Türkiye’s first domestically produced jet-powered training and light attack aircraft, Hürjet, successfully completed its inaugural flight on Tuesday.
Developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), the Hürjet initially started its engine in February.
Featuring a single-engine, tandem cockpit and modern avionics suite, the Hürjet is expected to play a critical role in the Turkish Air Forces Command's inventory, leveraging its superior performance features.
The Hürjet project aims to design, manufacture, and complete qualification and certification activities for the new generation jet trainer by the end of 2025.
The main aim of the project is to replace the Turkish Air Force's T-38 trainer aircraft fleet – consisting of 70 aircraft – and to meet the needs of potential international customers.
The TAI aims to produce two of the aircraft each month after 2025, the head of the company said previously.
TAI head Temel Kotil said at the time that four prototypes will be built first and they will be used during the flight tests.
"We aim to build six to seven aircraft in the first year in the mass production phase and to produce two aircraft per month and 24 aircraft per year from the next year.
"After 2025, two Hürjets will leave the hangar and will be delivered to the customer every month," he said.
The Hürjet project was initially kicked off by the TAI in 2017.
Hürjet, tailored to become a fifth-generation training aircraft, is equipped with an advanced mission computer in its modern cockpit.
The aircraft is supplied with superior radar and sensitive attack systems, and with air and ground communication capabilities, reducing threats and risks.
Hürjet is 13.4 meters (43 feet) long with a wingspan of 11 meters and will provide environmental security in offensive operations.
The advanced jet’s maximum altitude is set at 45,000 feet (14 kilometers), along with its 3,000-kilogram (6,600-pound) payload and a maximum speed of Mach 1.2.
The market size of jet training aircraft has reached an annual average of $1.6 billion (TL 31.07 billion) in 20 years.
Countries like the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Colombia, France, Taiwan, Peru, the United Arab Emirates and Sweden have started working to meet the growing demand, since many of the armed forces around the world, including the Turkish Air Forces, will replace their existing jet training aircraft with advanced versions over the next 10 years.
At the same time, the outstanding performance and warfare techniques of the new generation of warplanes have accompanied the need for higher levels of performance in jet-training aircraft.