Turkey TAI to deliver Hurkus-C combat aircraft to Niger, Chad

Turkish Aerospace Industries has signed a contract to deliver two Hurkus-C light trainer and combat aircraft to Niger and three to Chad.

TAI’s deputy general manager, told media that the firm will deliver the aircraft to Niger by the end of the year, and to Chad in the first quarter of 2023.

Industry sources say the price for a single Hurkus-C is about $40 million to $50 million.

The contract with Niger follows the sale of 12 Hurkus-B aircraft to the African nation under a deal signed in 2021. 

In May, the Libyan Air Force signed an agreement with TAI for the acquisition of the Hurkus-C. No details were given on quantity or delivery timeline.

The Hurkus-C is a tandem two-seat, low-wing, single-engine, turboprop aircraft that can perform close ground support missions. It is able to carry a 1,500-kilogram payload, including Cirit laser-guided missiles, Roketsan’s UMTAS anti-tank guided missiles and Mizrak anti-tank missiles.

It has external fuel tanks and can carry Aselsan’s electro-optical/infrared pod, dubbed the Common Aperture Targeting System.

The Hurkus-B is an advanced version of the Hurkus-A, with integrated avionics. The cockpit avionics of the “B” variant have a layout similar to the American F-16 and F-35 fighter jets.

defensenews 

Turkey Confirms KT-1 Trainer Deal with South Korea

Turkey has confirmed that the country will go ahead with a planned purchase of 15 KT-1T basic trainer aircraft from South Korea.
The government decided to buy a follow-on order of 15 KT-1Ts as a stop-gap solution to meet its trainer aircraft needs.
Program for the design, development and production of an indigenous basic trainer aircraft, the Hurkus, is progressing as planned.
The first Hurkus is expected to be delivered to the Turkish military by 2018. Meanwhile, Turkey plans to inaugurate this year a multinational military flight training center. Both trainer aircraft will be used at the planned center after 2018. But KT-1Ts are expected to arrive earlier.
Turkey has signed an agreement with the Tusas Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for an initial batch of 10 Hurkus aircraft.
In 2007, Turkey and KAI signed a contract for the sale of an initial batch of 40 KT-1s, with an option for 15 more.
The industry widely views the Turkish move to buy new KT-1s as a sign of mistrust in TAI's delivery schedule.
defensenews

Turkey Delivers Upgraded F-16s to Pakistan

Turkey has delivered the last four F-16 fighter aircraft it upgraded for the Pakistani Air Force.
TAI, said in a written statement that it concluded the Pakistani F-16 upgrade program by delivering the last four aircraft to the Pakistani Air Force.
The program involved avionics and structural modernization for 41 Pakistani F-16s.
TAI, which assembled F-16 fighter jets in Turkey in the 1980s and 1990s, today manufactures parts for Boeing andSikorsky. The company also participates in the multinational JSF program and the A400M.
TAI also has upgraded scores of Turkish F-16s. In a more ambitious program the company has been designing an indigenous Turkish fighter aircraft.
Last December, TAI also won a contract from the Turkish government for the serial production of two versions of the Hurkus basic trainer aircraft, which it developed.
defensenews

Turkey hopes to export T-129 to Libya

Turkey’s procurement officials are hoping to penetrate into the emerging Libyan arms market, especially with aerial platforms Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is developing.
Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan visited TAI production facilities on Jan. 3. It said that he was briefed on the possible sale of the T-129 ATAK attack and tactical reconnaissance helicopter and the Hurkus basic trainer aircraft.
A TAI official said the company hoped to launch talks on potential sales of both platforms to Libya.
TAI has been developing the T-129 in partnership with the Italian-British AgustaWestland. Earlier, TAI launched talks on potential sales to Pakistan, Jordan and Azerbaijan.
The initial T-129A is being used for flight testing while the full specification T-129B is still under development. For any sales deal, however, Turkey must obtain US permission to export the LHTEC CTS800-4N engine powering the T-129.
The TAI official also said that Libya, which is still trying to improve its Air Force, could be a potential buyer for the Hurkus trainer.
The Turkish government Dec. 26 signed a contract for the serial production of two versions of the Hurkus, an indigenous trainer aircraft developed by TAI. TAI has said the Hurkus-A, an analog cockpit-base model, made its maiden flight Aug. 23. It has flown a total of 800 hours in 15 sorties since then.
The contract involves the production of 15 Hurkus-Bs, an advanced version with improved avionics. Turkey’s military electronics specialist, Aselsan, will be tasked to produce military avionics for the aircraft.
TAI also said the contract involves conceptual design work for the Hurkus-C, an armed aircraft with aerial support, reconnaissance and surveillance roles.
The two-seat Hurkus will have a maximum lifespan of 10,500 flight hours, or about 35 years. The turboprop has a single 1,600-horsepower engine and can fly at a height of 10,577 meters at a maximum speed of 574 kilometers per hour.
The Hurkus will be equipped for day and night flying, as well as for basic pilot training, instrument flying, navigation training, and weapons and formation training. It will have good visibility from both cockpits, with a 50-degree down-view angle from the rear cockpit, ejection seats, an on-board oxygen generation system, an environmental control system, an anti-G system, and shock-absorbing landing gear for training missions.
defensenews

