First export Hürkuş soon to be delivered
During the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition in Pretoria (South Africa) in September 2022, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) announced that they will deliver two Hürkuş light combat aircraft to Niger by the end of 2022 and three to Chad in the first quarter of 2023.
In November 2021, Scramble Magazine reported that Niger ordered twelve Turkish-built Hürkuş trainer-combat aircraft, as part of a larger arms transfer deal, thus becoming the first foreign customer of the Hürkuş training aircraft.
Chad was the second African nation after Niger to acquire the next generation Hürkuş basic training aircraft. At the Farnborough Air Show 2022, held in August this year, TUSAŞ confirmed that an undisclosed number of the type had been sold to the country for use with the Armée de l'Air Tchadienne (Chad Air Force).
Another African country interested in the Hürkuş light combat aircraft is Libya. Although still not confirmed, the Libya Observer reported that the Libyan Air Force, with the support of the Libyan government, had signed a contract with TUSAŞ for an undisclosed number of Hürkuş-C trainer and close air support aircraft. Scramble magazine reported on this possible deal in May 2022.
Photo (just illustrative) by Turkish Aerospace Industries