Both Hürjet prototypes airborne at the same time – with VIPs on board!
The Spanish Air Forces Commander, General Francisco Braco Carbo flew in the back seat of the red and white TAI Hürjet first prototype (24-001), while Turkish Air Force Commander, General…
The Spanish Air Forces Commander, General Francisco Braco Carbo flew in the back seat of the red and white TAI Hürjet first prototype (24-001), while Turkish Air Force Commander, General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, flew in the back seat of the camouflaged TAI Hürjet second prototype (TUS-A003).
The flight was taken as a sign of progress in Spain’s plans to acquire the Hürjet to meet its long standing requirement for a new advanced trainer aircraft. TAI said that the flight: “showcased a remarkable display of cooperation and aerial prowess, flying wing to wing in Türkiye’s indigenous TAI Hürjet aircraft. This symbolic flight highlights the strong defence ties between the two nations and the capabilities of the Hürjet. With each new flight, we not only raise our goals, but also write history with our crescent-starred wings in the blue of the Sky.”
The Northrop SF-5M Freedom Fighters assigned to Ala 23 at Talavera La Real Air Base for advanced training are being upgraded by the Israeli company IAI to extend their operational life until 2030, though it is believed that Spain hopes to induct a new jet trainer by 2028.
The Turkish TAI Hürjet was soon identified as being a front runner to meet the Spanish requirement.
There were unconfirmed reports in early 2024 suggesting that Spain had offered to sell six A400Ms to the Turkish Air Force in exchange for a Spanish procurement of 24 Hürjets.
It was originally expected that a delegation from the Spanish Air and Space Force, including would visit TAI in Ankara in July or August 2024 to evaluate the TAI Hürjet. The decision to send Hürjet directly to Spain “came as a surprise,” and forced TAI to cancel a planned appearance by the aircraft at the Farnborough Airshow. Instead the Hürjet made its debut at the Egypt International Air Show.
It has been estimated that Spain will need 24 Hürjets to replace its 19 surviving SF-5M advanced trainer aircraft (designated as the AE.9 by the Spanish MoD), with potential for further aircraft to equip the Patrulla Águila (Eagle Patrol) aerobatic team. The Patrulla Águila will retire its CASA C-101 Aviojets (often nicknamed as the Culopollo in Spanish service) after the team celebrates its 40th anniversary on 14-15 July 2025.
On 21 February, it was announced that the team’s CASA C-101s will be replaced by Pilatus PC-21 turboprops, but this may be an interim replacement, and there is a perceived need for the team to use a jet in the long term.
After Turkish media reported that a Spanish delegation was expected to inspect and evaluate the aircraft in Turkey, Spain actually evaluated the Hürjet prototype at Torrejon air base, near Madrid, in late July and early August 2024. This forced TUSAS to cancel the aircraft’s planned participation in the Farnborough International Airshow.
Türkiye and Spain (represented by Spain’s Secretary of Defense Amparo Valcarce and Türkiye’s Ambassador to Spain Nuket Kucukel Ezberci) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 20 December 2024. This committed the two nations to collaborating on the Hürjet Trainer Aircraft project.