Turkey Signs Deal for Local Trainer Aircraft

The Turkish government has signed a contract for the serial production of two versions of the Hurkus, an indigenous trainer aircraft developed by the Tusas Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
TAI said the Hurkus-A, an analog cockpit-base model, made its maiden flight Aug. 23. It has flown a total of 800 hours in 15 sorties since then.
The contract involves the production of 15 Hurkus-B, an advanced version with advanced avionics. Turkey’s military electronics specialist Aselsan will be tasked to produce military avionics for the aircraft.
TAI also said the contract involves conceptual design work for the Hurkus-C, an armed aircraft with aerial support, reconnaissance and surveillance roles.
The two-seat Hurkus will have a maximum lifespan of 10,500 flight hours, or about 35 years. The turboprop has a single 1,600-horsepower engine and can fly up to 10,577 meters (nearly 35,000 feet) at a maximum speed of 574 kilometers per hour.
The Hurkus will be equipped for day and night flying, as well as for basic pilot training, instrument flying, navigation training, and weapons and formation training. It will have good visibility from both cockpits, with a 50-degree down-view angle from the rear cockpit, ejection seats, an on-board oxygen generation system, an environmental control system, an anti-G system, and shock-absorbing landing gear for training missions.

The Hurkus will come in four variants:

■ Hurkus-A — A basic version that has been certified with the European Aviation Safety Agency. It is intended for the civilian market.

■ Hurkus-B — An advanced version with integrated avionics, including a mission computer and a cockpit avionics layout similar to F-16 and F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. The Turkish Army is considering an initial order for 15 aircraft.

■ Hurkus-C — An armed version for the close-air support role, it will have a maximum weapons load of 3,300 pounds. The army has expressed interest in the Hurkus C to provide support for its attack helicopters.

■ Coast Guard Hurkus — TAI plans to offer another version to support the Turkish Coast Guard’s maritime patrol activities. The aircraft’s back seat would be occupied by an operator for a forward-looking infrared sensor.

Military officials said that by 2017, the Turkish trainer fleet will comprise of the batch of screeners Ankara now intends to buy, as well as the Korean-made KT-1, the Hurkus, the upgraded T-38 (T-38T) and the F-16.

By 2025, the trainer fleet will have the screeners, the Hurkus, an indigenous trainer designed and developed for the fighter Turkey intends to build, the TF-X, and a combination of the F-16s, TF-Xs and F-35s.
defensenews

Nine Companies to Compete for Turkish Basic Trainers

Nine local and foreign companies have purchased competition dossiers from Turkey’s procurement agency, indicating their intention to bid on providing new basic trainer aircraft.
Likely bidders in the race are: GATE Elektronik San. ve Tic. A.S., Nurol Makin eve Sayani A.S., THK Uçak Imalat San.ve Tic. A.S. and Kocoglu Havacilik A.S.; Austria’s Diamond Aircraft Industries; Czech Republic’s ZLIN Aircraft; Germany’s Grob Aircraft; Pakistan’s Aeronautical Complex Board; and the US Discovery Aviation.
Last month, was opened new competition for the acquisition of 52 new basic trainer aircraft.
The planned screeners will replace an aging fleet of SF 260 primary trainers assembled in the early 1990s under Italian license by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
Recently, an indigenous basic trainer aircraft that Turkey designed and developed won an initial flight certificate from local authorities. Immediately after that, on Sept. 26, Turkey’s top body that oversees procurement decisions, the Defense Industry Executive Committee, approved serial production of the Hurkus, also developed by TAI.
Military officials say that by 2017 the Turkish trainer fleet will comprise the screeners Ankara intends to buy, KT-1 trainers supplied by Korean Aerospace Industries under a 2007 contract, the Hurkus, the upgraded T-38s (T-38Ts) and the F-16s. By 2025, the fleet will have the screeners, the Hurkus, an indigenous trainer to be designed and developed for the fighter jet Turkey intends to build, the TF-X and a combination of the F-16s, TF-Xs and the F-35s.
defensenews

