, Haluk Görgün, head of the Presidency of the Defense Industry, announced on Monday.){kind=link}
Spain has signed a contract with Turkey to purchase 30 Turkish-made Hürjet jet trainer aircraft in a deal valued at €2.6 billion ($3 billion), Haluk Görgün, head of the Presidency of the Defense Industry, announced on Monday.
The deal would be Turkey’s first export of a jet aircraft to a NATO ally.
The contract was signed between Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Airbus and Spain’s Ministry of Defense as part of Spain’s integrated advanced jet training system, Görgün said.
Turkish officials said the aircraft will be built at TAI facilities. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2028.
Görgün said the package includes 30 Hürjet aircraft along with a training package that covers advanced pilot training, ground-based simulation systems, maintenance infrastructure and long-term operational support.
Spain has been moving to modernize its advanced jet trainer fleet, including by considering Turkish-made aircraft. Spain’s defense ministry has said Spain will take part in Hürjet’s industrial production.
Spanish aerospace firm Airtificial signed a contract with Turkish Aerospace in November to manufacture flight control systems for the aircraft at its facility in Seville.
Developed by Turkish Aerospace, the Hürjet is a twin-seat, single-engine supersonic jet designed for advanced training and light attack missions. The aircraft made its first flight in April 2023 after development began in 2017.
Turkey plans to replace its T-38M and NF-5 trainer aircraft with the Hürjet in the 2030s and is considering the platform for close air support missions along with its F-16 fleet. TAI has said it also plans to develop a carrier-capable naval version.
The Hürjet will compete with Boeing’s T-7, Korea Aerospace Industries’ T-50 and Leonardo’s M-346 in the export market.