From runway to carrier: Türkiye’s HÜRJET takes bold step toward naval aviation VIDEO

Türkiye’s cutting-edge HÜRJET advanced trainer and light combat aircraft is shifting into high gear, with 16 jets already under production for the Turkish Air Force, and plans taking shape to launch the aircraft from an aircraft carrier.

Turkish defence news outlet SavunmaSanayiST.com announced the milestone via social media platform X, confirming the ramp-up in production by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), per Caliber.Az.

HÜRJET için gemiye iniş ve yeni sipariş planlaması

Mehmet Demiroğlu: “Uçak gemisine inişi olacak HÜRJET’in. Bu ikinci fazla yapacağımız bir şey. Deniz Kuvvetleri’mizle çalışıyoruz bu konuda.

TCG Anadolu olur veya bir sonraki platform olur. O şu anda daha netleşmiş değil ama… pic.twitter.com/DiUFYuuQqN

— SavunmaSanayiST.com (@SavunmaSanayiST) May 2, 2025

TUSAŞ CEO Mehmet Demiroğlu made the announcement during the TEKNOFEST aerospace and technology event held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. “We are already producing 16 aircraft for the Turkish Air Force. I can say that our serial production has begun,” he stated. “We are expecting another serious order from the Air Force and hope to finalise it within this year.”

Flight testing with two HÜRJET prototypes is actively ongoing, Demiroğlu confirmed, while also highlighting the aircraft’s rapidly growing appeal on the international market. “HÜRJET has strong export potential. We are in talks with several countries,” he said.

In a bold move that underscores the platform’s versatility, TUSAŞ is now working with Türkiye’s Naval Forces to develop a version of the HÜRJET capable of carrier-based operations. “HÜRJET will land on an aircraft carrier — that’s something we aim to achieve in the second phase,” Demiroğlu revealed. “We’re collaborating with the Navy on this. It could be TCG Anadolu or another future platform. Nothing is finalised yet, but we’ve already begun adapting HÜRJET to take off from and land on ships.”

The HÜRJET completed its maiden flight in April 2023 and is built for performance and adaptability. Measuring 13.4 meters in length, with a wingspan of 9.5 meters and a height of 5.1 meters, the jet can reach altitudes up to 45,000 feet (13.7 kilometres) and boasts a top speed of Mach 1.4. It carries a maximum payload of 2,721 kilograms (6,000 pounds), making it suitable for both training and combat roles.

As HÜRJET enters the next phase of development and deployment, Türkiye is signalling its intent not only to modernise its own air fleet but to stake a claim in the global defence aviation market — on land and now, at sea.

By Tamilla Hasanova