Wikipedia

TAI Hürkuş

TheTAI Hürkuş(Free Bird)[4]is atandemtwo-seat, low-wing, single-engine,turbopropaircraft being produced byTurkish Aerospace Industries(TAI) as atrainerandground attack aircraftfor theTurkish Armed Forces.[5][6][7]

Hürkuş
TAI Hürkuş
Role Trainer aircraftandground attack aircraft
National origin Turkey
Manufacturer Turkish Aerospace Industries
First flight 29 August 2013[1]
Status In service[2]
Primary user Turkish Air Force
Number built 18 (June 2020)[3]

The aircraft is named afterVecihi Hürkuş,aWorld War IandTurkish Independence Warveteran pilot, a Turkish aviation pioneer and the first Turkish airplane manufacturer.[8]

Design and development

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The TAI Hürkuş Development Program started with an agreement signed between Turkish Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (Savunma Sanayii Müsteşarlığı (SSM)) and TAI in March 2006. Under the agreement the company will design, manufacture and complete the civil certification the aircraft toEuropean Aviation Safety AgencyCS 23 standards.[9]

By June 2012 the Hürkuş program had consumed one million man-hours with the work of 140 engineers. About a quarter of the Turkish engineers who have worked on Hürkuş are female, as well as two of the three project heads.[10][11][12]

The Hürkuş will be equipped for day and night flying as well as basic pilot training, instrument flying, navigation training, weapons and formation training. The aircraft will have good visibility from both cockpits with a 50 degree down-view angle from the rear cockpit,cabin pressurization(nominal 4.16 psid),Martin-BakerMk T-16 N 0/0ejection seats,an onboard oxygen generation system (OBOGS), an Environmental Control System (Vapor Cycle Cooling), an anti-G system, high shock absorbinglanding gearfor training missions, and Hands On Throttle and Stick (HOTAS).[6][9]MicrotecnicaofTurin, Italyhas been selected to provide the aircraft's environmental control system.[13]The Hürkuş has been designed for a 35-yearservice life.[14]

The Hürkuş development program has been subject to delays. In 2007 it was forecast that the first prototype would fly in late-2009 with first delivery, upon completion of the certification process, forecast for 2011. On 27 June 2012, the Hürkuş was officially rolled out at a ceremony held at TAI's Kazan premises. The forecast date for the first flight was then delayed until later in 2012[6]and actually occurred on 29 August 2013 when the aircraft flew from the Ankara Akıncı Air Base on a 33-minute flight.[1][15][16][17]

The Turkish government has indicated that the aircraft is expected to attract export sales, possibly from Middle Eastern countries, African countries or countries with limited air force budgets.[6][7][11][18][19][20]According to a news report fromCNN Türk,AustraliaandSwedenare interested in the aircraft.[10]

In 2016, the Hürkuş-A trainer aircraft was awarded a CS-23 Validation Type Certificate by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and an Aircraft Type Certificate by the Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)[21]

TheTurkish Armyhas an order for 15 Hürkuş-B aircraft plus an option for 40 more. Deliveries are scheduled for mid 2017[22][21]

In February 2017, photos were released by the Turkish MoD showing the prototype for armed version, the Hürkuş-C.[23]

TAI developed Hürkuş 2, which is modified, lighter and better version of Hürkuş aircraft. The first prototypes are on the assembly line and are expected to appear in 2025 and make their first flight. Deliveries are expected to begin soon after, in the same year.[1]

Variants

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Hürkuş-C in the 2017Paris Air Show
Hürkuş-A
Basic version which has been certified withEASAaccording to CS-23 requirements. It is intended for the civilian market.[22][24]
In 2016, the Hürkuş-A trainer aircraft was awarded a CS-23 Validation Type Certificate by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and an Aircraft Type Certificate by the Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).[21]
Hürkuş-B
Advanced version with integrated avionics (including HUD, MFDs, and Mission Computer).[25]Cockpit avionics layout is similar to F-16 and F-35 fighters.[26]TheTurkish Armyhas an order for 15 aircraft plus an option for 40 more. Deliveries are scheduled for mid 2017.[22][21]
Hürkuş-C
An armed version for the close air support role in addition to pilot training missions, will have a maximum weapons load of 3,300lb (1,500kg) and also carry a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor. It will be capable of operating from unprepared runways. The Turkish Army has expressed interest in using the aircraft in counter-terrorism environments and is expected to attract export orders. The main advantage will be to lower the cost of air power, especially in low-intensity combat theatres where anti-air warfare threats are minimal.[22][27][28][23]
In February 2017, photos were released by the Turkish MoD, showing the Hürkuş-C prototype carrying RoketsanUMTASanti-tank guided missiles, RoketsanCiritlaser-guided rockets, an electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) pod (likely the Aselsan Common Aperture Targeting System or CATS), and external fuel tanks.[23]
TheTurkish Armed Forcesare scheduled to receive deliveries in 2018.[citation needed]
On 7 April 2017, a Hürkuş-C fired a Roketsan L-UMTAS anti-tank missile that successfully hit the target on the ground.[29]
Coast Guard version
TAI plans to offer another version of the Hürkuş to support theTurkish Coast Guard's maritime patrol operations. The aircraft's rear seat would be occupied by an operator for a FLIR sensor using anASELSANFLIRsystem.[22][30]
Hürkuş-C UAS
An unmanned version of the Hurkus-C Counter-Insurgency Aircraft being developed for the Turkish Armed Forces.[31]

Operators

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Current operators

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Turkey
Libya
Niger

Chad

Future operators

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Turkey

Specifications (Hürkuş)

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Data fromTAI and Airforce Technology[25][37]

General characteristics

Performance

  • Maximum speed:574 km/h (357 mph, 310 kn)
  • Cruise speed:463 km/h (288 mph, 250 kn)
  • Stall speed:143 km/h (89 mph, 77 kn)
  • Range:1,478 km (918 mi, 798 nmi) at 15000 ft (4572 m)
  • Endurance:4.25 hours at 15000 ft (4572 m)
  • Service ceiling:10,577 m (34,701 ft)
  • g limits:+7/-3.5
  • Rate of climb:22 m/s (3,000 ft/min)

Armament

[42] Avionics

See also

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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

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  1. ^ab"HÜRKUŞ ilk uçuşunu gerçekleştirdi – Anadolu Ajansı".Aa.tr.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-09-01.Retrieved2013-08-29.
  2. ^"Deal signed for serial production of Turkish airplane Hürkuş".Hurriyet Daily News.26 December 2013.Retrieved13 September2016.
  3. ^Yıldırım, Göksel (24 June 2020)."İlklerin uçağı Hürkuş sivil ve askeri ihtiyaçları karşılayacak".aa.tr.Archivedfrom the original on 6 July 2020.Retrieved6 July2020.
  4. ^"Turkey grounds T-37 fleet for safety checks".Flightglobal. 2012-02-08.Archivedfrom the original on 2012-04-28.Retrieved2013-01-25.
  5. ^Hürriyet – Doğan Yayın Holding (2010)."İşte Hürkuş".Archivedfrom the original on 30 March 2010.Retrieved22 August2010.
  6. ^abcdTurkish Aerospace Industries(2008)."TAI'S Turkish Primary and Basic Trainer Aircraft(Hurkis) To be Displayed at 47th Paris Airshow".Archived fromthe originalon July 22, 2011.Retrieved22 August2010.
  7. ^abUndersecretariat for Defense Industries (February 2010)."Turkish Primary and Basic Trainer Aircraft (HÜRKUŞ) Development Program".Archived fromthe originalon 22 July 2011.Retrieved22 August2010.
  8. ^Turkish Aerospace Industries(June 2007)."Aviation Week – Show News – Turkey's New Trainer Gets Old Name: Hurkis".Archived fromthe originalon July 22, 2011.Retrieved22 August2010.
  9. ^abTurkish Aerospace Industries(2008)."Turkish Primary and Basic Trainer Aircraft – Hurkis".Archived fromthe originalon December 28, 2009.Retrieved22 August2010.
  10. ^ab"Hürkuş'un kadın mühendisleri".YouTube. 2012-07-15.Retrieved2013-01-25.[dead YouTube link]
  11. ^ab"Milliyet – İlk yerli uçak Hürkuş 1 milyon saatte tasarlandı".Ekonomi.milliyet.tr. 2012-06-27.Retrieved2013-01-24.
  12. ^"Hürkuş'un kadın mühendisleri".Kokpit.aero. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-02-19.Retrieved2013-01-25.
  13. ^Hoyle, Craig (June 2010)."Microtecnica selected to equip Turkey's Hurkus trainer".Archivedfrom the original on 9 June 2010.Retrieved22 August2010.
  14. ^"Türkiye'nin uçağı Hürkuş".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-01-12.Retrieved2013-01-25.
  15. ^"Turkish Primary and Basic Trainer" Hürkuş "Rolls Out – Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc".Tai.tr. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-11-25.Retrieved2013-01-24.
  16. ^"HÜRKUŞ, ilk uçuşunu yaptı".ZAMAN. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-08-31.Retrieved2013-08-29.
  17. ^Niles, Russ (2013-08-29)."Turkish Hurkus Military Trainer Flies – AVweb flash Article".Avweb.Retrieved2013-09-02.
  18. ^"Hürkuş'un farklı detayları".Kokpit.aero.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-09-11.Retrieved2013-01-25.
