Turkey’s Hürjet Evolves from Jet Trainer to Multi-Role Combat Aircraft
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The Hürjet, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), is undergoing a notable evolution from an advanced jet trainer into a versatile light combat aircraft. Originally intended to replace the aging T-38M and NF-5A/B fleets of the Turkish Air Force, the Hürjet is now being positioned for a broader operational role that includes naval aviation and air-to-air combat support, underscoring its growing strategic relevance.
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Operationally, the Hürjet’s agility, compact design, and lower logistical footprint make it well-suited for frequent deployments aboard aircraft carriers. (Picture source: TAI)
In recent flight testing, the Hürjet successfully reached Mach 1.2, highlighting its aerodynamic refinement and potential for supersonic mission profiles. This milestone affirms its suitability for a variety of tactical roles, including light strike, close air support, and potentially carrier-based operations. Its performance situates it competitively among its peers, surpassing the Mach 0.975 top speed of the Boeing–Saab T-7A Red Hawk and the Mach 1.15 ceiling of the Leonardo M-346. Only the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle exceeds its speed with Mach 1.5, but the Hürjet offers the added value of full domestic development and seamless integration with Türkiye’s indigenous defense ecosystem.
Public statements increasingly indicate that a navalized version of the Hürjet is being considered as part of Türkiye’s future carrier air wing. This variant would support the naval ambitions of the Turkish Armed Forces, in particular the planned next-generation aircraft carrier currently in development. While the TAI’s fifth-generation Kaan is expected to anchor carrier-based operations in the future, the Hürjet presents a complementary capability for missions where stealth and high-end performance are not mandatory. The envisioned naval modifications include strengthened landing gear, arrestor hooks, and corrosion-resistant coatings, design features necessary for launch and recovery in maritime environments.
Operationally, the Hürjet’s agility, compact design, and lower logistical footprint make it well-suited for frequent deployments aboard aircraft carriers. A navalized version of the Hürjet is planned to be launched from Turkey’s future MÜGEM aircraft carrier project. It is increasingly viewed as a cost-effective and flexible solution for missions including maritime strike, air patrol, and close air support. In these roles, it could serve as a force multiplier for the Kaan, particularly in contested environments where the two platforms could operate in a coordinated fashion.
Another key development is the expected integration of the domestically developed Gökdoğan (beyond-visual-range) and Bozdoğan (within-visual-range) air-to-air missiles, both designed and produced by TÜBİTAK SAGE, Türkiye’s Defense Industries Research and Development Institute. These munitions would significantly enhance the Hürjet’s combat envelope, allowing it to contribute to air defense and escort missions. The aircraft may also serve as a sensor or weapon platform in a loyal wingman configuration, or function as an electronic decoy to protect higher-value assets.
Measuring approximately 14 meters in length with a 9.5-meter wingspan and a payload capacity of 3,000 kilograms, the Hürjet is powered by the F404-GE-102 turbofan engine under an agreement between TAI and GE Aerospace. A total of 100 engines have been ordered to support both domestic needs and anticipated export demand. Equipped with modern avionics, AESA radar, and a tandem-seat cockpit, the aircraft supports a range of missions from pilot training to precision strike and patrol. It will be capable of employing at least nine types of Turkish-made precision-guided munitions, including the SOM cruise missile, the Sarb-83 concrete-penetrating bomb, and the Teber and KGK series guidance kits.
Initial orders from the Turkish Air Force include four aircraft, with options for twelve more. The first units are expected to enter service in 2025, with 12 Block I aircraft planned by 2028. The Turkish Stars aerobatic team will also transition to the Hürjet, further validating its handling qualities and reliability. Looking ahead, TAI aims to produce 100 aircraft for domestic use and up to 300 for export, positioning the platform as a key offering in the light combat and training aircraft market.
Strategically, the development of a navalized Hürjet marks a significant step in Türkiye’s ambition to establish an independent, multi-layered combat aviation capability. As a lighter complement to the fifth-generation Kaan, the Hürjet can help expand Türkiye’s ability to conduct scalable, sustained air operations from both land and sea. Its indigenous design and compatibility with the national defense industry underscore Ankara’s broader push for technological sovereignty and defense export competitiveness.
Launched in August 2017 under the coordination of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), the Hürjet program reflects TAI’s growing role in the global aerospace sector. Full-scale development began in July 2018, with the goal of producing two aircraft per month once serial production is certified. Reports suggest international interest is already growing, notably from Spain, where the Hürjet is being considered as a future training platform for fifth-generation aircraft.
The Hürjet embodies more than a new generation of Turkish aerospace engineering, it signals a strategic shift toward integrated, sovereign airpower. Its transformation into a multi-role, carrier-capable combat aircraft reflects Türkiye’s ambition to operate a versatile, cost-efficient, and fully indigenous air fleet that can meet the demands of modern warfare across diverse operational domains.
