TR F-16 Özgür | Hürkuş - Fighter Trainer Aircraft Projects

[TheInsider]

TOMTAŞ factory production capacity target
7 HÜRJETs in 2025,
24 HÜRJETs in 2026,
In 2027 (24 HÜRJETs if ordered by Spain)

I think the production of Hürküş will continue in Ankara.

Hürjet and Hürkuş should be produced by TOMTAŞ. This will free many hands at TUSAŞ and will keep TOMTAŞ alive.

 

[mTT]

Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu, General Manager of TAI:

The lines are full in HÜRKUŞ. We plan to deliver 10 of them this year.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1919347959059071268

 

[Strong AI]

Just for clarifying. Turkeye had a local modernization program for F-16 Block 30 and 40 and that is more than 130 plane I gues. So how long will the program take to be completed? And how good is this modernization?

@sh. Abdj the answer is in this thread. Search for Özgür.

 

[sh. Abdj]

Why Turkeye should have at least 200+ Hurkus woth dual use?

1. As Hurkus 2 had reached maturity level and is among the best its class, the production line should continue for a decade or two for maximum benefit and to replace many older aircraft in the cheap training, cheap light attack category world wide.
2. This category had hike in demand as most countries don't want to send expensive fighters to fight insurgents with no real Air defence capabilities.
3. Its among the few Turkish weapons in the air force that can be developed to provide close air support similar to the A 10.
4. It is good for teaching Syrian, and Libyan allies pilots.
5. It can do very low flights between the mountains and attack in Sea and land surprising enemy forces and causing real damage using weapons already available. A task that is very hard for drones to do.
6. It can be developed to manage drones and extend their range without the need of Satellite capabilities on the drones like TB2 Simsek ...
7. The development of new concepts using the Hurkus will bring big demand on it especially for countries who bought TB2.

 

[sh. Abdj]

@sh. Abdj the answer is in this thread. Search for Özgür.

Thank you I found that the Özgür 2 program will be finalized in 2027. But does that mean theydone or agreed on? And the number of aircrafts to be developed under the program is not mentioned.

 

[Strong AI]

Thank you I found that the Özgür 2 program will be finalized in 2027. But does that mean theydone or agreed on? And the number of aircrafts to be developed under the program is not mentioned.

Afaik they are waiting for the Murad AESA Radar to go in serial production. Currently they are testing the Radar with different platforms.
Since Türkiye put the purchase of Viper and Viper modernization kits on ice, they plan to apply Özgür project to almost all F-16s in TurAF's inventory.

 

[Pokemonte13]

im guessing it will start then because Murad is supposed to go in to production in 2026. Probably the aircraft that went to özgür 1 will also go through özgür 2 but this time it will be faster as the main difference will be the new radar.

 

[boredaf]

Why Turkeye should have at least 200+ Hurkus woth dual use?

I swear, a lot of you have no concept of resources or manpower in real life and talk about all these acquisitions as if they are video games. Yes, let's get 200 Hürkuş, 500 Kaan, 100 Siper, 1000 Altay, just put them in the build queue.

Where are the pilots are going to come from for all those planes? Where are we going to keep them? How are we going to build and arm them? Fuel them? Find and train and equip all the ground crew they need?

Trainers for air force and 1 or 2 squadron for JÖH to use as Recon/CAS (if they want it, though they have bought trainers so, I think they might) is more than enough for us, any other country can buy them to their hearts content.

Also, your rest of your comment smells like ChatGpt, I hope its not.

 

[sh. Abdj]

I swear, a lot of you have no concept of resources or manpower in real life and talk about all these acquisitions as if they are video games. Yes, let's get 200 Hürkuş, 500 Kaan, 100 Siper, 1000 Altay, just put them in the build queue.

Where are the pilots are going to come from for all those planes? Where are we going to keep them? How are we going to build and arm them? Fuel them? Find and train and equip all the ground crew they need?

Trainers for air force and 1 or 2 squadron for JÖH to use as Recon/CAS (if they want it, though they have bought trainers so, I think they might) is more than enough for us, any other country can buy them to their hearts content.

