Ankara:Trkiye and Spain are set to collaborate on a joint version of the Hurjet jet trainer, with Spanish subcontractors contributing to the project, announced Turkish Defense Industries Secretary Haluk Gorgun. This announcement was made during the Ida Trkiye Defense and Aerospace Industrial Cooperation Days in Ankara, where Gorgun highlighted the significance of Spain choosing the Hurjet for its air force as a key example of bilateral cooperation.
According to Anadolu Agency, the initial versions of the Hurjet will be produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries and delivered with contributions from Spanish subcontractors. The collaboration will also involve additional certification from Spain, potentially creating a joint platform for both countries. The aircraft is intended to first fulfill Spain's requirements before being marketed to other NATO members and friendly nations.
Gorgun praised Spain's role as the first partner country under a new cooperation model at the event, which aims to strengthen industrial ties through international gatherings of small- and medium-sized enterprises. The event is organized by the OSTIM Defense and Aviation Cluster with support from Trkiye's National Defense Ministry and Defense Industries Secretariat, with Anadolu serving as its global communication partner.
In economic achievements, Gorgun revealed that Trkiye's defense industry exports have surpassed $7.4 billion this year, matching the previous year's total. The sector consists of over 4,000 companies and nearly 130,000 employees, with an average age of 34. He noted that defense exports typically peak in the final two months of the year, boosting expectations for surpassing last year's total.
Felipe Javier Carrasco Torres, deputy industry minister of Spain's Valencia region, commented on the potential for cooperation with Trkiye to enhance the region's defense and security industries. Valencia's industrial clusters cover both traditional manufacturing and emerging technologies, such as semiconductors, photonics, aerospace, and drones. Torres invited Turkish industrialists to an industry event in Valencia next September, emphasizing that international cooperation could accelerate the development of regional capabilities.