The first Hürjet advanced jet trainer intended for delivery to the Turkish Air Force has completed its maiden flight, marking the transition of the Turkish Aerospace program from development prototypes to aircraft being produced for operational service.
The aircraft, identified as TUS-A020, took off on August 30 for an 18-minute sortie accompanied by one of the Hürjet development prototypes, according to Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB).
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SSB President Haluk Görgün described it as the first Hürjet that will be delivered to the Turkish Air Force Command. The flight followed ground and taxi testing of the aircraft.
TUS-A020 flew without its final Turkish Air Force paint scheme, with photographs and video released after the sortie showing the aircraft largely in primer.
The flight should not be confused with the maiden flight of the Hürjet program itself. The first prototype took to the air on April 25, 2023, and Turkish Aerospace has since used two development aircraft for the flight-test campaign.
Turkish Aerospace says the P1 and P2 prototypes have accumulated more than 500 test flights as development of the aircraft continues.
First aircraft for Turkish Air Force
Hürjet was launched in 2017 as Turkey sought a modern supersonic advanced trainer to eventually replace the Turkish Air Force's aging Northrop T-38 Talons.
The service is also expected to use the new aircraft as a successor to the Northrop F-5s operated by its Turkish Stars aerobatic demonstration team.
Unlike the prototypes that have supported the development campaign since 2023, TUS-A020 is part of the production effort for aircraft intended to enter the Turkish Air Force inventory.
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Turkish Aerospace has been assembling the initial aircraft in delivery configuration while continuing certification and development work with its prototype fleet. The manufacturer still lists 2026 for the beginning of deliveries to the Turkish Air Force.
The Hürjet is powered by a single GE Aerospace F404-GE-102 afterburning turbofan and is designed to reach Mach 1.4. The aircraft features a modern glass cockpit and is intended to provide advanced and lead-in fighter training for pilots transitioning to frontline combat aircraft.
Its design also allows the type to perform light combat missions, with multiple external hardpoints for weapons and other stores.
Export program takes shape
The Turkish Air Force will be the first operator of Hürjet, but the program has already secured its first export customer.
Spain selected the Turkish aircraft as the basis for its Integrated Training System – Combat (ITS-C), also known as the SAETA II program, to replace its remaining Northrop F-5M advanced trainers.
The Spanish program involves Airbus and Turkish Aerospace and includes aircraft adapted to Spanish requirements as part of a wider training system.
Spain's selection has given Hürjet an important international customer while the aircraft remains in development and before the Turkish Air Force has placed the type into operational service.
For Turkish Aerospace, the August 30 flight adds a new category of aircraft to the test campaign: rather than another dedicated development prototype, TUS-A020 is an airframe being prepared for eventual handover to the service that initiated the Hürjet program.