Also, your rest of your comment smells like ChatGpt, I hope its not.

Bro read this

https://www.twz.com/air/can-the-oa-1k-skryraider-ii-actually-be-useful-in-a-pacific-fight

This the US Military working on this concept.

Sure this aircraft is not deep penetration one but it can be a workhose. I is cheap for first levels of training, cheap for Attacking insurgents, with small changes can work on close support, and can work special defensive tactics.

And no I didn't use ChatGBT and this is an insult for my intelligence and a complement for my English.

Anyway the problem is very clear. Some of us view Turkeye as a medium power that should be as strong as any EU Military (Specially: Germany, france) and some of us think Turkey have to be close in power to Russia and have at least third of USA and nearby future China power. Turkeye existence in my point of view depends on it being powerful first then other things. And if Turks doesn't want what is happening in Ukraine and maybe in worst scenario what is happening in Palestine and Lebanon to happen to them they should continue pushing there security zone what ever the cost is. By the way I mentioned before that Turkey security starts from Damascus in the south and Baku in the east and soon it should be more far in all directions not by invasion but by PR and Alliances. The war of independence should be a clear lesson that yes Turkeye enemies can come from all directions and in the same time. Turkeye needs to expand its military not only modernize as what it is facing can't be compared to what Germany, france or eve Japan is facing. And some military teachings and theories are made to keep countries under some control. And let us ask US who spread these theories why they have all this enormous Military. Deterrence needs power alot of power. If Russia depended on new theories its professional Army would have been finished long time ago but what saved it is the big numbers inherited fro USSR. And who on earth will tell Iran to build thousands of Ballistic Missiles and tens of thousands of long kamikaze drone which is more than Russia in number? And do you think Iran would have been left all this time if not for this big amounts after most of its Allies got weakened so much?! You have to be innovative and you have to take advantage what you have, and yes numbers matters the most in case a war turned to War of attrition then comes production capacity.

 

[Strong AI]

One of the notable developments in the exercise, which featured breathtaking moments, was HÜRKUŞ carrying out a total of 1 ton of bomb drops for the first time in a drill.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1925818926346224104

 

[Strong AI]

Precise strike from LGK 81 at Anatolian Phoenix Exercise​

ASELSAN’s LGK 81 Laser Guidance Kit demonstrated its precision strike capability during the multinational Anatolian Phoenix 2025 Exercise, held from May 12–23 at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya, Türkiye. As part of the exercise scenario, HÜRKUŞ B platform successfully deployed LGK 81 munition, hitting a stationary target from 17,000 feet altitude and at 0.35 Mach speed with pinpoint accuracy.

During the Anatolian Phoenix exercise, the munition struck a designated target at a 3 km range with zero deviation, underscoring LGK’s ability to deliver consistent accuracy under real-world operational conditions. As a combat-proven guidance solution, LGK supports both stationary and moving target engagement while reducing collateral damage and enabling post-release retargeting.

Its successful deployment from HÜRKUŞ platform highlights ASELSAN’s continued contribution to Türkiye’s air-to-ground strike capabilities and the growing interoperability of Turkish-developed systems across a wide range of platforms. LGK’s performance at Anatolian Phoenix 2025 not only demonstrates the strength of Türkiye’s indigenous defense technologies but also contributes to greater strategic readiness and multinational cooperation in modern warfare environments.

Newsletter - ASELSAN

Newsletter

www.aselsan.com

 

[Yasar_TR]

Precise strike from LGK 81 at Anatolian Phoenix Exercise​

View attachment 75607

ASELSAN’s LGK 81 Laser Guidance Kit demonstrated its precision strike capability during the multinational Anatolian Phoenix 2025 Exercise, held from May 12–23 at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya, Türkiye. As part of the exercise scenario, HÜRKUŞ B platform successfully deployed LGK 81 munition, hitting a stationary target from 17,000 feet altitude and at 0.35 Mach speed with pinpoint accuracy.

