TAI Hürjet

The TAI Hürjet (English: Freejet) is a single-engine, tandem seat, supersonic advanced trainer and light combat aircraft, under development by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).[1][2][3] The prototype made its first flight on 25 April 2023.[4][5]

Hürjet
Hürjet in Teknofest 2021
Role Advanced jet trainer, Lead-in fighter trainer/Light combat aircraft
National origin Turkey
Manufacturer Turkish Aerospace Industries
First flight 25 April 2023
Status Under development

The Turkish Air Force intends to use the design to replace the Northrop T-38 Talon in the trainer role and also to supplement the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon for close air support.[2] The aircraft is also planned to replace the Northrop F-5 used by the Turkish Stars aerobatic team. A naval version of the aircraft may also be developed.[6] The company also plans to pursue export orders to countries looking to replace older trainer and ground attack aircraft.[1]

Design and development
Hürjet mockup at Teknofest 2019

The project was initiated by TAI in August 2017 using its own financial resources. A mock-up was displayed at the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow.[2] On 22 July 2018, the Turkish Under-secretariat for Defence Industries announced that the Turkish Air Force had signed an agreement with TAI, giving the project official status to move development forward.[2]

As of January 2020 the aircraft did not have an engine selected, although the Eurojet EJ200 and the General Electric F404-GE-102 were under consideration at the time.[3] Capabilities are planned to include air-to-air refuelling, fly-by-wire with parameter limiting, built in auxiliary power unit, night vision goggle-compatible cockpit, head-up display and an integrated helmet display system.[2]

TAI completed the first test simulator for the aircraft in September 2020. Designated Hurjet 270, the artificial intelligence based simulator will incorporate feedback from the test pilots to change the flight control algorithms and the avionics software during the flight test process.[7][8] The company has developed simulator avionics, flight control systems, screen, cockpit and communication systems for the simulator.[9]

Turkey has invited Malaysia to join the Hürjet project, in the role of producing some parts for the aircraft. While Malaysia has some experience developing composite materials, it has never designed and built any aircraft.[10]

Variants
Trainer
Advanced supersonic jet trainer version
Light Combat Aircraft
Version for close air support and armed air policing roles. The combat variant will carry locally produced air-to-air missiles and air-to-ground bombs.[11][12]

Specifications (projected)

Data from Manufacturer[1][13][14][15][16]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 13 m (42 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 5.1 m (16 ft 9 in)
  • Wing area: 25 m2 (270 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 1,200 kg (2,646 lb)
  • Gross weight: 2,721 kg (5,999 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 6,500 kg (14,330 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × F404-GE-102 afterburning turbofan, 78 kN (17,600 lbf) thrust

Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 1.4
  • Cruise speed: 460 km/h (290 mph, 250 kn)
  • Range: 2,222 km (1,381 mi, 1,200 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 13,716 m (45,000 ft)
  • g limits: +8/-3 g
  • Rate of climb: 200 m/s (39,000 ft/min)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. "Hürjet". Turkish Aerospace Industries Industries (tusas.com). 2021. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  2. Military Science and Intelligence (18 September 2018). "Hürjet Comes to Light in England". savunmahaber.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  3. C4 Defence (1 January 2020). "Hürjet'in Motorunda Rekabet Devam Ediyor (Competition Continues for Hürjet's Engine)". c4defence.com. Archived from the original on 19 May 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  4. "HÜRJET Jet Eğitim Uçağı ilk uçuşunu gerçekleştirdi" (in Turkish). 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  5. "Hürjet completed its maiden flight". Savunma Sanayii. 25 April 2023.
  6. Ozberk, Tayfun (20 April 2021). "Turkey Plans to Deploy Indigenous Aircraft 'Hürjet' on LHD Anadolu". Naval News. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  7. "Turkey's 1st supersonic Hürjet to be designed using domestic engineering simulator". Daily Sabah. 6 September 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  8. Bekdil, Burak Ege (8 September 2020). "Turkey develops AI-based simulator for light fighter jet". C4isrnet.com. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  9. "Turkish TAI to develop Hurjet 270 simulators". Global Defense Corp (GDC). 8 September 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  10. "Turkey Invites Malaysia for "Hurjet" Combat-Trainer Project as the U.S. Sanctioned Turkey". Global Defense Corp (GDC). 3 January 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  11. GDC (4 January 2021). "In-depth Look At Turkish First Supersonic "Hürjet /Hürjet 270/Hurkus-C" Advanced jet Trainer And Light Attack Aircraft". Global Defense Corp. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  12. Ozberk, Tayfun (20 April 2021). "Turkey Plans to Deploy Indigenous Aircraft 'Hürjet' on LHD Anadolu". Naval News. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  13. "HÜRJET - TUSAS". www.tusas.com.
  14. "HÜRJET Jet Eğitim Uçağı ilk uçuşunu gerçekleştirdi". 25 April 2023.
  15. Azman, Kaan (21 March 2023). "HÜRJET ilk uçuşunu Nisan 2023'te yapacak!".
  16. "HÜRJET New Generation AJT's CDR Phase Completed". www.defenceturkey.com.
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