HÜRJET Training Aircraft: A Step Toward Spanish Procurement
**The Commander of the Spanish Air and Space Force, General Francisco Braco Carbó, recently visited the facilities of TUSAŞ in Turkey, where he piloted a flight alongside General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, the Commander of the Turkish Air Force. Both commanders took to the skies in two different HÜRJET aircraft. Following the flight, General Carbó remarked, “This is a reliable aircraft ready for transition to a fifth-generation aircraft with good acceleration.”**
This visit signifies a pivotal move by the Spanish Air and Space Force to procure the HÜRJET training aircraft as part of a broader modernization strategy. The aircraft is set to replace the aging Northrop/CASA F-5M planes currently in service at the Fighter and Attack School in Talavera la Real. General Carbó further emphasized the potential for collaboration with TUSAŞ, stating, “TUSAŞ has very interesting aspects regarding the establishment of possible collaborations with the national industry.”
A Historic Collaboration Begins
The HÜRJET training aircraft represents a significant milestone in Spain’s efforts to revitalize its air force. The procurement plan aims to phase out the outdated F-5 jet training aircraft and enhance operational capabilities. Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Spain’s Ministry of Defense and Turkey’s Presidency of the Defense Industry, laying the groundwork for future collaboration on the Jet Training Aircraft Project.
This agreement marks a historic step towards supplying the HÜRJET to Spain, a NATO ally. The announcement was made by Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, the President of the Defense Industry, highlighting the importance of this partnership. The tender for the Jet Training Aircraft Project also featured competitors like South Korea’s KAI T-50 and Italy’s M-346, but the HÜRJET stood out as a strong contender.
Strengthening Defense Ties
In light of this development, Görgün took to social media to express his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We continue to strengthen our collaboration in the defense industry with our allies and share our produced national and local technologies with friendly countries.” His comments reflect a commitment to fostering international partnerships in defense.
He also extended congratulations to all teams involved in this successful process, including TUSAŞ and the Turkish Ambassador to Spain, who represented Turkey during the signing ceremony. This collaboration not only enhances Spain’s training capabilities but also solidifies Turkey’s position in the global defense market.