During the Anatolian Phoenix exercise, the munition struck a designated target at a 3 km range with zero deviation, underscoring LGK’s ability to deliver consistent accuracy under real-world operational conditions. As a combat-proven guidance solution, LGK supports both stationary and moving target engagement while reducing collateral damage and enabling post-release retargeting.

Its successful deployment from HÜRKUŞ platform highlights ASELSAN’s continued contribution to Türkiye’s air-to-ground strike capabilities and the growing interoperability of Turkish-developed systems across a wide range of platforms. LGK’s performance at Anatolian Phoenix 2025 not only demonstrates the strength of Türkiye’s indigenous defense technologies but also contributes to greater strategic readiness and multinational cooperation in modern warfare environments.

Newsletter - ASELSAN

Newsletter

www.aselsan.com

I don’t know why we are wasting money on these. 17000feet =5,181.6 metres altitude. 0.35mach speed at 3km range.
A simple missile like our Sungur or similar will hit these planes well before they can launch these munitions.
If you haven’t got air dominance and not cleared target ground from modern HSSs, you cant even bring f16s in to play. Never mind Hürkuş!
They may be useful in Syria and against PKK in Türkiye. Even that is a bit suspect now that we have been capturing a good range of different man pads in caves belonging to PKK.
Hurkus will make a good trainer.
Air to ground bombing has to be done from stand off distances..
We need to focus on KE, Anka-3 and Ozgur.
Also we need new modern fighter planes like Typhoons.
Most importantly we need KAAN with indigenous engines.
The rest are details.

 

[Fuzuli NL]

I don’t know why we are wasting money on these. 17000feet =5,181.6 metres altitude. 0.35mach speed at 3km range.
A simple missile like our Sungur or similar will hit these planes well before they can launch these munitions.
If you haven’t got air dominance and not cleared target ground from modern HSSs, you cant even bring f16s in to play. Never mind Hürkuş!
They may be useful in Syria and against PKK in Türkiye. Even that is a bit suspect now that we have been capturing a good range of different man pads in caves belonging to PKK.
Hurkus will make a good trainer.
Air to ground bombing has to be done from stand off distances..
We need to focus on KE, Anka-3 and Ozgur.
Also we need new modern fighter planes like Typhoons.
Most importantly we need KAAN with indigenous engines.
The rest are details.

You've got a point but I think it has export potential as COIN or CAS aircraft especially in Africa and Central & South America where they're needed against gangs and terror groups. Although there is of course the successful Tucano/Super Tucano of Brazil, a lower price tag and some good marketing would get it there.

 

[zio]

I don’t know why we are wasting money on these. 17000feet =5,181.6 metres altitude. 0.35mach speed at 3km range.
A simple missile like our Sungur or similar will hit these planes well before they can launch these munitions.
If you haven’t got air dominance and not cleared target ground from modern HSSs, you cant even bring f16s in to play. Never mind Hürkuş!
They may be useful in Syria and against PKK in Türkiye. Even that is a bit suspect now that we have been capturing a good range of different man pads in caves belonging to PKK.
Hurkus will make a good trainer.
Air to ground bombing has to be done from stand off distances..
We need to focus on KE, Anka-3 and Ozgur.
Also we need new modern fighter planes like Typhoons.
Most importantly we need KAAN with indigenous engines.
The rest are details.

It is for asymmetric warfare,I wish it will have 12.7 mm gun pod as well.We also will work on hürjet for this purpose but this time a bigger gun pod like 20mmLeonardo .M-246 had 20mm gun pod.But my favorite is 30/113 mm gunpod from unirobotics with allumunium cased ammos,altough does not exist so far.

 

[Strong AI]

I don’t know why we are wasting money on these. 17000feet =5,181.6 metres altitude. 0.35mach speed at 3km range.
A simple missile like our Sungur or similar will hit these planes well before they can launch these munitions.
If you haven’t got air dominance and not cleared target ground from modern HSSs, you cant even bring f16s in to play. Never mind Hürkuş!
They may be useful in Syria and against PKK in Türkiye. Even that is a bit suspect now that we have been capturing a good range of different man pads in caves belonging to PKK.
Hurkus will make a good trainer.
Air to ground bombing has to be done from stand off distances..
We need to focus on KE, Anka-3 and Ozgur.
Also we need new modern fighter planes like Typhoons.
Most importantly we need KAAN with indigenous engines.
The rest are details.

