Spain is considering the Turkish-developed TAI Hurjet as a replacement for its aging Northrop SF-5M aircraft.
The Aviationist reported that the prototype recently arrived at Torrejon air base for evaluation.
According to the report, Madrid has proposed a barter deal to procure 24 Hurjets by transferring six A400M aircraft to Turkey.
The Hurjet, a twin-seat, single-engine supersonic jet trainer capable of light attack missions, first flew on April 25, 2023. It is still in its developmental phase, having completed 79 sorties.
Spain is actively seeking to update its training aircraft fleet by 2028. The Hurjet’s visit to Spain came unexpectedly, with the jet making fuel stops in Serbia, Italy, and France before arriving in Madrid. The evaluation process is crucial for Spain’s Air and Space Force as they look to modernize their capabilities.
Turski A400M i u povratnom letu iz Madrida u Beogradu. Društvo mu je pravio novi trenažni avion Hurjet.🇹🇷✈️ pic.twitter.com/7IZid4FJej
— Peđa Vučetić (@Pedjijatar) August 1, 2024
The Hurjet offers advanced training capabilities and could be a significant upgrade for Spain’s air training programs. If the deal goes through, it would enhance Turkey’s A400M fleet, currently numbering ten aircraft.