Naval HÜRJET variant for the Turkish Navy’s MUGEM aircraft carrier has started receiving interest from the public of Spain, which seeks a new naval air wing.
Spain-based defence news platform Defensa y Seguridad has provided a second perspective on TUSAŞ’s development of a naval HÜRJET, with Spain also seeking a new aircraft carrier and alternative suppliers for the combat aircraft, as reported previously.
TUSAŞ recently presented the “Naval HÜRJET” at SAHA EXPO 2026, which could be taken as a clearer declaration of will (Beyond the previous statements) to develop a manned combat aircraft for MUGEM. The official preliminary presentation has naturally gained attention from the European country with a plan for a more capable naval aviation wing in the future.
Spain’s Search for a New Naval Aviation Structure and Naval HÜRJET
Spain, close to retiring the EAV-8B Harrier II V/STOL attack aircraft operating from the Juan Carlos I (L61) LHD, has previously announced its intentions to build a new naval aviation fleet with an aircraft carrier and accordingly acquired aircraft. It is known that the intentions lean towards a CATOBAR carrier that has significant advantages when it comes to payload and range per aircraft.
For the aircraft options, few near-term alternatives exist, but not without political complexities. French Rafale M and US-made fighters (F-35C and F/A-18E/F) are the current operational examples. Acquisition from the US has had its possibilities diminishing, especially after the frictions in the wake of the US-Iran War. At the same time, it is not exactly simple for Spain to acquire Rafale M as an Eurofighter operator.
On the other hand, a HÜRJET derivative for MUGEM, which is a longer-term plan that Türkiye is pursuing with STOBAR/CATOBAR provisions, might present an alternative with fewer political complications and a familiarity for Spain.
Spanish Perspective on Naval HÜRJET Option
Defensa y Seguridad, providing frequent coverage of defence developments in Spain and recently having published multiple articles on Turkish defence industry developments appealing to Spain’s defence requirements, has recently published an analysis inspecting the naval HÜRJET as a possibility for Spain’s new naval air structure plans in light of TUSAŞ’s preliminary presentation, which acts as a declaration.
According to Defensa y Seguridad’s analysis, the naval HÜRJET being developed as the manned component of MUGEM’s manned+unmanned aviation capabilities should not be directly compared to a stealth aircraft like F-35C, but something to provide a more instant action with light to medium combat capacity.
Aside from the operational side, it is also stated that the Saeta II programme, based on HÜRJET’s baseline advanced trainer configuration, places an industrial base for a cooperation that can not be ignored.
Finally, due to Spain not having a fully fleshed-out roadmap on the new naval air wing yet and the naval HÜRJET's early development stage, Defensa y Seguridad acknowledges that naval HÜRJET currently remains a possibility but should not be ignored due to the growing cooperation between the two countries that can provide a common industrial ground and cooperation.
You can reach Defensa y Seguridad's article on Naval HÜRJET here
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
