TUSAŞ General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu stated that they have made progress in negotiations with a transatlantic customer for HÜRJET.
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu stated that they have made progress in negotiations with a transatlantic customer for HÜRJET, which has significant demand from Europe, North Africa, Central Asia and the Turkic Republics.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency correspondent in Kocaeli, where he came to attend the Defence Industry Kocaeli Provincial Meeting and Match4Industry Bilateral Business Meetings event, Demiroğlu reminded that the second prototype of Turkiye’s first national jet training aircraft HÜRJET completed its maiden flight.
Noting that the first prototype flew in April of last year, Demiroğlu explained that the second prototype was both a light attack and training aircraft configuration.
Demiroğlu drew attention to the second prototype’s slightly improved configuration and said, “Because we learned many lessons from the previous prototype. There were areas that needed to be fixed. The pilots commented, ‘Yes, this is better; the aircraft is closer to the aircraft we wanted.’ This is our second aircraft, but we will manufacture a few more prototypes next year. We will deliver our training aircraft to our Air Force as of 2026. We are working with all our might for that.”
Demiroğlu, who stated that these projects are prototypes that are being developed step by step, said that they will improve by integrating the firing tests related to both the training aircraft and the light attack aircraft and the air-ground, air-air, and other ammunition.
Demiroğlu noted that they have started the serial production of the HÜRJET and will deliver 13 of the 17 current orders to the Turkish Air Force.
Demiroğlu stated that they see this as a start, saying, “It is expected to reach 100; right now, it is only for our Air Force’s needs… There is serious demand for the HÜRJET in Europe, North Africa, Central Asia and the Turkish republics. Our negotiations with them have also progressed considerably. In fact, we have been negotiating with a customer that we can call transatlantic for a long time, and we are making progress. We will share these with you when the time comes, and the situation becomes clearer.”
Demiroğlu said they are very pleased and hopeful about HÜRJET and said, “It will really be one of our best-selling platforms for both our country and TUSAŞ.”
Demiroğlu explained that they are the main integrators in HÜRJET and said, “When we sell an aircraft, we are not just selling an aircraft. It is not just TUSAŞ; it includes ASELSAN, Roketsan, and HAVELSAN; it has spare parts and subsystems. In other words, hundreds of our companies are actually selling a part, a subsystem. When I talk to our subcontractors, I use the following expression, ‘Our job is to make you fly.’ Both make you fly and take you to the world arena, to the world arena.”
Emphasizing that it is a great privilege for their companies to be able to say “I have a piece of it” on HÜRJET, GÖKBEY, KAAN or any platform, Demiroğlu concluded his speech as follows: “Because you enter the world arena and start asking the world players, ‘Wait a minute, can I work here too?’ and you are not limited to Turkey, you become able to sell goods to the world. This is a success of the ecosystem, not just TUSAŞ.”
It is known that TUSAŞ has been strengthening its presence and collaborations in Latin America through various initiatives:
It has a joint venture with an Argentine technology firm, INVAP company GSATCOM, on satellite and space.
TUSAŞ established an office in Santiago, Chile, to coordinate regional operations and strengthen its footprint in Latin America. In April 2024, it attended the FIDAE 2024, the International Air and Space Fair in Chile. The company also participates in regional defence fairs like Colombia’s Expodefensa and Brazil’s LAAD Defence and Security.
Regarding transatlantic, the US and Canada should also come to mind, but aviation in these two countries is highly developed, and there is no information about a new tender for light attack and trainer aircraft.
Aircraft companies such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Embraer, and Bombardier stand out in North and Latin America.
The Colombian Air Force has evaluated the Republic of Korea's KAI FA-50 and TA-50 models to select a modern jet trainer and light attack aircraft to replace its old A-37B Dragonfly aircraft. These aircraft will serve in training and operational roles. Colombia also plans to renew its Kfir jets.
Uruguay: The purchase of six A-29 Super Tucanos from Embraer has been approved. The total value of the deal is approximately $100 million.
Argentina recently purchased 24 F-16 second-hand fighter jets. However, it continues to develop the IA-63 Pampa III light attack and trainer aircraft with local production.
