Oktay made the announcement on a visit to the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) facilities in Kahramankazan district in Ankara to observe defense industry-related developments that are part of the presidency cabinet's 100-Day Action Plan.
He said the Hürkuş-B will make its first flight with the air force in Çiğli Air Base, western Izmir province.
Oktay also visited the assembly line of the domestically-produced T-625 Multirole Helicopter, which is due to begin serial production in 2021, and sat in the cockpit of one of the aircraft. Pilot Arif Ateş briefed the vice president on the helicopter's first test flight successfully carried out on Sept. 6 – a date set by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan five years ago.
Oktay was also briefed on the ATAK helicopters, ANKA unmanned aerial vehicles, National Combat Aircraft and other projects.
He congratulated the TAI engineers and workers who designed and manufactured every detail "from A to Z."
The Hürkuş project was initiated under the leadership of the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSB) to meet the needs of the Air Forces Command and to develop a training aircraft that could enter the world market.
The first test flight of the B configuration, which will serve as the basic training aircraft for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), was held in January.
Once the first aircraft is delivered in November, it will be tested by air force pilots and subjected to various assessments. In this period, which is expected to last three months, improvements related to the aircraft will be finalized in cooperation with the air force and TAI. Aircraft deliveries will be carried out systematically, and 15 aircraft will be delivered to the air force in the first half of 2019.
Hürkuş will be the first national aircraft designed and produced by the company and included in the inventory.
Following development of the Hürkuş-A for civilian use, Hürkuş-B's features and dynamics were renewed. Hürkuş-B is 100 kilograms lighter than Hürkuş-A, standing out as a faster, more modern and powerful aircraft. This variant was designed as a more stable and more comprehensive vehicle.
Praised as the best in its class, Hürkuş-B is equipped with systems similar to those in fighter jets in terms of its digital cockpit, pressurized cabin, ejection seat, oxygen support and landing gear.
