Historic Decision from Spain: Approval Granted for the Purchase of 45 HÜRJET Aircraft

Türkiye’s indigenous jet trainer and light attack aircraft, HÜRJET, is set to soar across European skies. The Spanish government has officially approved the procurement of the aircraft developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ).

In a decision taken on October 28, the Spanish Council of Ministers marked a historic milestone for the Turkish defense and aviation industry. As part of the decision, the Spanish Air and Space Force approved a €3.12 billion Integrated Training System (ITS-C) contract for 45 HÜRJETs, which will replace its aging F-5 (AE.09) fleet.

This agreement is regarded as one of the most concrete demonstrations of Türkiye’s global credibility and engineering capacity in aviation technology.

Strategic Transformation: A 30-Year New Generation Pilot Training Era Begins

The Spanish Ministry of Defense emphasized that the program will fundamentally renew the country’s pilot training capabilities and bring a 30-year transformation to its training system.

The ITS-C system aims to maximize tactical and technological readiness required by modern combat environments. The contract will remain valid until November 30, 2035, with no extension option.

The first HÜRJETs are planned to be delivered in 2028 and are expected to enter active service during the 2029/2030 training period. The aircraft are projected to serve in Spanish skies for at least 30 years.

European Collaboration Led by Airbus

The project is not merely an aircraft procurement deal but also stands out as a model of international industrial cooperation. According to defense news outlet Infodefensa, Airbus will serve as the national coordinator of the program.

Under Airbus leadership, 15 major Spanish aerospace companies — including Aciturri, Aernnova, Aertec, Airtificial, Amper, Centum, CESA, CLUE, GMV, Grabysur, Indra, Grupo Oesia, Orbital, and Sener — will play active roles in the project.

This multinational integration will ensure that the HÜRJET platform is developed in close technical alignment with Spain’s domestic defense industry.

€1.04 Billion in Financial Support

The Spanish Ministry of Industry announced that it will provide €1.04 billion in credit support spread over the first five years of the program. This financial commitment underscores Spain’s strategic investment in the project and signals that HÜRJET is poised to lead a major transformation in Europe’s next-generation jet pilot training.