In a landmark achievement for the Turkish aviation industry, a domestically produced aircraft has been awarded a Military Type Certificate, a testament to its adherence to rigorous airworthiness and safety standards. This certification process was executed exclusively by Turkish professionals, marking a first for the nation, as announced by Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB).
The certification journey for the Hürkus-II involved a comprehensive evaluation across 12 distinct certification disciplines. Throughout this process, 1,790 certification requirements were scrutinized, 950 supporting documents were meticulously examined, and 153 certification tests were conducted, ensuring the aircraft met all necessary criteria, according to officials.
The Hürkus-II, a successor to TUSAŞ’s original turboprop trainer, is engineered to meet the Turkish Air Force’s foundational training needs. The aircraft is enhanced with a modernized airframe and advanced avionics, equipping it to deliver essential flight and weapons training for military pilots.
This certification is the first of its kind in Turkey, completed to international standards using solely national expertise, and stands as a significant milestone in the country’s aviation sector.
Haluk Görgün, head of the Presidency of Defence Industries, emphasized the strategic importance of this certification. “We are not only developing air platforms; we are also building the technical authority, methodologies and certification culture required to verify the reliability of these platforms with our own personnel,” he stated.
As Turkey continues to advance its indigenous fighter jet, the KAAN, the skills and capabilities honed through the Hürkus-II program are poised to bolster the nation’s future efforts in the design, testing, verification, and certification of new air platforms.
