TURKEY AND SPAIN STRENGTHEN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH LANDMARK AEROSPACE DEAL

€2.6 Billion Pact for HURJET Training Jets Marks a Milestone in Turkish Defence Exports and NATO Cooperation

ISTANBUL/ANKARA – In a significant move underscoring deepening ties between two key NATO allies, Turkey and Spain have finalized a landmark €2.6 billion (approximately $3.06 billion) defence agreement. The deal, announced Tuesday by Turkey’s Defence Industry Agency (SSB), involves the procurement of 30 HURJET light training and lead-in fighter aircraft from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the Spanish Air Force, with deliveries scheduled between 2028 and 2036.

The agreement represents the inaugural foreign sale of the indigenously developed HURJET platform, catapulting Turkey’s aerospace sector onto the global stage in a highly competitive market. It follows a strategic cooperation accord signed between TAI and European aerospace giant Airbus in July, which laid the groundwork for the procurement negotiations.

A Multi-Dimensional Strategic Export Package

SSB Chairman Haluk Görgün hailed the contract as a “high-value-added and multi-dimensional defence industry export package.” The comprehensive agreement extends beyond the delivery of 30 aircraft to include an integrated training architecture for pilots and ground crews, the establishment of a dedicated maintenance infrastructure in Spain, and provisions for long-term operational and technical support.

“This agreement is not merely a sale; it is the foundation for deep, long-term strategic collaboration between our industries and air forces,” Görgün stated. “It paves the way for joint future projects and solidifies our defence partnership.”

Bolstering Turkey’s Defence Ambitions

The deal is a cornerstone achievement for Turkey’s national strategy to transform its defence sector. Over the past decade, Ankara has aggressively pursued import substitution and boosted indigenous research and development, dramatically reducing its reliance on foreign suppliers. This policy has yielded notable successes, particularly in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), where Turkish-made Bayraktar and Anka drones have seen significant export success and operational use.

The HURJET sale is viewed as a critical stepping stone for more ambitious programs. Most prominent among these is the KAAN project, Turkey’s first indigenously developed fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, which successfully completed its maiden flight earlier this year. Additionally, Turkey is advancing its national air defence system, the “Steel Dome.”

Strategic Implications for NATO and Europe

For Spain, the decision to procure the HURJET is a strategic diversification of its defence supply chain and an investment in a modern, cost-effective training solution to prepare pilots for next-generation fighter aircraft. It also reflects a calculated deepening of bilateral ties with Turkey, a geopolitically pivotal ally.

Analysts suggest the agreement strengthens intra-NATO industrial cooperation at a time of evolving security challenges. “This is a notable example of burden-sharing and industrial collaboration within the Alliance,” said a European defence analyst. “It demonstrates Turkey’s evolving role from a client state to a capable technology partner within NATO’s ecosystem.”

The partnership with Airbus is seen as particularly significant, potentially facilitating greater Turkish aerospace integration with European supply chains and certification standards.

Looking Ahead

The successful execution of the HURJET contract will be closely watched by global defence markets. Its performance with the Spanish Air Force will serve as a crucial reference case for TAI’s future export campaigns. The deal firmly establishes Turkey as a growing force in the global military aviation market, with ambitions that now extend from advanced trainers to cutting-edge fighter jets and autonomous systems.

 

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