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TR HÜRJET-Advanced Jet Trainer/ Light attack aircraft

Sanchez

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Re Hürjet, possible future interest of Japan to replace their aging T-4s. Looks like TAI also offered Hürkuş back in 2024. Japan had selected the T-6 Texan instead.

A dark horse to succeed the JASDF T-4? What is this "supersonic" trainer aircraft that could break the South Korean dominance? Manufacturers "have a strong interest in Japan," and Airbus is also cooperating.​


"...In fact, TAI also has its sights set on Japan. I asked a TUSAŞ representative whether they intended to propose the T-4 trainer as a successor to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and they replied, "We haven't made a decision yet, but we have a strong interest."

About 10 years ago, they probably asked that as a polite formality, knowing that I was Japanese. However, in 2024, TAI proposed a training system centered on their turboprop trainer "Hürks" for the competition to select the T-7 primary trainer aircraft for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

Furthermore, on May 6, 2026, Japan and Turkey exchanged a document confirming their commitment to accelerating cooperation in the field of defense equipment between the two countries, thus strengthening defense cooperation between Japan and Turkey compared to 2024.

I've heard that TAI was perplexed by Japan's unique defense equipment procurement situation during the competition for the successor to the T-7 trainer aircraft. However, if they propose the Hulje (SAETA II) this time, it's expected that they'll have the strong support of Airbus. Perhaps the Hulje (SAETA II) could become a dark horse for the T-4 successor..."

 

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Would it be safe to assume that Hürjet has done the same acrobatics ?
 

Sanchez

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Would it be safe to assume that Hürjet has done the same acrobatics ?
Nope, most probably just a flyby. This is not even Hürjet's first formation flight with Stars. First was in 2024.

1781273412736.png
 

Sanchez

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UK Launches Jet Trainer Tender​

"The UK Defense Ministry issued a request for information (RFI) to industry on Aug. 8 for the Jet Training System (JTS), launching market engagement for the program...

JTS aims to replace the Hawk T1s flown by the Red Arrows aerobatic team and the more modern Hawk T2s currently used for advanced jet training...

The program calls for a “significant UK workshare” in the procurement
. The UK Defense Investment Plan set aside funding worth £360 million ($485 million) over the next four years to kick-start the program, with Minister for Defense Procurement Luke Pollard suggesting in July the program could be enabled by funding from the private sector...

Some airframers have already declared interest in the program. BAE Systems is proposing the Boeing/Saab T-7 Red Hawk platform. Leonardo plans to offer the Blk. 20 model M-346, but does not yet have a UK partner for the program...

Formal requirements and numbers of aircraft for the program are yet to be revealed...

Submissions for the RFI are expected by Sept. 11."


It's unclear if Airbus will have a joint bid with TAI to offer Hürjet. BAE already teamed with Boeing/Saab to offer T-7 and Leonardo do have few relationships with UK companies they can use to offer M346. Sadly chances for Hürjet winning this is very low, but not zero.
 

I_Love_F16

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UK Launches Jet Trainer Tender​

"The UK Defense Ministry issued a request for information (RFI) to industry on Aug. 8 for the Jet Training System (JTS), launching market engagement for the program...

JTS aims to replace the Hawk T1s flown by the Red Arrows aerobatic team and the more modern Hawk T2s currently used for advanced jet training...

The program calls for a “significant UK workshare” in the procurement
. The UK Defense Investment Plan set aside funding worth £360 million ($485 million) over the next four years to kick-start the program, with Minister for Defense Procurement Luke Pollard suggesting in July the program could be enabled by funding from the private sector...

Some airframers have already declared interest in the program. BAE Systems is proposing the Boeing/Saab T-7 Red Hawk platform. Leonardo plans to offer the Blk. 20 model M-346, but does not yet have a UK partner for the program...

Formal requirements and numbers of aircraft for the program are yet to be revealed...

Submissions for the RFI are expected by Sept. 11."


It's unclear if Airbus will have a joint bid with TAI to offer Hürjet. BAE already teamed with Boeing/Saab to offer T-7 and Leonardo do have few relationships with UK companies they can use to offer M346. Sadly chances for Hürjet winning this is very low, but not zero.

Would have been great if we proposed Hurjet.
 

Saithan

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If Hürjet had made the same tests with Unmanned vehicles like Leonardo, we'd stand much better at succeeding in getting the British to buy it. Not to mention if we had a EJ200 version as well.

Something tells me that Leonardo might have known about the UK trainer jet prior and took steps to up the M-346 attractiveness and potential.
 

MonteCarlo

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If Hürjet had made the same tests with Unmanned vehicles like Leonardo, we'd stand much better at succeeding in getting the British to buy it. Not to mention if we had a EJ200 version as well.

