet trainers (designated by the Spanish MoD as AE.9), with plans to induct the new jets in service by 2028. Hurjet was among four contenders to replace the SF-5M, including the Boeing T-7 Red Hawk, KAI T-50/FA-50 Golden Eagle, and Leonardo M-346.
After its delivery to Spain, Hurjet will serve in the Ala 23 at Talavera La Real Air Base, which currently operates the SF-5M. The aircraft would take over the advanced flight training phase which prepares pilots for the EF-18M Hornet and Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.
The Freedom Fighters arrived in Spain in the 1970s, replacing the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star. They have already undergone two modernization processes, one in 1990 and the other in 2008, with a third currently underway as the Israeli company IAI was contracted to extend the SF-5M’s operational life until 2030.
