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Turkey and Spain signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday for cooperation on advanced jet trainer aircraft, with Madrid planning to acquire 24 Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) HÜRJET aircraft to replace its aging fleet.
Head of the Presidency of the Defense Industry (SSB) Haluk Görgün announced the MoU on X, marking a significant collaboration between the NATO allies.
The two countries' leaders discussed the HÜRJET purchase at a Madrid summit in June. Spanish officials later inspected the aircraft at Torrejón Air Base in July.
The agreement comes after the Spanish Air Force's detailed evaluation of the HÜRJET.
The deal marks Turkey's first aircraft sale to Spain since Spanish company CASA won Turkey's transport plane contract 32 years ago.
"Today, we are proud to witness another historic step in the defense industry," said Gorgun. "The memorandum of understanding that will form the basis of our cooperation with our old NATO ally Spain on the Jet Training Aircraft Project was signed between the SSB and the Spanish Ministry of Defense."
While procurement details were not disclosed, Spain's Defense Ministry said the country will participate in the HÜRJET's industrial production.
Spanish aerospace company Airtificial secured a contract November 6 with TAI to produce 31 flight control systems for the HÜRJET trainer and a combat aircraft. The company will manufacture the components at its Sevilla plant.
The HÜRJET completed its first flight on April 25, 2023. The twin-seat, single-engine supersonic aircraft serves both training and light attack missions.
TAI began HÜRJET development in July 2017, officially launching the project on August 14. Turkey plans to replace its T-38M and NF-5 trainers with HÜRJET by the 2030s.
The aircraft will compete with Boeing's T-7, Korea's T-50 and Italy's M-346 trainers. Production is set to begin in 2025, with deliveries starting in 2026.
Turkey also plans to use the HÜRJET for close air support missions along with its F-16 fleet. The company says it will develop a carrier-capable naval version.