Spain has confirmed plans to procure 30 Turkish-built Hürjet advanced jet trainers, replacing the long-serving F-5 aircraft and reshaping how the Spanish Air and Space Force trains future fighter pilots. The acquisition supports Spain’s transition toward a modern, digitally integrated training environment aligned with contemporary combat aircraft requirements.
The Spanish Ministry of Defence has selected Airbus Defence and Space to lead the development of the country’s new Integrated Combat Training System, while Turkish Aerospace will manufacture and deliver the Hürjet jets. Rather than focusing solely on aircraft acquisition, the initiative is structured as a comprehensive training solution that combines flying platforms, simulators, infrastructure modernization, and sustained support services.
Initial deliveries of the Hürjet aircraft will take place in a standard configuration before undergoing localized conversion to meet Spanish operational and training standards. Airbus will act as the national coordinator, managing fleet adaptation, establishing a conversion facility within Spain, and upgrading training infrastructure at Talavera la Real Air Base. The first two aircraft will be converted at Airbus’s Getafe site, with the remaining fleet modified domestically to build long-term industrial capability.
Following certification, deliveries are expected to start in 2028, with final aircraft entering service between 2031 and 2035. As a supersonic trainer designed to replicate the performance, avionics, and cockpit environment of frontline fighters, the Hürjet enables pilots to transition more effectively to platforms such as the Eurofighter Typhoon. Its open-systems architecture allows Spain to customize mission software and training simulations, while integration with ground-based and virtual training systems enhances realism, safety, and cost efficiency.
