Had we developed a naval trainer version too, even US may have shown an interest.
But for Hurjet proper as it is we have been comparatively slow in developing it. Albeit not being an urgent case like Kaan and being totally financed by Tusas resources, it was a slow growing project. But to date we still have only 2 working prototypes of this jet. Yet in two years we are due to start deliveries to Spain and our airforce. All the responsibility of necessary tests are on the shoulders of these two planes.
I know that Tusas is really pushing forward with the Kaan project. Hence much of its resources have been allocated to Kaan, and Hurjet may suffer because of it. Let us hope, that does not have an impact on the timeline of Hurjet production.
Many may see that a naval Hurjet is the poor man’s carrier fighter jet. But future air warfare is evolving in to one where UCAVs will become the dominant implements of an air fighter force. Manned aircrafts will be the back seater drivers. Since our carrier will have KE and Anka-3 stealth drones as it’s main attack force too, it is only feasible to assume that we will use these UCAVs with manned Naval Hurjets. So we won’t need a big naval jet fighter like that is the norm now. But a capable two seater Naval Hurjet.
The quicker we develop a Naval Hurjet the more chance we will have for it to be sought after by many Naval forces including ours.
A naval Hurjet will be so well built that it could be used to take off from and land on to secluded highways.
