Turkish Aerospace is displaying a full-size mockup of its Hurkus turboprop trainer at the ongoing IDEX, with the intent to explore market opportunities in the region. Speaking to Atul Chandra, GBP Daily News Editor, at the show, Dr Mehmet Demiroğlu,...
To read the full article, please log in or enter your email below:
Turkish Aerospace is displaying a full-size mockup of its Hurkus turboprop trainer at the ongoing IDEX, with the intent to explore market opportunities in the region.
Speaking to Atul Chandra, GBP Daily News Editor, at the show, Dr Mehmet Demiroğlu, General Manager, Turkish Aerospace, outlined the company’s ambitions for its trainer aircraft and also provided an update on Spain’s decision to opt for the Hurjet.
Edited excerpts from the interview:
Please provide an update on Spain's selection of Hurjet?
We have made a lot of progress and things are going well. Everybody is happy with the progress. We are now actively working on incorporating the specific Spanish requirements. So we are very happy overall, and of course for the fact that Hurjet has been selected by an important NATO air force. This is a huge achievement in itself. When we complete the contract signing and then the first delivery, we will be very happy.
The advanced avionics on the Hurjet, which also has a Large Area Display, was one of the key factors in our victory in this competition. Another important aspect was the supersonic capability of the aircraft and the fact that it is powered by the same engine type as the one used on Spanish F-18s. This is an engine that they are familiar with and have a deep understanding of, besides having the MRO capability. So all these factors, combined with the excellent relationship between Turkey and Spain and the existing strong bilateral cooperation between the two nations in the defence and civil sector, helped us.
You are showcasing the Hurkus basic trainer in the UAE. What is the market potential for the type here?
Here in the UAE, there is the Calidus B-250 that has been indigenously developed. So, we are in communication with Calidus, not only to collaborate on different technologies but also on the local production of Hurkus. They are asking our help with the manufacture of some components for the B-250 and we have told them that we are happy to discuss it. Of course, we would like to market and sell our own aircraft, but then it is not always about selling things. It is also about creating a collaboration and partnership.
We hope that the Hurjet will have a market here as it is a step up from the Hurkus. We are also developing a light attack version, which we are confident will have strong market demand. We are discussing the Hurjet with the UAE. When it comes to the Hurjet, we are hoping to sell atleast 300 aircraft in the future.
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Biomass satellite, built by Airbus, has departed from Toulouse and is en route to Kourou,…
American Rheinmetall Vehicles has rebranded as American Rheinmetall, a change intended to reflect its commitment to serving customers across all…
EDGE, an advanced technology and defence group, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Emirates Cable Corporation Interconnect (ECCI)…
The International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) and the Naval Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) will be held at the ADNEC…
Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), part of the EDGE Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with German sensor…
The Brazilian National Secretariat for Penal Policies (SENAPPEN) has signed an initial contract worth R$7 million with CONDOR Non-Lethal Technologies,…
The Philippine Army (PA) has confirmed plans to acquire short-range air defence missile systems, with funding already allocated in the…
The Brazilian Navy has signed an agreement for the integration of MANSUP anti-ship missiles onto its Tamandaré-class stealth frigates. The…
CARACAL Light Ammunition, a subsidiary of the UAE’s EDGE Group, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with PT Pindad,…
Milrem Robotics has partnered with Abu Dhabi-based SteerAI to enhance the UAE land forces' capabilities with autonomous unmanned ground vehicles…
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a Type Certificate for the Airbus A321XLR equipped with Pratt &…
The Israeli Ministry of Defence's Directorate for International Defence Cooperation (SIBAT), in collaboration with leading Israeli defence firms, participated in…
Israeli company Smartshooter and German company IEA Mil-Optics have received another significant order to supply a mid-three-digit number of Smartshooter…
Algeria has formally acknowledged that it has acquired Russian Su-57 stealth fighter aircraft, making it the jet's first international customer.…
IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 signals the coming of age of UAE's growing domestic defence industry, with Abu Dhabi-based Edge Group…
Pratt & Whitney, a division of RTX, has been awarded a three-year contract worth up to $1.5 billion to sustain…
Abu Dhabi-based firms VentureOne and CARACAL have introduced Centurion, a new body armour system designed by the Technology Innovation Institute…
Intercontinental Aviation Academy GCC (IAA GCC) has been established as a new aviation training institution through a partnership between HADID…
EDGE entity TRUST has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Point Trading Group, an Australian company supplying equipment and…
EDGE Group’s Learning & Innovation Factory (LIF) and the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) have signed a…
TRUST, a subsidiary of the UAE-based EDGE group, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Germany’s Diehl Defence to…
TRUST International Group, an entity under EDGE, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Leonardo DRS to collaborate on…
Tawazun Quality and Conformity has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with French company MBDA to strengthen cooperation in the…
AL TAIF, a subsidiary of EDGE Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FNSS to modernise a fleet…
EDGE, a defence and technology group, has signed an agreement with CMN NAVAL to collaborate on naval projects. The agreement…
Spectra Group has secured a contract to supply the Irish Defence Force with Comtech’s Troposcatter Compact Over-the-Horizon Mobile Expeditionary Terminals…
FatHopes Energy Sdn Bhd (FHE), a Malaysian biofuel feedstock aggregator, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Denmark-based Topsoe…
Milrem Robotics, EM&E Group, and Thales in Belgium will jointly explore commercial cooperation in the United Arab Emirates. The MoU…
KATIM, an EDGE entity specialising in secure communications and data protection, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Australian…
Hensoldt has introduced the DL-6000, its latest data link system, at IDEX 2025. The sixth-generation solution facilitates secure, long-range, line-of-sight…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.