Maybe the same reason like this?

"U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command introduces its newest airframe, the OA-1K Skyraider II. The Skyraider II is a cost-effective crewed aircraft that is adaptable across the spectrum of conflict. It will have the ability to support special operations forces as well as the Joint Force through close air support, precision strike, and armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. (U.S. Army video by U.S. Special Operations Command Public Affairs)"

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4146325/air-force-special-operations-command-accepts-the-first-missionized-oa-1k-skyrai/

 

[Yasar_TR]

Maybe the same reason like this?

"U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command introduces its newest airframe, the OA-1K Skyraider II. The Skyraider II is a cost-effective crewed aircraft that is adaptable across the spectrum of conflict. It will have the ability to support special operations forces as well as the Joint Force through close air support, precision strike, and armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. (U.S. Army video by U.S. Special Operations Command Public Affairs)"

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4146325/air-force-special-operations-command-accepts-the-first-missionized-oa-1k-skyrai/

How confident and justifiable our Airforce brass would be in sending manned aircraft to virtually a suicide mission?
With current manpads and drones proliferation levels available to even the simplest terror groups today, anyone with a logical mind should think twice before putting the pilots in a potentially deadly situation. That is why we have unmanned drones like TB2, TB3, Anka, Aksungur, Anka3, KE.

US has 750000 registered and around 700000 active pilots 14000 of which are in the military. They may be more ready to throw their men and women in to a dangerous situation.
We have around 15000 licensed pilots. and they are not cheap to train.

Even with asymmetric warfare, unless you have cleared the ground off of potential manpads and short range AD systems, it is very risky to send these planes in to a conflict zone.

I agree however with @Fuzuli NL that for export reasons they are useful. In mountainous terrain where they can hide and hit targets like attack helicopters, then they can be of use. Also in airspace where our airforce has dominance they can be used, provided they are out of manpads’ effective range.

LGK81 bombs have a range of 12km and can be launched from 40000ft. (12200m) altitude. That puts the platforms carrying it out of range of many short range AD systems. But 3km range and 5100m altitude is absurdly close to danger.

 

[Sanchez]

Maybe the same reason like this?

"U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command introduces its newest airframe, the OA-1K Skyraider II. The Skyraider II is a cost-effective crewed aircraft that is adaptable across the spectrum of conflict. It will have the ability to support special operations forces as well as the Joint Force through close air support, precision strike, and armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. (U.S. Army video by U.S. Special Operations Command Public Affairs)"

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4146325/air-force-special-operations-command-accepts-the-first-missionized-oa-1k-skyrai/

New Skyraider is a pretty special aircraft for special needs. SOCOM basically plans to use it in Africa to support their guys in countries like Somalia, Niger, Kenya etc where they operate out of nothingness in dirt strips. That's why they wanted it to be easily transportable with a C-17. We don't really undertake such ops, and when we do it's usually with drones, as that usually comes with higher readiness and lower risk. But a man up in the sky as your eyes is always nice to have.

I don't think air force will be using Hürkuş-C as a recce attack aircraft, but can't hurt to have it on offer.

 

[Strong AI]

@Sanchez @Yasar_TR

How about:

1. Hürkus with FULMAR (SAR) and UMTAS-GM Block 2?
2. Since USAF uses APKWS against Drones (as C-UAS), Hürkus with Aselpod (afaik ASELFLIR-300T doesn't have A/A mode) and FULMAR 500-A (according to Aselsan it can detect Air targets) and CIRIT missile?

 

[uçuyorum]

Manned propeller planes are obsolete. Something like andruil roadrunner or even iran's remote controller anti air cruise missiles can take them down already.

 

[Strong AI]

Manned propeller planes are obsolete. Something like andruil roadrunner or even iran's remote controller anti air cruise missiles can take them down already.

Please search for their unit costs each and then compare it to CIRIT's.
And what about my first point?