A signing ceremony was held at Airbus facilities in Madrid for the export of Türkiye’s HÜRJET advanced jet trainer aircraft to Spain.
The official process for the entry of HÜRJET, Türkiye’s first domestically developed advanced jet trainer aircraft produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), into the inventory of the Spanish Air and Space Force has been completed with a signing ceremony in Madrid.
The ceremony was attended by officials from TUSAŞ, Spanish defense procurement authorities, and Airbus representatives.
Under the signed agreement, HÜRJET will take its place in European skies to meet Spain’s advanced jet training aircraft requirement. While different comments have been made regarding the scope of the procurement, the latest information obtained by Turkish Defense Hub clarifies several important details.
Spain’s HÜRJET Program: ITC-S and SAETA II
First of all, the HÜRJET procurement program in Spain is referred to as “ITC-S.”
The program covers the full advanced training process for Spanish fighter pilots, from the “Spanishization” of a 30-aircraft fleet to the delivery of an integrated service package for operations and maintenance.
SAETA II, on the other hand, will be the Spanish designation of HÜRJET. In other words, the aircraft will be known as SAETA II in Spain.
What Does the 60% Work Share Mean?
One of the most discussed topics in the program is the 60 percent work share.
This figure does not refer only to the production work share of the HÜRJET aircraft itself.
Instead, the 60 percent share represents the broader industrial and operational ecosystem that Spain will develop around the aircraft. This includes newly built conversion centers, simulators, training facilities, operational infrastructure, maintenance support, and the wider service package required to bring the aircraft into service and operate it effectively.
In short, the 60 percent work share refers to Spain’s expected role across the entire lifecycle and support ecosystem of the aircraft, not just its manufacturing process.
Notes from the Signing Ceremony
President of the Turkish Presidency of Defence Industries, Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, described the development as a highly significant milestone, as it marks the first time in Türkiye’s history that a manned, jet-powered aircraft will be exported.
Görgün stated:
“Our HÜRJET aircraft, produced under the main contractor role of TUSAŞ with the joint efforts of dozens of Turkish companies, will be configured by Airbus Spain and TUSAŞ in line with the requirements of the Spanish Air and Space Force. They will represent the strength of Turkish engineering in European skies.
This project is a reflection of the Turkish-Spanish friendship, strengthened under the NATO umbrella, in the field of defense industry.”
Airbus Highlights Spain’s Future Training Ecosystem
According to Airbus, the Spanish Air and Space Force requires a modern aircraft to replace its aging F-5 fleet.
In this context, the SAETA II jet trainer, based on HÜRJET, will replace Spain’s F-5 aircraft and provide a smooth transition for pilots to the Eurofighter Typhoon and future combat air systems.
Beyond training, the high-performance characteristics of the HÜRJET / SAETA II aircraft could also allow it to serve in Spain as a light attack platform. Its digital cockpit and multi-role capabilities make it a cost-effective option for light attack and armed reconnaissance missions.
As part of the program, Airbus will also lead the redesign of the Fighter and Attack School Training Center at Talavera la Real Air Base. The center will feature advanced simulators developed together with Spanish company Indra, along with comprehensive logistics, operational, and maintenance support.
Spanish Industry to Take a Major Role
According to information shared by Airbus, the Spanish defense industry, under Airbus coordination, will gain sovereign control over the maintenance, support, and further development of the fleet.
Local Spanish partners will integrate several critical technologies into the aircraft. These include mission computers from GMV, Identification Friend or Foe systems from Indra, and advanced avionics contributions from companies such as Sener, Aertec, Grupo Oesía, and Orbital.
With the HÜRJET / SAETA II program, Türkiye is not only exporting an advanced jet trainer aircraft to a NATO ally, but also entering a new phase in European defense aviation cooperation.
