The Spanish Council of Ministers has officially approved the purchase of the HÜRJET supersonic training aircraft developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). This strategic decision is central to the Spanish Air and Space Force’s training fleet renewal plan. The Spanish HÜRJET procurement agreement, which includes the supply of a total of 45 aircraft, stands out as one of Turkey’s significant achievements in defense industry exports.

What are the details of the Spanish HÜRJET procurement agreement?

On October 28, the Spanish Council of Ministers approved this procurement, which will replace the long-used F-5 training jets. The total value of the agreement is set at €3.12 billion. The contract will be implemented within the framework of a comprehensive program called the “Integrated Training System” (ITS-C). At the heart of this program is the HÜRJET platform developed by TAI.

The agreement does not only include the purchase of off-the-shelf aircraft. The aircraft will have a specially localized configuration tailored to the requirements of the Spanish Air and Space Force. In this privatization process, the Spanish aerospace and defense industry, along with Turkish defense companies, will play an active role. According to the official plan, aircraft manufactured at TAI facilities will later be adapted to Spanish-specific equipment.

The privatization and harmonization efforts will be led by Airbus Defence and Space España. The company will also serve as the program coordinator. Financing will be provided by the Spanish Ministry of Industry. The Ministry will provide the preliminary financing to Airbus, which will then channel this funding to the joint venture (UTE) established with TAI. This structure demonstrates the depth of the defense cooperation between the two countries.

According to the plan, the first batch of HÜRJETs will be delivered to Spain in 2028. The platform will begin operating during the training phase in 2029/2030. The first HÜRJETs with an all-Spanish configuration are expected to officially enter service in 2031. The agreement will be valid from the date of signing until November 30, 2035, and Spain anticipates that its HÜRJET fleet will remain in active service for at least 30 years.

So, what are your thoughts on Spain’s HÜRJET procurement? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!