The TAI Hürkuà  (Turkish for "Free Bird") is a tandem two-seat, low-wing, single-engine, turboprop aircraft being produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) as a trainer and ground attack aircraft for the Turkish Armed Forces.
The aircraft is named after Vecihi Hürkuà Â, a World War I and Turkish Independence War veteran pilot, a Turkish aviation pioneer and the first Turkish airplane manufacturer.
The TAI Hürkuà  Development Program started with an agreement signed between Turkish Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSB) and TAI in March 2006. Under the agreement the company will design, manufacture and complete the civil certification the aircraft to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) CS 23 standards.
By June 2012 the Hürkuà  program had consumed one million man-hours with the work of 140 engineers. About a quarter of the Turkish engineers who have worked on Hürkuà  are female, as well as two of the three project heads.
The Hürkuà  is equipped for day and night flying as well as basic pilot training, instrument flying, navigation training, weapons and formation training. The aircraft has good visibility from both cockpits with a 50 degree down-view angle from the rear cockpit, cabin pressurization (nominal 4.16 psid), Martin-Baker Mk T-16 N 0/0 ejection seats, an onboard oxygen generation system (OBOGS), an Environmental Control System (Vapor Cycle Cooling), an anti-G system, high shock absorbing landing gear for training missions, and Hands On Throttle and Stick (HOTAS). Microtecnica of Turin, Italy has been selected to provide the aircraft's environmental control system. The Hürkuà  has been designed for a 35-year service life.
The Hürkuà  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 Hürkuà  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 and actually occurred on 29 August 2013 when the aircraft flew from the Ankara Akñncñ Air Base on a 33-minute flight.
In 2016, the Hürkuà Â-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)
In February 2017, photos were released by the Turkish MoD, showing the Hürkuà Â-C prototype carrying Roketsan UMTAS anti-tank guided missiles, Roketsan Cirit laser-guided rockets, an electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) pod (likely the Aselsan Common Aperture Targeting System or CATS), and external fuel tanks. On 7 April 2017, a Hürkuà Â-C fired a Roketsan L-UMTAS anti-tank missile that successfully hit the target on the ground.
TAI developed Hürkuà  2, which is a modified, lighter and improved version of Hürkuà  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.Turkish Aerospace announced that the Hürkuà Â-2 aircraft, had completed its first flight with 6,500 feet altitude, 140-knot speed, 20 minutes of flight time.
15 Hürkuà  1B and 1C were delivered to Turkish Armed Forces but they were later redirected for export. 15 Hürkuà Â-II will be delivered in 2025, 20 in 2026 and 20 in 2027.
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. According to a news report from CNN Türk, Australia and Sweden are interested in the aircraft.
Basic version which has been certified with EASA according to CS-23 requirements. It is intended for the civilian market.
Advanced military version with integrated avionics (including HUD, MFDs, and Mission Computer). Cockpit avionics layout is similar to F-16 fighters.
An armed version for the close air support role in addition to pilot training missions, a maximum weapons load of 3,300lb (1,500kg) and also carry a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor. It is 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 is the lower cost of air power, especially in low-intensity combat theatres where anti-air warfare threats are minimal.
An unmanned prototype of the Hurkus-C "UAS" was developed. Also, a version of the Hürkuà  to support the Turkish Coast Guard's maritime patrol operations was offered. The aircraft's rear seat was to be occupied by an operator for a FLIR sensor using an ASELSAN FLIR system.
Although the project is also called HÃÂRKUÃ Â-2, its official name is New Generation HÃÂRKUÃ Â-B. The key points are as follows.
Weight Reduction and Materials:
Performance Improvements:
Aerodynamic and Structural Design Changes:
Localization of Systems: