Turkish Aerospace has announced that its ATAK helicopter and the New Generation Basic Trainer Aircraft HÜRKUŞ will be flying during the ongoing Farnborough Airshow.
“Participation of one of the biggest International Airshows has more meaning since we participate the show with our indigenous projects," said Prof. Temel Kotil, President and CEO of Turkish Aerospace. "ATAK and HÜRKUŞ will make an impact at flight show and we are proud to display our state-of-art technology products with the visitors. I hope that we have a chance to watch flights shows of Advanced Jet Trainer and Light Attack Aircraft Hurjet and Multirole Heavy Combat Helicopter, which will make first flights on March 18, 2023.”
The single-engine aircraft with tandem-seat and modern avionics will fulfill a critical role in modern pilot training through its superior performance characteristics. The combat variant provides a battlefield force multiplier through a wide range of mission capabilities and an extensive payload.
Turkish Aerospace is also developing the Hurjet jet trainer. “Hurjet aims to replace ageing T-38s as Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT) and F-5s as Acrobatic Team Aircraft of the TuAF,” he said. Though originally designed as a jet trainer, the single-engine, tandem-seat jet will also be equipped with modern avionics and high-performance components to conduct combat missions.
Designed with the goal of 5th-generation training aircraft, Hurjet will be equipped with an advanced mission computer in its modern cockpit. The aircraft will be equipped with state-of-the-art Human Machine Interface (HMI) with minimum conversion time to F-35 and Turkish Fighter.
The aircraft will be supplied with superior radar and sensitive attack systems, and with air and ground communication capabilities, it will reduce threats and risks. Hurjet will be 44.6-feet-long with a wingspan of 31 feet and a payload capacity of 2,721 kilograms.
Considering the multirole aircraft market, Turkish Aerospace has started the Hurjet program with the intention of targeting the potential in the market with its “cost-effective design and production of trainer/light aircraft/s. The company hopes to start serial production of the aircraft in 2025, “based on the success of the performance of the initial units.”
TA has offered the Hurjet to Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) for its requirement of 18 light combat aircraft (LCA). Turkiye is pursuing the sale of the jet trainer with the possibility of local production.
In recent years, Turkish Aerospace has achieved export agreements with many countries for its products. The company will deliver three Anka medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and two ground control stations to Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan has become the first foreign production partner for the Anka UAV from Turkish Aerospace.
Turkish Aerospace and The Philippine government signed a contract to supply six ATAK helicopters. Turkish Aerospace has delivered two T129 ATAK helicopters to the Philippine Air Force. In addition, Turkish Aerospace and Tunisia signed a contract to buy three Anka-S Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). The deal also includes three ground control stations.
