Airbus HÜRJET/SAETA II Programme Manager Raúl Rosino stated that HÜRJET/SAETA II advanced trainer for Spain might evolve towards a light combat aircraft role.
Spain-based news platform El Español reported that there is interest from Spain in developing a light combat aircraft (LCA) variant of the HÜRJET/SAETA II advanced trainer to be developed by TUSAŞ and to be localised for the Spanish Air and Space Force (EdAE) under Airbus leadership.
Airbus HÜRJET/SAETA II Programme Manager Raúl Rosino officially confirmed the projections for a SAETA II LCA in his statement at the event for the project held in Spain:
“What we are going to implement in this first program is focused on training capabilities, leaving provisions and preparing to evolve into a future program with attack capabilities.”
This marks the second opportunity for TUSAŞ to pitch HÜRJET in LCA configuration, after Malaysia’s bid for an advanced trainer/LCA. HÜRJET in LCA configuration can be fitted with an AESA radar and more than three tonnes of munitions ranging from air-to-air missiles to guided bombs.
The second prototype of HÜRJET has been seen with a new nose design with larger volume and wingtip pylons, which hints at preliminary armament testing being planned in the near term. The wingtip pylon is related to WVRAAM/BVRAAMs’ integration. At the same time, the larger nose is understood to be a provision for the integration of MURAD AESA radar (Unclear if MURAD 100-A used on F-16 ÖZGÜR, AKINCI, and KIZILELMA).
LCA have gained considerable attention in the 21st century with the rising costs for full-sized fighter jets due to the use of high-performance engines and sensors. While a LCA does not offer the same flight performance, payload capacity, or sensor potency as a fighter jet, it can perform lower-end missions like close air support or combat air patrol at a significantly lower unit and maintenance cost. Additionally, due to being developed on advanced trainer designs, these aircraft can double as trainers and red force aircraft for drills.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
