Turkish Aerospace, TUSAŞ Engine Industries and GE Aerospace Extend HÜRJET Collaboration

Our Bureau - : Jul 24, 2025 - : 1:20 pm

GE Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the ongoing IDEF, with Turkish Aerospace and TUSAŞ Engine Industries Inc. (TEI) to evaluate and collaborate on integrating GE Aerospace’s F404 engine into new HÜRJET aircraft variants. This agreement is a further extension of the companies’ current relationship on the HÜRJET programme.

The HÜRJET advanced training jet programme is the first aircraft of its type to be manufactured in Türkiye. The prior agreement among the three companies saw the F404 engine successfully incorporated into the Turkish Air Force’s HÜRJET training jet, which is currently undergoing qualification. The HÜRJET is expected to be highly competitive in the global training jet market.

The collaboration, which extends the three companies’ existing collaboration on phase 1 of the HÜRJET programme and supports Türkiye’s advanced-technology industrial base in addition to strengthening its position as a technology and engineering hub for the global and defense aviation industry.

“This aircraft fulfils a critical role in modern pilot training by delivering excellent performance in a single-engine, tandem-seat configuration, alongside modern avionics and high-performance features. We believe this MOU will bring success to all parties,” said Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu, President and CEO of Turkish Aerospace.

Under the agreement, the three companies have agreed to pursue collaboration on flight testing of the HÜRJET programme’s new variants and to explore applications of other engine and system products of GE Aerospace's Defense & Systems business.

For these new variants and potential new customers, the parties are exploring TEI, a joint venture company between GE Aerospace and Turkish Aerospace established in 1985, to perform the assembly, inspection, and testing of the F404 engines in Türkiye.

TEI would also provide assembly, maintenance, repair, and overhaul for the engine for Turkish Aerospace HÜRJET aircraft and export customers. The subject agreement will also serve the purpose of enabling TEI to potentially provide services for global F404 end-users for platforms other than HÜRJET.

“For the past 40 years, TEI has been a major manufacturing supplier for military and commercial engines for international OEMs, as well as an exceptional authorized service provider for various military engines worldwide,” said Prof. Mahmut F. Akşit, General Manager, TEI. “Today’s agreement reflects this heritage and extends our work on one of the nation’s most important aircraft programs. TEI plans to perform production of the engines and provide integrated logistics support (ILS) for end-users. We strongly believe that our solid commitment and partnership in the program will add another success story to Türkiye’s defense and aviation industries.”

TEI is an important contributor to GE Aerospace’s global supply chain – manufacturing hundreds of engine components for GE Aerospace and its partners*, including turbines and compressors for CFM LEAP, GEnx, and GE9X engines, and prototyping for the CFM RISE** (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) program.

“Through this MOU, GE Aerospace is proud to deepen our nearly six-decade commitment to Türkiye’s economic development and participate in a program that builds on the strengths of each party to create a program with global prospects,” said Amy Gowder, President & CEO, Defense & System at GE Aerospace. “As long-term partners, GE Aerospace, Turkish Aerospace, and TEI complement one another, enabling continued success for the HÜRJET program.”

Sixteen nations have F404-powered aircraft in operation or on order, reflecting the turbofan engine’s position as one of the most versatile engines in its class and a proven engine of choice for Air Force applications around the globe.

Turkish-aerospace / Ge-aerospace / Tusas-2 / Hurjet-3 / Idef /