Something tells me that Leonardo might have known about the UK trainer jet prior and took steps to up the M-346 attractiveness and potential.
Hurjet already controlled Anka-3 during flight. Anka-3 even dropped munitions while being controlled by Hurjet AFAIK
 

Khagan1923

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UK Launches Jet Trainer Tender​

"The UK Defense Ministry issued a request for information (RFI) to industry on Aug. 8 for the Jet Training System (JTS), launching market engagement for the program...

JTS aims to replace the Hawk T1s flown by the Red Arrows aerobatic team and the more modern Hawk T2s currently used for advanced jet training...

The program calls for a “significant UK workshare” in the procurement
. The UK Defense Investment Plan set aside funding worth £360 million ($485 million) over the next four years to kick-start the program, with Minister for Defense Procurement Luke Pollard suggesting in July the program could be enabled by funding from the private sector...

Some airframers have already declared interest in the program. BAE Systems is proposing the Boeing/Saab T-7 Red Hawk platform. Leonardo plans to offer the Blk. 20 model M-346, but does not yet have a UK partner for the program...

Formal requirements and numbers of aircraft for the program are yet to be revealed...

Submissions for the RFI are expected by Sept. 11."


It's unclear if Airbus will have a joint bid with TAI to offer Hürjet. BAE already teamed with Boeing/Saab to offer T-7 and Leonardo do have few relationships with UK companies they can use to offer M346. Sadly chances for Hürjet winning this is very low, but not zero.
The Brits will choose the T-7 even if it scores badly in tests. I said this years ago when people were dreaming of selling Hürjet to the Brits.

They will take the T-7, the project will turn into delays and delays as the T-7 is, as most Boeing projects nowadays, plagued with problems and in 4-5 years when the first T-7 are still not FOC in the UK the first article about the disaster of a programm it has become will be printed mentioning the M346 and Hürjet as two option who were not chosen but are in use without any problems.

Story of british procurement for the last 2 decades.

Don't know what the charade here is for. Everbody in the know knows the T-7 has already been chosen.
 

Nutuk

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Yes, T-7 is 99% likely been chosen but nonetheless it is priceless to stir the Brits by offering planes for half the price
 

IC3M@N FX

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It doesn’t, after all, depend on the success or failure of the Hürjet programme with British or European buyers. The Target Markets for the Hürjet Trainer and the LCA are Africa, the Middle East, Turkish Staates, Asia and perhaps South America as well.

However, this would mean phasing out the F-404 in the long term, either by developing an engine with 20,000–22, 000 lbf by 2036/37, or tune two TEI TF 10000 engines to 8,000 lbf dry thrust and 12,000 lbf wet thrust – this would require the development of a new Airframe, which is far more complex. They should have opted for 2x AI322F from the outset and replaced these with 2x TF-10000 from 2029/30 onwards.
In my opinion, it was a strategic Mistake.
 

Yasar_TR

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Yes, T-7 is 99% likely been chosen but nonetheless it is priceless to stir the Brits by offering planes for half the price
I agree that we should definitely put an offer to UK either via Airbus Spain or direct to UK even if it serves only to put the cat among the pigeons.

It is a shame that BAE Systems have chosen to ally themselves with Boeing Saab for the UK trainer tender. UK want to be in control of the production of the planes. The only company that can effectively do it in the UK is BAE Systems.

Saab Boeing T7 is a subsonic plane. (Transonic at best)
Hurjet is a supersonic jet.
But for training and acrobatics, supersonic speed is not really needed. In fact it may prove to be a hindrance.
So the plane would fly predominantly in subsonic domain. But having supersonic capability would give the plane more raw power and vertical climb capability with very high speed sweeping arcs. (It is illegal to go supersonic in public shows due to supersonic boom)

The reason Turkiye went for a Supersonic jet trainer rather than a subsonic one was to bridge the massive performance gap for pilots transitioning to high-speed frontline jets like the F-16 and fifth-generation KAAN, while also gaining a dual-role, cost-effective light combat aircraft and an export asset.
 

Anmdt

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I agree that we should definitely put an offer to UK either via Airbus Spain or direct to UK even if it serves only to put the cat among the pigeons.

It is a shame that BAE Systems have chosen to ally themselves with Boeing Saab for the UK trainer tender. UK want to be in control of the production of the planes. The only company that can effectively do it in the UK is BAE Systems.

Saab Boeing T7 is a subsonic plane. (Transonic at best)
Hurjet is a supersonic jet.
But for training and acrobatics, supersonic speed is not really needed. In fact it may prove to be a hindrance.
So the plane would fly predominantly in subsonic domain. But having supersonic capability would give the plane more raw power and vertical climb capability with very high speed sweeping arcs. (It is illegal to go supersonic in public shows due to supersonic boom)

The reason Turkiye went for a Supersonic jet trainer rather than a subsonic one was to bridge the massive performance gap for pilots transitioning to high-speed frontline jets like the F-16 and fifth-generation KAAN, while also gaining a dual-role, cost-effective light combat aircraft and an export asset.
I suppose the tables would have turned if we could have accelerated the Hürjet program and introduce the Naval trainer version.
 

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