Hurjet prepares for first overseas flight
Turkish aircraft Hurjet flies over Mediterranean skies
Hurjet, Türkiye’s first jet-powered supersonic trainer aircraft, is set to make its first overseas flight in Egypt.
As part of the May 19 Youth and Sports Day celebrations commemorating Ataturk, Hurjet, which first departed from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) facilities in Kahramankazan to perform a special show in Samsun, later flew in Izmir during the EFES-2024 Combined Joint Live Fire Exercise.
Following these domestic flights, Hurjet is preparing to take to the skies abroad for the first time. Hurjet will participate in the Egypt International Airshow from Sept. 3-5, showcasing its capabilities during the planned demonstration.
Egypt, which is searching for an aircraft in this class, has shown interest in Hurjet. Discussions about Hurjet and other TAI products will take place during the airshow, particularly with Egypt and other countries in the region.
The Egypt International Airshow, one of the most prestigious aviation and defense events in the Middle East and North Africa, brings together leading names in the international aviation industry, defense industry professionals, and technology enthusiasts.
The event offers opportunities to establish new partnerships and connect with regional markets, with global manufacturers such as Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and Dassault Aviation showcasing their products and technologies.
Additionally, the event features flight demonstrations by world-renowned aerobatic teams, military air forces, and various aircraft.
Market wind blowing behind Hurjet
Hurjet’s involvement in the jet trainer aircraft market holds significant potential.
The market size in this field has reached an annual average of $1.6 billion over the past 20 years.
In the next decade, several countries, including Türkiye, will upgrade their military jet trainers to more advanced models. The Turkish Air Forces Command is among those planning replacements to meet rising demands. Nations like the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Colombia, France, Taiwan, Peru, the United Arab Emirates, and Sweden have already initiated these efforts to modernize their fleets.
Additionally, the superior performances and combat techniques of next-generation fighter jets have brought about the need for higher performance in jet trainer aircraft. This has increased interest in new-generation jet trainer aircraft.
Target: 2 Hurjets per month
The Hurjet Jet Trainer and Light Attack Aircraft Project, developed with domestic and national resources, began in August 2017.
Hurjet, Türkiye’s first jet-powered supersonic trainer aircraft, started its engine for the first time on Jan. 30, 2023. It met the runway for taxi tests on March 18, 2023, and took to the skies for the first time on April 25, 2023.
TAI aims to produce six to seven aircraft in the first year of Hurjet’s mass production process and to manufacture two aircraft per month, or 24 per year, from the following year onward. The goal is to have two Hurjets ready for delivery to customers each month starting from 2025.
