Hürjet Specs, Speed, Weapons and Export Orders: Türkiye’s Supersonic Jet Trainer Explained

The Hürjet is Türkiye’s supersonic jet trainer and light combat aircraft, built by Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) to train the pilots who will fly the F-16, the Eurofighter and, eventually, the KAAN. It has also become one of the country’s most promising aviation exports, with Spain now planning to buy up to 45.

What is the Hürjet?

The Hürjet is a tandem two-seat jet designed to replace the Turkish Air Force’s ageing T-38 Talon trainers. The program was launched in 2017, and the first prototype flew in April 2023, a remarkably fast timeline for a new combat-capable jet. A production-standard aircraft has since joined the flight test program.

Specs

The Hürjet is powered by a single General Electric F404 engine, the same family used in the F/A-18 Hornet, India’s Tejas and South Korea’s T-50. That gives it a top speed of about Mach 1.4, around 1,700 km/h, and a service ceiling of 13,700 meters. It is 13.6 meters long with a wingspan of 9.5 meters and an empty weight of about 4,500 kg.

Weapons and the light attack version

Beyond training, a light combat variant can carry up to about 3,400 kg of external stores on seven hardpoints, including Turkish guided bombs, rockets and air-to-air missiles. That makes it a candidate for air forces that need an affordable jet for close air support, air policing and lead-in fighter training. TUSAŞ has also studied a naval version for operations from ships such as TCG Anadolu.

Export success: Spain

Spain chose the Hürjet to replace its F-5 trainers, signing a contract for 30 aircraft with first deliveries scheduled for 2028. In October 2026, TUSAŞ chief executive Mehmet Demiroğlu said Spain plans to buy 15 more, which would bring its fleet to 45, although no firm contract for the extra jets has been signed yet. Airbus Spain is involved in the program, giving the aircraft a foothold in European industry.

How it compares

The Hürjet competes with South Korea’s T-50/FA-50, Italy’s Leonardo M-346 and the Boeing-Saab T-7A Red Hawk. It is faster than the M-346 and similar in performance to the T-50, and Ankara is betting that a modern design, competitive price and fewer export restrictions will win more customers.

Why it matters

For Türkiye, the Hürjet is more than a trainer. It builds the design and production skills TUSAŞ needs for the KAAN and proves that Turkish combat aircraft can sell in Western Europe. If more orders follow, it could become the country’s first true export jet.

Featured image: CeeGee / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons