To advance the TAI Hürjet light fighter program, the Turkish government is in the process of requesting U.S. authorization for the purchase of F404 engines, which are produced by GE Aerospace. If approved, this operation would significantly boost the development of the Turkish aircraft, which had its first flight in April 2023.
It is important to note that the future TAI Hürjet light fighters will replace the aging T-38 and F-5 aircraft currently used by the Turkish Air Force for training. The force is estimated to have around 30 T-38s and about 50 F-5s, making the production of the new locally designed fighter an ambitious replacement project with good export potential.
Additionally, this potential operation would represent a new step toward normalizing relations between the Turkish and U.S. defense sectors, which have been strained since Turkey’s purchase of the S-400 air defense systems, leading to its removal from the F-35 program in 2019. A U.S. official at the embassy in Ankara stated, “We look forward to deepening our defense partnership with Turkey, a key NATO ally.”
Moreover, the Turkish government is exploring the possibility of involving its local defense industry in the production of the F404 engines. Although there are no concrete definitions yet, the potential exists as GE Aerospace maintains a partnership with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) through the joint venture TUSAS Engine Industries Inc. (TEI). A GE Aerospace representative stated that the intention is to utilize TEI “for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of F404 engines, in addition to assembly, inspection, and testing in Turkey.”
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that the Turkish Air Force is also outlining additional requests to the U.S., including the acquisition and modernization of F-16 combat aircraft. This contract would require an investment of $23 billion and aims to integrate the Turkish defense industry into the production process.
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