Turkish advanced trainer HÜRJET breaks the sound barrier for the first time in tests

The Turkish HÜRJET advanced trainer/light fighter broke the sound barrier for the first time during a test flight.

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Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI/TUSAS) celebrated reaching a new milestone in the development of the HÜRJET, when during one of its test flights, it broke the sound barrier by reaching Mach 1.01 speed.

ADIM ADIM ZİRVEYE! ??

1.01 mach hızına ulaşan HÜRJET süpersonik ses hızının üzerine çıkmayı başardı. ✈️

Kıtalar arası uçuş gerçekleştirerek bayrağımızı yurt dışında dalgalandıran ve göğsümüzü kabartmaya devam eden HÜRJET testlerine devam edecek. pic.twitter.com/pVqmkk3y0O

— Türk Havacılık Uzay Sanayii (@TUSAS_TR) October 21, 2024

HÜRJET is a single-engine twin-seat aircraft developed by the Turkish defense industry to meet international and Turkish Air Force (Türk Hava Kuvvetleri) requirements by replacing the outdated T-38 as advanced trainer aircraft (AJT) and F-5 as aerobatic team aircraft with a modern, high-performance multirole aircraft.

With a modern design and construction, this aircraft stands out for its high performance and advanced avionics equipment, which not only facilitates a smoother transition for future fighter pilots to fifth-generation fighters, but is also optimized to perform effectively as a light combat aircraft, replacing fourth-generation and earlier fighters that are already showing obvious signs of obsolescence.

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In addition to the initial order of 16 units (including the four Block 0 prototypes and 12 Block 1 series aircraft) placed by the Turkish Air Force, Spain has shown interest in the model to replace the Air and Space Army’s veteran F-5Ms in the advanced/Lead-in fighter training (LIFT) missions, whose operational life would have reached its limit in 2030.

According to Turkish media, Madrid and Istanbul are reportedly negotiating a mutually beneficial swap deal, whereby Spain would receive 24 HÜRJETs in exchange for six Airbus A400M transport aircraft.

It should be noted that Spain initially ordered 27 A400M aircraft, but finally opted to operate only 17 (it currently has 14 operational units), leaving a surplus of 10 aircraft that it is looking to sell on the export market. The Turkish Air Force, for its part, already has a fleet of 10 A400Ms, so that, if the barter agreement is concluded, it could significantly expand its strategic transport capacity at a significantly lower cost.