  19. ^"TAI Hurkus nears first flight and orders".Flightglobal. 2013-05-13.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-06-27.Retrieved2013-06-20.
  20. ^"Turkey to open contract negotiations with TAI for the serial production of the Hürkus Trainer Aircraft".January 4, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on January 8, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 8,2014.
  21. ^abcd"Farnborough 2016: Turkey's Hurkus trainer receives type certification | IHS Jane's 360".janes.Archived fromthe originalon 2017-02-21.Retrieved2017-02-20.
  22. ^abcde"PICTURE: TAI rolls out Turkey's first Hurkus trainer".flightglobal.2 July 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 27 August 2016.Retrieved14 August2016.
  23. ^abc"Turkish Aerospace Industries reveals Hürkuş-C close air support aircraft".quwa.org.2017-02-17.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-02-18.Retrieved2017-02-20.
  24. ^"EASA Awards TAI with Design Organization Certificate – Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc".Tai.tr. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-11-25.Retrieved2013-01-25.
  25. ^ab"HURKUS – Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc".Tai.tr. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-11-25.Retrieved2013-01-24.
  26. ^"Hürkuş'un farklı detayları".Kokpit.aero.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-09-10.Retrieved2013-01-24.
  27. ^"Hürkuş siparişi SSİK toplantısında gündeme geliyor".Kokpit.aero.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-01-03.Retrieved2013-01-24.
  28. ^"Hürkuş'un farklı detayları".Kokpit.aero.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-09-11.Retrieved2013-01-24.
  29. ^Milli Savunma (9 April 2017)."HÜRKUŞ İlk Atışını LUMTAS Füzesiyle Gerçekleştirdi".Archivedfrom the original on 12 April 2017.Retrieved11 April2017– via YouTube.
  30. ^"Hürkuş'un farklı detayları".Kokpit.aero.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-09-10.Retrieved2013-01-24.
  31. ^"Hürkuş insansız uçacak".takvim.tr.Archivedfrom the original on 27 November 2016.Retrieved27 November2016.
  32. ^"SSB'den 40 adet HÜRKUŞ-B siparişi: Mayıs 2025'e envanter | SavunmaSanayiST"(in Turkish). 2024-04-18.Retrieved2024-04-19.
  33. ^"Libya apparently orders Hurkus aircraft".defenceWeb. 6 June 2022.Retrieved17 June2022.
  34. ^ab"TUSAŞ hangi ülkelere kaç adet hava aracı teslim etti?"(in Turkish). 2023-05-24.Retrieved2023-05-24.
  35. ^Embraer, In association with."2024 World Air Forces directory".Flight Global.Retrieved2024-05-27.
  36. ^"Jandarma Genel Komutanlığı 2023 Yılı Faaliyet Raporu Yayınlandı".jandarma.gov.tr.Retrieved2024-05-27.
  37. ^"TAI Hurkus Basic Trainer Aircraft".airforce-technology.Archivedfrom the original on 2 October 2016.Retrieved14 August2016.
  38. ^Turnbull, Grant [@grantturnbull_] (2019-05-08)."Turkey's new Hurkus-C light attack aircraft was sporting an interesting weapon pylon integration"(Tweet).Archivedfrom the original on 2021-05-01.Retrieved2021-06-11– viaTwitter.
  39. ^Acar, Cemal [@Acemal71] (2019-03-30)."Tübitak SAGE's TOGAN Air Launched 81mm Ballistic/Near Presicion Mortar Weapon was integrated to TAI Hürkuş-C"(Tweet) (in Romanian).Archivedfrom the original on 2021-06-01.Retrieved2021-06-11– viaTwitter.
  40. ^"Hürkuş and MAM-L at tests | TurDef".turdef.Retrieved2021-04-25.
  41. ^"HÜRKUŞ- Her yere uçar".Hava Haber(in Turkish). 2018-08-08.Retrieved2021-04-25.
  42. ^"ASELSAN 2023'te birçok ilke imza attı".
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