Shocked the world !! Turkey launch new fifth-gen light-attack combat aircraft

Turkey, has flown the first example of its Hurjet jet trainer and light attack aircraft, in the latest milestone for a country that’s rapidly developing new homegrown aerospace technologies.

While the Hurjet is primarily expected to provide training to future Turkish fast-jet pilots, it also offers a significant level of performance and advanced avionics, making it suitable for combat missions, too, and it’s even been touted to possibly operate from the Turkish Navy’s innovative hybrid drone-carrier-assault ship, the TCG Anadolu.

the Hurjet took off for the first time on April 23, from the main Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) facility outside Ankara. An official video, plus unofficial footage that appeared on social media, showed the unpainted Hurjet accompanied by an F-16 fighter jet during its maiden flight. The flight reportedly lasted 26 minutes and saw the Hurjet reach a speed of 250 knots and an altitude of 14,000 feet.

The event has been met with considerable fanfare in Turkey, because the Hurjet is the first jet-powered manned aircraft to be developed from scratch in the country, and it will also be the first Turkish-made jet with supersonic performance.

The maiden flight was preceded by engine tests of the U.S.-supplied General Electric F404 turbofan, which began in February. Taxi test then the following month.

Overall. the project has been run at an impressive pace, something that’s becoming an increasingly prominent feature of Turkey’s aerospace programs. As well as the HUrjet, other notable projects include the TF-X next-generation fighter, the Anka-3 low-observable flying wing unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV), and the fighter-like Bayraktar Kizilelma drone that is already in flight testing.

TAI, only began work on the Hürjet project in 2017, and the company has an aggressive schedule for the future, with plans to launch the series production of two aircraft per month from 2026. A lot could happen before then, of course, with delays and problems being a regular feature of test programs for new military aircraft. The transition from testing to production, including qualification and certification, could well mean this target is missed.

Powered by a single F404 engine. the HUrjet shares its tandem cockpit configuration and conventional swept-wing planform with most other modern jet trainer-light attack aircraft.

The aircraft is roughly 43 feet long with a wingspan of approximately 36 feet. Planned performance parameters include a maximum speed of Mach 1.2, a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet, and the ability to carry a 6,600-pound payload.

As well as this high level of performance, another key to the Hürjet’s advanced training will be its modern avionics suite and cockpit, including a wide-area display (WAD). This has led to Turkish media describing it as a “fifth-generation training aircraft.” This would seem to suggest that the Hürjet will also be optimized for training pilots destined for Turkey’s future fighter jet, the homegrown TF-X, another TAI product that you can read more about here.

Ultimately. there are plans to outfit the HUrjet with radar and mission systems, too, enabling it to undertake combat missions. Turkey already produces a wide range of defensive and offensive air-launched weapons, including precision-guided air-to-ground munitions, some of which have standoff range. This means that it could potentially be armed exclusively with weapons from domestic production sources.

While the HUrjet clearly has potential for further development for combat missions, it was originally tailored to meet a Turkish Air Force requirement for a training jet that would be able to replace its current fleet of U.S.-made T-38 Talons, and NF-5 Freedom Fighters. While these have been locally upgraded to the T-38M Ari and NF-5A-2000 standards, respectively, they are now aging aircraft and are becoming increasingly difficult to support. The NF-5s are operated by the Turkish Stars aerobatic display team, for which new equipment, especially from a local production source, is a matter of pride as well as sustainability.

Currently. the Turkish Air Force operates around 68 T-38, and 19 NF-5, although it’s not clear if these would be replaced on a one-for-one basis, especially considering the additional capabilities and improved efficiencies promised by the HUrjet.

Beyond that training role, however. there is scope for the Turkish Air Force to adopt a version of the HUrjet for combat roles, as a light fighter and ground-attack aircraft.

The combat fleet of today’s Turkish Air Force is dominated by the F-16.

The world’s third-largest Viper operator. Turkey received a total of 270 aircraft delivered in successively more capable Block 30, Block 50, and Block 50+ configurations.............