Niger and Chad to receive Turkish-made Hurkus-C light trainer and combat aircraft

Africa, Middle East, News October 29, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

The Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI) has signed a contract to deliver two Hurkus-C trainer and combat aircraft to Niger while Chad would receive three units in near future.

According to the Deputy General Manager of TAI Atilla Dogan, the firm aims to fulfill the order for Niger by the end of this year while Chad’s aircraft order would be completed by the first quarter of 2023. The company officials announced the deal at the SAHA defense and aerospace exhibition in Istanbul, however, the contract value of both deals was not revealed by any of the parties involved in the deal.

Each Hurkus-C aircraft costs around $40 million to $50 million. TAI has already sold at least 12 Hurkus-B aircraft to Niger in a deal that was signed in 2021. Niger was the first foreign customer of TAI Hurkus trainer aircraft.

Turkish-made Hurkus aircraft has found substantial success in the African market. Earlier in May this year, the Libyan Air Force also signed a contract with TAI to acquire an undisclosed number of Hurkus-C aircraft.

TAI’s Hurkus-C is a two-seat long-wing single-engine turboprop aircraft that is usually used for training, combat, and ground support missions. It can carry up to 1500 kilograms of payload while flying at low altitudes. Its armaments include Cirit laser-guided missiles, Roketsan’s UMTAS anti-tank guided missiles, and Mizrak anti-tank missiles.

The 36 feet long aircraft has a wingspan of 32 feet and it can accommodate two pilots. The aircraft is also equipped with an advanced forward-looking infrared sensor built by Aselsan Technologies, Turkey’s largest defense company. Hurkus-C can fly at a maximum speed of 574 km/ph. So far, the plane is only being used by Turkish, Libyan, and Nigerian air forces. Chad would be the third international buyer of Turkish-made Hurkus aircraft.

*^{Turkish Aerospace Industry’s (TAI) Hurkus-C aircraft flying in formation. (Image Credit: TAI/via Airspace Review)}*

Turkey’s booming defense industry relies heavily upon exports. The export of defense products marks about 75% of the total revenue generated by the Turkish defense industry. This successful export-oriented business model has been quite useful for the Turkish drone industry. Turkish drones reached a milestone when Bayraktar Tactical Block 2 (TB-2) took its first flight in 2014. Since then it has become the go-to option for many developing and developed countries because of its cheaper price tag and maneuverable design.

Turkish defense manufacturers plan to apply the same export-oriented model for other products as well including the aircraft industry. Hurkus planes could be a cheaper alternative as a trainer aircraft for many developing countries.