Spain Selects Turkish HÜRJET Jet Trainer for Pilot Training System
Spain has formally chosen the Turkish-built HÜRJET advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft as the centerpiece of its next-generation pilot training program under a roughly €2.6 billion contract. This marks a significant export milestone for the Turkish aerospace sector and a strategic acquisition for the Spanish Air and Space Force.
The acquisition will replace Spain’s aging F-5M fleet within the Integrated Training System – Combat (ITS-C) program. Airbus Defence and Space is leading the implementation in Spain, coordinating industrial participation and system integration.
Deal Overview and Scope
The agreement calls for the procurement of 30 HÜRJET aircraft and includes ground-based training systems, simulators, sustainment infrastructure, and long-term support. Deliveries are planned to begin in 2028 with phased integration into Spanish training operations.
Airbus will establish an aircraft conversion center in Spain and refurbish the Talavera la Real Air Base training facility in Extremadura, ensuring national industry involvement across mission systems, training simulators, and maintenance support.
HÜRJET Platform Details
The HÜRJET is Türkiye’s first domestically developed supersonic advanced jet trainer with light combat capability. Powered by a General Electric F404 turbofan engine, it is designed for advanced pilot training and potential light attack missions.
The aircraft’s modern avionics, digital fly-by-wire flight control system, and glass cockpit aim to mirror the operational environment of frontline fighters, supporting pilot transition to 4.5- and 5th-generation platforms.
Strategic and Industrial Implications
Spain’s selection of a Turkish-designed trainer reflects broader shifts in European defense procurement, with emerging suppliers competing with traditional Western manufacturers. The integrated ITS-C contract structure emphasizes not only aircraft but complete training ecosystem delivery.
The program includes Spanish aerospace firms working alongside Airbus and Turkish Aerospace Industries, boosting domestic content and national industry participation.
Next Steps
Deliveries under the contract are scheduled to commence in 2028, with full system deployment expected in the early 2030s. Spain aims to modernize its pilot training pipeline in line with NATO standards while strengthening industrial cooperation across Europe.
