Airbus and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), expanding their growing collaboration in military aviation. The two companies will jointly develop an advanced jet trainer and an integrated training system for the Spanish Air Force.
The Need to Replace Ageing F-5Ms Sparks ITS-C Project
The Spanish Air Force currently operates 19 F-5M aircraft, the last remnants of an original fleet of 70 acquired in the late 1960s. These ageing aircraft continue to play a crucial role in military pilot training, serving as an important intermediate step between turboprop trainers like the Pilatus PC-21 and combat aircraft such as the Eurofighter Typhoon or F/A-18 Hornet.
Despite a significant upgrade in 2008, their operational life is inevitably nearing its end. The Spanish Air Force is therefore planning their phased retirement by the end of this decade, which has led to the new ITS-C (Integrated Training System – Combat) initiative. This initiative involves the procurement of up to 24 new advanced trainer aircraft.
Hürjet: A Promising Replacement and Competitor
Among the potential candidates to replace the F-5M fleet, the single-engine supersonic Hürjet aircraft from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is now being strongly considered. The Hürjet features a tandem cockpit, advanced avionics systems, and can reach supersonic speeds of up to Mach 1.4. Its capabilities make it suitable not only for advanced training but also for light combat roles within NATO missions.
The Hürjet successfully completed its maiden flight in April 2023, with the second prototype following in November of the same year. Deliveries to the Turkish Air Force are scheduled to begin as early as 2026. Under the Spanish ITS-C programme, the Hürjet is competing against rivals such as the Boeing/Saab T-7A Red Hawk and the Italian Leonardo M-346 Master.
Airbus’s Role and Potential Spanish Industry Involvement
Under the newly signed agreement, Airbus will take on the role of national industrial coordinator, contributing its extensive expertise in design, manufacturing, training systems, and in-service support and maintenance. Spanish industry, under Airbus’s leadership, could actively participate in the adaptation and joint production of the trainer aircraft, including potential final assembly in Spain.
Through this collaboration, both companies aim to bolster Spain’s defence sovereignty by localising a significant portion of the new training system. The project is also expected to contribute to deeper strategic relations between Madrid and Ankara.
Hürjet Key Technical Specifications
- Length: 13.6 m
- Wingspan: 9.5 m
- Service Ceiling: 13,700 m (approx. 45,000 ft)
- Maximum Speed: Mach 1.4
- Maximum Weapon Payload: up to 3,400 kg
Strengthening Mutual Relations and European Technological Sovereignty
Commenting on the new agreement, Airbus stated that it “reflects the effort to deepen mutual industrial and defence cooperation and to respond to the growing demand for modern training solutions for new-generation pilots.”
This agreement between Airbus and Turkish Aerospace therefore represents not only a technological advancement in military pilot training but also strengthens European technological autonomy and deepens defence cooperation between Turkey and Spain.
Sources: AeroTime, Airbus Defence and Space, Turkish Aerospace Industries
