Turkish Aerospace Industries signed a contract for the delivery of two Hurkus C light trainers and combat aircraft to Niger, and three to Chad. A senior company official confirmed that this was done. Atilla Dogan is the TAI deputy general manager. She stated to the media that the company will deliver the aircraft to Niger at the end of this year and to Chad during the first quarter of 2023.
Defense News spoke to company officials at the SAHA defense and aerospace exhibition in Istanbul Wednesday. They refused to reveal the contract value of either deal due to commercial secrecy. Industry sources claim that the cost for one Hurkus-C ranges from $40 million to $50 million. The agreement with Niger comes after the sale of 12 Hurkus B aircraft to the African nation in a 2021 deal. This was the first export contract TAI had for the combat trainer.
These deals increase Hurkus-C’s reach in Africa. The Hurkus-C acquisition was approved by TAI in May by the Libyan Air Force. The Hurkus-C, a twin-seat, low-wing turboprop aircraft with a single-engine and turboprop engine, can be used for close-to-ground support missions. It can carry a 1,500-kilogram payload including Cirit laser-guided Missiles, Roketsan UMTAS anti-tank guided missiles, and Mizrak anti-tank missiles.
Additionally, the aircraft has an advanced forward-looking, infrared sensor that was built by Aselsan, Turkey’s largest defense company. It can reach speeds of 574 km/h (357 mph). It has external fuel tanks and can carry Aselsan's electro-optical/infrared pod, dubbed the Common Aperture Targeting System.
The Hurkus-B, an upgraded version of the Hurkus-A with integrated avionics, is a more advanced version. The cockpit avionics for the "B" variant are similar to those of the American F-16 or F-35 fighter jets.