At a ceremony held at Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) facilities, Turkey formally handed over the first two units of the Hürkuş-II advanced trainer aircraft to the Turkish Air Forces Command. The aircraft have successfully completed acceptance tests and entered operational service. The Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) announced that a total of 55 Hürkuş-II aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2028, with 12 units scheduled for delivery by year-end.

The Hürkuş-II represents a substantially redesigned version of the original Hürkuş platform. The aircraft features a wingspan of 10.8 meters, maximum takeoff weight of 3.3 metric tons, service ceiling of 39,270 feet, maximum range of 1,190 kilometers, and maximum cruise speed of 533 kilometers per hour. Equipped with an anti-G system, the aircraft can perform inverted flight for 30 seconds. With its modern avionics, performance characteristics, and maneuverability, Hürkuş-II will support the development of trainee pilot skills while establishing a common training foundation for Turkey's next-generation domestically developed combat aircraft.

The cockpit and avionics architecture have been designed for compatibility with other domestically developed platforms, including the Hürjet advanced trainer and the fifth-generation KAAN fighter jet. This common architecture aims to facilitate pilot transition to more advanced systems. The Hürkuş program has strengthened Turkey's engineering capabilities in the design, development, testing, and integration of manned aircraft.

The development process involved approximately 23,000 hours of testing, encompassing ground, laboratory, and system-integration work. The aircraft received military type certification to international standards in September. Beyond basic pilot training, Hürkuş can perform light-attack and close-air-support missions, positioning it as a multipurpose platform for international markets. Several countries have expressed interest in the aircraft, with global demand for hundreds of basic trainer aircraft. The aircraft is produced with a localization rate approaching 80%, with Turkish Aerospace Industries as prime contractor and contributions from companies including ASELSAN and HAVELSAN.

The original procurement program covered 15 aircraft but was expanded by 40 additional units to reach a total of 55. The program aims to establish Hürkuş fleets within the Turkish Air Force by 2027, with all 55 aircraft in inventory by the end of 2028. The use of domestically developed subsystems and software will facilitate the integration of Turkish-made munitions, further strengthening the indigenous defense industrial base.