Yup. I think people should understand this as it is.
This is not a sale of "Hürjet" to Spain. This is Hürjet going international and becoming a European trainer. Spaniards are very well connected to rest of the continent re aerospace and will push it heavily. At this time, there are no advanced European trainer aircraft either in active development or on cards. M-346 is simply not getting orders and it's not set for becoming a true advanced trainer for 21st century to train pilots for F-35, Kaan, FCAS, GCAP etc. Other projects are all cancelled. Noone is waiting for the T-7 which is fraught with issues and US procurement will take at least a decade to come to a level where they will only then actively seek export.
If this succeeds, UK and many other NATO countries will buy Hürjet, its name will probably change to a more Euro sounding name in the process, many American subcomponents on it will be replaced by European and Turkish ones.
From Defence Turkey 134th issue: "According to our sources, within the scope of the Spanish Air and Space Force (SASF)'s next-generation AJT Pogram, In lieu of direct procurement of HÜRJET from Türkiye, it is asserted that an alternative option is under consideration, whereby Spanish companies will also have local technological participation. This collaboration could transform HÜRJET into a next-generation European Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) Project, developed through the partnership of TUSAŞ, Spanish Companies. As a result, HÜRJET could attract further demand from other European countries seeking next-generation AJT."
Tony Osborne seems to see the same potential in this as well. Spain had also signed a deal to buy 25 more EF-2000s for its air force today, ensuring program goes on and necessitates the Germans to place another order as well.
For us, this means a steady stream of money flowing into TAI's fixed wing aircraft programs, a greater cooperation with European companies which we already had working relationships in the past through A400M, and we aim to have with the EF-2000 purchase and making sure Hürjet development for TurAF needs are finished as required in time and on budget where we won't see a repeat of Hürkuş and most importantly ensures Hürjet becomes an export success in not 100 units but hundreds of units and is sold to respectable air forces around the world for actual currency and partnerships instead of palm oil.
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