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{loadposition sidebarpub}
The Hürjet, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), is undergoing a notable evolution from an advanced jet trainer into a versatile light combat aircraft. Originally intended to replace the aging T-38M and NF-5A/B fleets of the Turkish Air Force, the Hürjet is now being positioned for a broader operational role that includes naval aviation and air-to-air combat support, underscoring its growing strategic relevance.
Operationally, the Hürjet’s agility, compact design, and lower logistical footprint make it well-suited for frequent deployments aboard aircraft carriers. (Picture source: TAI)
In recent flight testing, the Hürjet successfully reached Mach 1.2, highlighting its aerodynamic refinement and potential for supersonic mission profiles. This milestone affirms its suitability for a variety of tactical roles, including light strike, close air support, and potentially carrier-based operations. Its performance situates it competitively among its peers, surpassing the Mach 0.975 top speed of the Boeing–Saab T-7A Red Hawk and the Mach 1.15 ceiling of the Leonardo M-346. Only the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle exceeds its speed with Mach 1.5, but the Hürjet offers the added value of full domestic development and seamless integration with Türkiye’s indigenous defense ecosystem.
Public statements increasingly indicate that a navalized version of the Hürjet is being considered as part of Türkiye’s future carrier air wing. This variant would support the naval ambitions of the Turkish Armed Forces, in particular the planned next-generation aircraft carrier currently in development. While the TAI’s fifth-generation Kaan is expected to anchor carrier-based operations in the future, the Hürjet presents a complementary capability for missions where stealth and high-end performance are not mandatory. The envisioned naval modifications include strengthened landing gear, arrestor hooks, and corrosion-resistant coatings, design features necessary for launch and recovery in maritime environments.
Operationally, the Hürjet’s agility, compact design, and lower logistical footprint make it well-suited for frequent deployments aboard aircraft carriers. A navalized version of the Hürjet is planned to be launched from Turkey’s future MÜGEM aircraft carrier project. It is increasingly viewed as a cost-effective and flexible solution for missions including maritime strike, air patrol, and close air support. In these roles, it could serve as a force multiplier for the Kaan, particularly in contested environments where the two platforms could operate in a coordinated fashion.
Another key development is the expected integration of the domestically developed Gökdoğan (beyond-visual-range) and Bozdoğan (within-visual-range) air-to-air missiles, both designed and produced by TÜBİTAK SAGE, Türkiye’s Defense Industries Research and Development Institute. These munitions would significantly enhance the Hürjet’s combat envelope, allowing it to contribute to air defense and escort missions. The aircraft may also serve as a sensor or weapon platform in a loyal wingman configuration, or function as an electronic decoy to protect higher-value assets.
Measuring approximately 14 meters in length with a 9.5-meter wingspan and a payload capacity of 3,000 kilograms, the Hürjet is powered by the F404-GE-102 turbofan engine under an agreement between TAI and GE Aerospace. A total of 100 engines have been ordered to support both domestic needs and anticipated export demand. Equipped with modern avionics, AESA radar, and a tandem-seat cockpit, the aircraft supports a range of missions from pilot training to precision strike and patrol. It will be capable of employing at least nine types of Turkish-made precision-guided munitions, including the SOM cruise missile, the Sarb-83 concrete-penetrating bomb, and the Teber and KGK series guidance kits.
Initial orders from the Turkish Air Force include four aircraft, with options for twelve more. The first units are expected to enter service in 2025, with 12 Block I aircraft planned by 2028. The Turkish Stars aerobatic team will also transition to the Hürjet, further validating its handling qualities and reliability. Looking ahead, TAI aims to produce 100 aircraft for domestic use and up to 300 for export, positioning the platform as a key offering in the light combat and training aircraft market.
Strategically, the development of a navalized Hürjet marks a significant step in Türkiye’s ambition to establish an independent, multi-layered combat aviation capability. As a lighter complement to the fifth-generation Kaan, the Hürjet can help expand Türkiye’s ability to conduct scalable, sustained air operations from both land and sea. Its indigenous design and compatibility with the national defense industry underscore Ankara’s broader push for technological sovereignty and defense export competitiveness.
Launched in August 2017 under the coordination of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), the Hürjet program reflects TAI’s growing role in the global aerospace sector. Full-scale development began in July 2018, with the goal of producing two aircraft per month once serial production is certified. Reports suggest international interest is already growing, notably from Spain, where the Hürjet is being considered as a future training platform for fifth-generation aircraft.
The Hürjet embodies more than a new generation of Turkish aerospace engineering, it signals a strategic shift toward integrated, sovereign airpower. Its transformation into a multi-role, carrier-capable combat aircraft reflects Türkiye’s ambition to operate a versatile, cost-efficient, and fully indigenous air fleet that can meet the demands of modern warfare across diverse operational domains.
