Niger becomes first export customer for Hürkus
Niger is the first country to order Turkish fixed-wing aircraft since the 1940s. (Photo: TUSAS)
A decades-long export drought for Turkish fixed-wing aircraft is set to come to an end.
The Directorate of Communications, a Turkish government agency, confirmed on 19 November that Hürkus aircraft are being sold to Niger.
In a conversation with his Nigerien counterpart Mohamed Bazoum, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that ‘TB2 drones, Hürkus aircraft, and armoured vehicles that Niger would procure from Turkey would strengthen its military and security forces’.
It is unknown how many aircraft Niger will procure and cost details of the export deal are undisclosed, but the transaction was announced on 11 November by Turkish Aerospace CEO Temel Kotil in an interview with TV channel CNN Turk.
Kotil said that the first Hürkus-B trainer will be delivered to Niger by mid-2022 but he did not specify if the Hürkus-A civilian aircraft and Hürkus-C light attack aircraft have also been sold to the African country. However, Kotil did say in April 2021 that an unnamed country was close to signing a deal for Hürkus-C.
The agreement between Niger and Turkey can be seen as the fruit of an African tour made by Erdogan in October 2021, after which Nigeria ordered a pair of new OPVs from Dearsan.
Just as significant is the fact that the Hürkus deal with Niger is the first overseas sale of Turkish-made fixed-wing aircraft since the 1940s.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![March Drone Digest: Long-range, low-cost loitering munitions are changing warfare economics]()
March Drone Digest: Long-range, low-cost loitering munitions are changing warfare economics
The effective use of the Shahed-136 in the Iran War has highlighted the need for countries to acquire a domestically produced, low-cost, long-range loitering munition, with the US, Turkey and European nations all at various stages of developing a similar capability.
-
![Franco-German alliance aims to resolve FCAS woes by end of April as dispute rolls on]()
Franco-German alliance aims to resolve FCAS woes by end of April as dispute rolls on
The disagreement between French-German industry continues as both governments work to keep the programme alive and on track to develop and deliver a sixth-generation fighter jet.
-
![US Air Force is eyeing cost-effective automated counter-drone solutions]()
US Air Force is eyeing cost-effective automated counter-drone solutions
The USAF is seeking on-the-move systems, subsystems or technologies capable of defending airbases and fixed and semi-fixed sites against small drone attacks.
-
![Long-range drone acquisition axed as Norway announces $11.75 billion spending uplift]()
Long-range drone acquisition axed as Norway announces $11.75 billion spending uplift
Norway’s funding boost will help the country reach 3.5% of GDP on defence spending by 2035, with autonomous systems part of the long list of priorities alongside frigate acquisition and development of a new Finnmark Brigade.
-
![Dormant helicopter programmes in Africa and Asia present opportunities]()
Dormant helicopter programmes in Africa and Asia present opportunities
Growing capability gaps caused by ageing Soviet-era platforms in Africa and Asia are creating opportunities, as disrupted supply chains and sanctions open the door for Western manufacturers to expand into these markets.
-
![Electric and hybrid aerial drone fleets are expanding their footprint]()
Electric and hybrid aerial drone fleets are expanding their footprint
Advances in uncrewed aerial vehicles powered by renewable technologies are coming to the fore, with battery, hydrogen and solar propulsion challenging traditional fossil fuel-dependent models.
