Turkish Aerospace Starts HÜRKUŞ-II Deliveries for Turkish Air Force Pilot Training

Türkiye – The Turkish Air Force has received its first two Turkish Aerospace HÜRKUŞ-II next-generation basic training aircraft, beginning a 55-aircraft delivery program scheduled to be completed by the end of 2028. The platform will form the basic flying stage of Türkiye’s future military pilot training pipeline ahead of progression to the HÜRJET advanced jet trainer and, subsequently, frontline combat aircraft.

• The Turkish Air Force is scheduled to receive 12 HÜRKUŞ-II aircraft in total between September and December 2026, including the first two delivered on September 28. Deliveries are then planned to continue at a rate of approximately two aircraft per month from 2027 until the 55-aircraft requirement is completed by the end of 2028.
• The procurement originally covered 15 aircraft before being expanded by a further 40 units to 55. Turkish defense officials expect HÜRKUŞ-II squadrons to be established within the Air Force during 2027.
• The delivery follows the aircraft receiving its Military Type Certificate on September 9, 2026. Turkish Aerospace states that certification involved verification of 1,790 requirements across 12 certification disciplines, review of 950 evidence documents and completion of 153 certification tests.
• Approximately 300 development, certification and qualification sorties covering 2,256 test points were conducted before entry into service. The HÜRKUŞ-II first flew in December 2024 and moved into serial production during 2025.
• For the Turkish Air Force training system, HÜRKUŞ-II is intended to provide the basic flying stage before pilots progress onto higher-performance aircraft. Turkish defense officials have specifically highlighted commonality in cockpit and avionics philosophy with the country's HÜRJET and KAAN programs to reduce the transition between stages of military pilot training.
• AFM previously reported following the HÜRKUŞ-II maiden flight that the aircraft had been developed as the Turkish Air Force’s next-generation turboprop training platform. The latest delivery marks the transition of the program from development and certification into operational fleet introduction.
• The HÜRKUŞ-II is powered by a 1,600 shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68T turboprop engine and has a published maximum cruise speed of 288 knots, service ceiling of 39,270 feet and maximum range of 589 nautical miles. Training-related equipment includes tandem ejection seats, an anti-G system, an onboard oxygen generation system, modern avionics and simulated combat-training functionality.

About Turkish Aerospace
Turkish Aerospace is an Ankara-based aerospace manufacturer developing and producing fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned systems, satellites and aerostructures. Its indigenous military training-aircraft portfolio includes the HÜRKUŞ turboprop basic trainer and HÜRJET supersonic advanced jet trainer.

Source: Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries / Turkish Aerospace