Turkey Breaks Into Europe’s Defense Market With €2.6B HÜRJET Deal With Spain

Turkey has marked a major milestone in its defense and aerospace ambitions with the export of the HÜRJET jet trainer to Spain, securing a 30-aircraft deal worth €2.6 billion. The agreement is being widely viewed as a breakthrough moment for Turkey’s defense industry, signaling a strong and credible entry into the European market with a domestically designed, high-technology military platform.

The deal underscores the growing international competitiveness of Turkish defense technologies and highlights a strategic deepening of cooperation with European and NATO partners.

Congratulations From Government Leadership

Following the announcement, Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Turkey’s Minister of Industry and Technology, publicly congratulated the team at Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) for their role in bringing the HÜRJET project to the export stage.

The export decision was also addressed in detail by Haluk Görgün, President of Presidency of Defence Industries, who spoke to journalists at TUSAŞ facilities.

“A Showcase of 20 Years of Progress”

Görgün described the Spain export as a clear indicator of how far Turkey has advanced in defense and high-technology production over the past two decades. He emphasized that Turkey has transformed into a country capable of meeting its own defense needs, developing original platforms, and sharing these technologies with allies.

He underlined that this progress has taken place under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, positioning Turkey as a reliable, trusted, and increasingly preferred defense partner on the global stage.

82–83% Localization: A Fully Indigenous Platform

One of the most striking aspects of the HÜRJET export is its high domestic content ratio, which Görgün said has reached 82–83% across Turkey’s defense industry.

“This export comes from a product we designed, developed, and produced ourselves,” he said, adding that nearly 200 Turkish companies contributed to the HÜRJET program. Each of these firms assumed critical responsibilities in building what Görgün described as a globally needed advanced jet training aircraft.

The project is seen not only as a success for TUSAŞ but also as a major boost for Turkey’s broader defense ecosystem, including small and medium-sized subcontractors.

Spain Order Follows Turkish Air Force Selection

Turkey had previously placed its own orders for HÜRJET aircraft to meet national training needs, with production already underway. Görgün confirmed that interest from Spain—an EU and NATO member state—followed extensive technical evaluations, joint discussions with both Turkish and Spanish air forces, factory visits, and assessments of long-term cooperation potential.

These efforts culminated in the signing of the export agreement, which Görgün described as a moment of pride and confidence for Turkey’s defense sector.

More Than Just Aircraft: A Comprehensive Package

Importantly, the agreement goes beyond the sale of aircraft alone. Görgün stressed that the HÜRJET export to Spain includes a comprehensive package, covering:

Ground support systems
Simulation and training systems
Maintenance and sustainment infrastructure
A long-term industrial cooperation model

“This is not just an aircraft deal,” he said. “It is a framework that will deepen defense and high-technology cooperation between Turkey and Spain.”

He also thanked Spain’s Ministry of Defense and Air Force Command for their confidence in selecting HÜRJET.

Opening Doors for the Entire Defense Sector

Görgün noted that large-scale projects like HÜRJET create lasting opportunities for subcontractors and technology suppliers. He highlighted that Turkey’s defense industry now exports 230 different products to around 185 countries, reflecting the sector’s expanding global footprint.

The Spain deal is expected to enhance Turkey’s credibility in European markets further, potentially paving the way for additional defense and aerospace exports in the coming years.

A Strategic Turning Point

With the HÜRJET agreement, Turkey has demonstrated that it can successfully compete in Europe’s highly regulated and technologically demanding defense market. Analysts view the €2.6 billion deal as more than a commercial success—it represents a strategic validation of Turkey’s long-term investment in indigenous defense capabilities.

As production and delivery plans move forward, the HÜRJET export to Spain stands as one of the most significant defense achievements in Turkey’s recent history, reinforcing its ambition to become a leading global player in aerospace and defense technologies.