He explained that TAI had previously received orders for HÜRJET aircraft for Türkiye's needs and that their production was ongoing. He added that they had received similar requests from Spain, a friendly and allied country that is a member of the EU and NATO.
He said the agreement, signed on Monday, reached a successful conclusion after technical evaluations, discussions with the Spanish and Turkish Air Forces, factory visits, and assessments of potential cooperation opportunities.
"We are happy and pleased to be exporting such a high-tech product to our ally Spain, a member of the EU and NATO. This agreement is not just a training aircraft agreement. It's a comprehensive contract encompassing many innovations, including ground systems, simulation systems, maintenance systems, and a cooperation model," he said.
He also noted that such projects open doors for subcontractors supporting the platforms, highlighting the development of a sector that produces approximately 230 different products for around 185 countries.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPORTS TO 3RD COUNTRIES
Görgün emphasized that this agreement package includes opportunities for mutual gains, technological collaborations, integration of different payloads or subsystems, leveraging the advanced aviation sector in Spain, and the possibility of jointly developing and exporting subsequent models to third countries.
He stated that a significant portion of last year's defense industry exports were to EU and NATO members, noting that an agreement was reached for 30 aircraft with a budget of approximately €2.6 billion.
"A Spanish-style version, updated according to Spain's own needs, will also be included in this package. When discussing defense industry exports with friendly and allied countries and those with whom we cooperate, we prioritize the creation of a win-win model. We consider both technological and economic gains mutually. This instills confidence in our counterparts," Görgün added.
On Monday, Spain inked an agreement with TAI, the manufacturer of HÜRJET, to purchase 30 units of the jet trainer for €2.6 billion.
The deal was announced in May, when Spain signed a pact with Türkiye to import HÜRJET, and it was authorized in October for the procurement of a new system for modern fighter pilot training featuring a customized version of the supersonic aircraft.
Türkiye's HÜRJET project began in August 2017, and the aircraft made its maiden flight in April 2023. Before that, the first completed component entered the final assembly line in June 2022, followed by ground tests that included landing-gear trials, wiring checks, canopy mechanisms, and full avionics, electrical, and fuel-system tests.
