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Spain's air force is set to acquire Türkiye's domestically developed Hurjet advanced jet trainer aircraft, with a formal agreement expected to be signed Wednesday, 14 May, according to Spanish defense news outlet Avion Revue's exclusive report.
The Spanish Defense Ministry will finalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) tomorrow that establishes a framework for future collaboration between Spanish industry and Türkiye's advanced trainer program, multiple industry sources confirmed to Avion Revue.
The program will reportedly include multiple phases, with an initial stage involving aircraft produced entirely in Türkiye but certified by Spanish industry.
A second batch is still under negotiation, with discussions ongoing regarding the incorporation of Spanish systems and broader participation from Spain's defense industry.
This development represents "a crucial step forward for Hurjet to become the platform for training and capabilities of military pilots in Spain, as well as excellent news for both the Spanish Air Force and the Spanish defense industry," according to Avion Revue's report.
The announcement builds on an earlier Memorandum of Understanding for 24 Hurjet aircraft signed between Türkiye and Spain in December 2024. The formalization of this agreement signals growing international interest in Türkiye's aerospace capabilities.
In a recent interview with Aviation Week Network, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) General Manager Mehmet Demiroglu revealed that the Turkish Air Force has already ordered 12 Hurjets, with potential plans to increase this number to 100 pending approval from Türkiye's Defense Industry Executive Committee.
"They are very serious about it," Demiroglu emphasized, noting that the military's commitment goes beyond rhetoric.
Spain has identified Hurjet as a potential replacement for its aging Northrop SF-5 lead-in fighter trainer fleet, with collaboration discussions with Airbus underway to adapt the aircraft to Spanish operational requirements.
"This tells us the product we have is a good product," Demiroglu told Aviation Week on April 22. "Once the Turkish Air Force starts using it, and inshallah, Spain too, this platform could become the training platform of NATO countries."
The Hurjet has recently achieved a significant milestone by reaching Mach 1.2—approximately 1,470 kilometers per hour—during test flights, according to TAI.
This supersonic flight test marks a benchmark in Türkiye's aviation history and demonstrates the growing capabilities of the country's domestic aerospace sector.
The aircraft now outpaces several of its closest international competitors, including the Boeing-Saab T-7 Red Hawk (Mach 0.975, approximately 1,194 km/h) and the Leonardo M-346 (Mach 1.15, approximately 1,408 km/h). It offers comparable performance to the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle, which has a maximum speed of Mach 1.5.
"Hurjet has reached Mach 1.2, surpassing another critical threshold in supersonic jet training. We are pushing our success in the skies even further every day," TAI announced on social media.
The Hurjet, Türkiye's first indigenously developed manned jet-powered aircraft, represents both a technical and strategic milestone in the country's defense aviation strategy.
The Hurjet is designed to replace Türkiye's aging T-38M and NF-5A/B 2000 aircraft. The Turkish Air Force has initially ordered four aircraft, with options for 12 more. Four Hurjets are expected to be delivered by 2025, with 12 Block 1 variants by 2028. Additionally, the Turkish Stars aerobatic team will receive 12 Hurjets.
TAI has secured an agreement with GE Aerospace for 100 F404-GE-102 Turbofan engines to power the Hurjet. The company aims to deliver 100 aircraft to Türkiye and 300 to international customers by the 2030s.
Development of the Hurjet, a twin-seat, single-engine supersonic new-generation jet trainer and light attack aircraft, began on July 2, 2018, under an agreement between TAI, the Secretariat of Defence Industries (SSB), and the Turkish Air Force. Initial studies commenced in July 2017, with the project officially starting on August 14, 2017.
Beyond replacing aging training aircraft in the Turkish Air Force inventory by the 2030s, the Hurjet aims to reduce the operational load on F-16C/D aircraft by taking on close air support roles. TAI also plans to develop a naval version for aircraft carrier operations.
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