Turkey launches new bid for light trainer aircraft

Turkey has issued a Request for Proposals (RfP) for the contract that foresees the off-the-shelf purchase of a small fleet of trainers to replace the fleet of ageing SF 260s used in the Turkish Air Force for preliminary training.
Turkey still operates with nearly 40 SF 260s assembled by TAI in the early 1990s. For preliminary training purposes the Air Force operates Cessna 172s.
Potential bidders are the U.S. Beechcraft and Cirrus, Austria’s Diamond, Germany’s Grobe, Czech Zlin and Italy’s Aermacchi.
Meanwhile, Turkey has silently phased out a fleet of 48 F-5 lead-in trainer aircrafts, which Israel’s Elbit upgraded and delivered in the early 2000s.TAI is upgrading nearly 60 T-38 basic trainers to replace the F-5s and the older T-38s.
The Defense Industry Executive Committee, the ultimate decision-maker in defense procurement, decided Sept. 26 to make an order for the serial production of the Hürkuş, Turkey’s first indigenous basic trainer aircraft.
Turkey’s first indigenous basic trainer aircraft has been approved for flight testing, with the maiden flight planned within the next year.
The Hürkuş, also developed by TAI, has been undergoing tests for runway-holding, steering and braking time limits.
TAI is manufacturing four prototypes of the Hürkuş for a round of tests. The first prototype successfully went through engine tests in February, the second is being tested for static durability and cabin pressure, the third is being assembled, and the fourth will be tested for metal fatigue.
The two-seat Hürkuş will have a 35-year service life, or 10,500 flight hours. The turboprop aircraft has a 1,600-horsepower engine that can fly at an altitude of 10,577 meters at a maximum speed of 574 kilometers per hour.
The Hürkuş will come in four variants:
Hürkuş-A: A basic version that has been certified with EASA, according to CS-23 requirements and is intended for the civilian market.
Hürkuş-B: An advanced version with integrated avionics, including a mission computer and cockpit avionics layout similar to F-16 and F-35 fighters. The Turkish Army is considering an initial order of 15 aircrafts.
Hürkuş-C: An armed version for close-air support, which will have a maximum weapons load of 3,300 pounds. The Turkish Army has expressed interest in the Hürkuş-C to provide support for its attack helicopters.
The Coast Guard version: TAI plans to offer another version of the Hürkuş to support the Turkish Coast Guard’s maritime patrol activities. The aircraft’s back seat would be occupied by an operator for a forward-looking infrared sensor.
hurriyetdailynews

Turkey approves Hurkus launch order

The Turkish military has approved plans to buy a first batch of 15 Hurkus trainers from Turkish Aerospace Industries.
Fifteen B-model trainers will be acquired for the Turkish air force under the plan, with a contract agreement expected to be signed within the next few months. TAI conducted first flight with the turboprop-powered type in August 2013, and plans to produce three variants for military and civilian use.
The Turkish air force is in the process of introducing 40 Korea Aerospace Industries KT-1s as replacements for its aged Cessna T-37s. Its future batch of 15 Hurkus Bs will supplement the KAI type, with the service also interested in acquiring a proposed C-model development for use during close air support missions.
flightglobal

TAI Hurkus makes maiden flight

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) Hurkus single engine turboprop trainer has made its maiden flight on Aug. 29.
hurriyet

TAI Hurkus nears first flight and orders

The Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) Hurkus turboprop trainer is planned to make its first flight in late June, according to the company, which displayed a mock-up of an armed version at the International Defence Industry Fair in Istanbul.

flightglobal