The first production Hürjet advanced jet trainer built for the Turkish Air Force has completed its maiden flight, marking the start of flight testing for the first aircraft in the configuration intended for operational delivery.
The supersonic advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft remained airborne for 18 minutes on August 30, 2026.
The flight followed the completion of final assembly, ground testing and taxi tests. While the first two Hürjet aircraft have been used for development and flight testing, production aircraft are now being assembled in the configuration planned for Turkish Air Force service.
Developed by Turkish Aerospace, Hürjet is a single-engine, tandem-seat supersonic aircraft designed primarily for advanced and lead-in fighter training. Its role is to bridge the gap between basic jet training and frontline fighter aircraft.
Hürjet is powered by a General Electric F404 afterburning turbofan producing approximately 17,700 pounds of thrust. It has a maximum speed of Mach 1.4, a service ceiling of 45,000 feet, and a published range of 1,060 nautical miles. The aircraft is designed to withstand +8g and -3g loads and can carry up to 7,500 pounds of external payload.
The combination of supersonic performance, high-g maneuverability and modern avionics places Hürjetin the advanced training category alongside aircraft such as the Leonardo M-346 and KAI T-50. Unlike the subsonic M-346, however, Hürjet is capable of supersonic flight. The aircraft is also being developed for light-combat missions, extending its potential use beyond pilot training.
For the Turkish Air Force, Hürjet is intended to replace the ageing T-38 fleet used for advanced jet training. The aircraft has also been associated with the eventual replacement of F-5 aircraft operated by the Turkish Stars aerobatic team.
The T-38 first flew in 1959 and remains a two-seat, twin-engine supersonic trainer. Hürjet uses a single-engine configuration and a modern digital avionics architecture designed around the requirements of contemporary fighter training.
Its performance is particularly relevant to the lead-in fighter trainer role. The aircraft can replicate several characteristics of frontline fighters, including supersonic flight and high-g manoeuvring, while providing a dedicated training platform before pilots transition to more complex combat aircraft.
The Hürjet program was launched in 2017, with the first prototype making its maiden flight on April 25, 2023. Two prototypes have since been used for the flight-test campaign, including testing of the aircraft’s transonic and supersonic performance.
The first production aircraft will now undergo further flight testing and verification before delivery to the Turkish Air Force.
Hürjet has also secured its first international customer. Spain has selected the aircraft as part of its new combat training system and plans to acquire 30 Hürjets to replace its ageing F-5 training fleet.
Airbus is working with Turkish Aerospace on the Spanish program, with deliveries planned from 2028.