Azerbaijan is conducting intensive negotiations to acquire military training aircraft from Turkey. According to information, "Turkish Aerospace Industries" (TAI), one of Turkey's influential aviation companies, is close to signing a contract for the sale of new-generation training aircraft "Hürkuş-II" to Azerbaijan. TAI General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu had provided information on this in his New Year's address.
If the contract is signed, Azerbaijani cadets will continue their flight training on "Hürkuş-II" aircraft after the initial stage. This will allow for the alignment of pilot training with the Turkish model. In the next stage, Azerbaijan also plans to acquire "Hürkuş-II" jet training aircraft.
What are the significance and advantages of "Hürkuş" aircraft? Which other countries have purchased aircraft produced by the company?
Modern.az presents the answers it found to these questions:
HÜRKUŞ Project and New Generation Training Aircraft
At the meeting of the "Strategic Industry and Weapons Committee" (SSİK) held on September 26, 2013, it was decided to initiate contract negotiations with TUSAŞ for the serial production of HÜRKUŞ aircraft, with the aim of meeting the Air Force Command's need for 15 new-generation basic training aircraft.
As a result of the work and negotiations conducted after this decision, the HÜRKUŞ-B contract was signed on December 26, 2013, and production and assembly work is ongoing.
Currently, within the framework of the HÜRKUŞ project, the design, development, prototype production, and international certification of an original training aircraft capable of meeting the Turkish Armed Forces' training aircraft needs and gaining a share in the global market are being carried out with domestic capabilities.
Countries that have purchased "Hürkuş" aircraft
The export of "HÜRKUŞ" products has been successfully carried out to date. Chad, Libya, and Niger have purchased this type of aircraft from Turkey. As an example, we can note that special training programs for Nigerien pilots have been completed, and the aircraft are actively used in precise reconnaissance and high-risk operations. The value of one "HÜRKUŞ" aircraft is 25 million Euros.
Features of "Hürkuş II"
Distinguished by its superior aerodynamic design and advanced avionics systems, the "Hürkuş-II" has a relatively lighter construction compared to its previous versions.
The main features of the "Hürkuş-II" aircraft, expected to be included in our country's military inventory, can be listed as follows:
-Patrol and border security missions
-Anti-narcotics operations
-Close air support
-Armed reconnaissance
-Air interdiction operations
-Observation and reconnaissance
-Forward Air Control
-Wide and enhanced visibility from both cockpits
-VFR/IFR (visual flight rules / instrument flight rules) capability
-Anti-G system
-1600 horsepower PT6A-68T Pratt & Whitney Canada turboprop engine
-Martin-Baker MK T16N 0/0 type ejection seats
-30-second inverted flight capability
-On-board oxygen generation system (OBOGS) providing oxygen during flight
-Reinforced canopy against bird strikes
-Landing gear with high impact absorption capability
