First Hurjet trainer for Turkish air force completes maiden flight

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has flown the first Hurjet advanced jet trainer built for delivery to the Turkish air force. The flight happened on 30 August, coinciding with Turkey's Victory Day holiday, according to footage released by the company.

The aircraft flew alongside an earlier Hurjet prototype during the sortie. Video of the flight appeared to show the new jet keeping its landing gear extended throughout.

The milestone comes as TAI pushes to expand the Hurjet's presence in the global advanced jet trainer market. Speaking at the Farnborough air show in July, TAI chief executive Mehmet Demiroglu said the aircraft could be a contender for the UK's requirement to replace its Hawk T1 and T2 trainers. At the time, he said the first two prototypes had logged close to 500 flight hours, with four more prototypes expected to fly in 2026.

The Hurjet has already drawn export interest. In 2025, Spain contracted Airbus Defence & Space for a training capability package that includes 30 Hurjet aircraft.

The jet is powered by a single GE Aerospace F404 engine.