Turkey to open contract negotiations with TAI for the serial production of the Hürkus Trainer Aircraft.

The contract involves the production of 15 Hürkus-Bs, an advanced version with advanced avionics. Turkish military electronics specialist Aselsan will be tasked with producing modern military avionics for the aircraft.

TAI said the Hürkus-A, an analog cockpit base model, made its maiden flight on Aug. 23 and has flown a total of 800 hours in 15 sorties since then.

Within the framework of the program; two aircraft configurations are being developed.

HÜRKUS-A: Basic version which is to be certified with EASA according to CS-23 requirements.
HÜRKUS-B: Advanced version with integrated avionics (including HUD, MFDs, and Mission Computer).

TAI also said the contract involved conceptual design work for the Hürkus-C, an armed aircraft with aerial support, reconnaissance and surveillance roles.

The two-seat Hürkus will have a maximum lifespan of 10,500 flight hours, or about 35 years. The turboprop has a single 1,600-horsepower engine and can fly up to 10,577 meters (nearly 35,000 feet) at a maximum speed of 574 kilometers per hour.

The Hürkus will be equipped for day and night flying, as well as for basic pilot training, instrument flying, navigation training, and weapons and formation training. It will have good visibility from both cockpits, with a 50-degree down-view angle from the rear cockpit, ejection seats, an on-board oxygen generation system, an environmental control system, an anti-G system, and shock-absorbing landing gear for training missions.