The details underlying the HÜRJET agreement, one of the Turkish defence industry's greatest successes in the European market, are beginning to become clear. Within the scope of the contract signed with Spain, the software and data packages for the simulators that will manage the training processes of the TUSAŞ-produced jets will be exported to Spain by HAVELSAN. This development proves that Türkiye can export not only aircraft platforms but also high-tech flight training software featuring groundbreaking embedded simulation capabilities in world aviation.
In aviation projects, the success of a platform is directly related to the quality of the infrastructure with which the pilots who will operate it are trained. The training and simulator infrastructure for HÜRJET, selected by the Spanish Air and Space Force to modernise its training fleet, has been entrusted to HAVELSAN, which has become a global player in this field. The full mission and flight training simulator, worked on for approximately three years, stands as the clearest document of Türkiye's transition from a technology importer to a technology exporter.
We Are Selling Software and Data, Not Hardware
The most strategic aspect of this export by HAVELSAN to Spain is the sale of software rather than a physical cabin.
HAVELSAN General Manager Mehmet Akif Nacar explains this historic turning point with the following words:
"With the contract signed with Spain, we have achieved the capacity to provide the simulator software and all data packages to the company responsible for simulator production in Spain. In the past, while we used to buy software from abroad and build the simulator here, today the exact opposite is happening."
This situation demonstrates that the flight physics engines, avionics simulations, and virtual environment algorithms developed by Turkish engineers are approved to NATO standards and are being used as infrastructure by European companies.
Simulator Completed Before the Aircraft: The Engineering Simulator
HAVELSAN’ın HÜRJET projesindeki rolü, uçağın üretimi bittikten sonra başlamadı. Klasik yöntemde simülatörler, bitmiş bir uçak üzerinden modellenirken, HAVELSAN mühendisleri HÜRJET’in geliştirme süreciyle eş zamanlı çalışarak bir “Mühendislik Simülatörü” üretti.
Thanks to this simulator, prepared before the aircraft even existed, the aircraft's aerodynamic models, cockpit scenarios, and manoeuvrability were tested and validated in a virtual environment. This concurrent engineering model, which directly contributed to HÜRJET's development, is currently being successfully applied for the National Combat Aircraft KAAN as well.
A New Concept in Aviation: Embedded Simulation
HÜRJET projesiyle birlikte havacılık dünyasına kazandırılan ve İspanya gibi ülkelerin de dikkatini çeken bir diğer önemli yenilik ise gömülü simülasyon (Embedded Simulation) teknolojisidir.
In addition to ground-based simulator training, this next-generation software system, integrated directly onto the aircraft itself, is changing the concept of in-flight training.
Thanks to the embedded simulator mounted on the aircraft, pilots can see virtual targets on their cockpit displays while conducting a real flight, even when there are no physical targets (enemy aircraft, etc.) externally. Thus, even during non-mission transit times, pilots can practice different tactical scenarios in the air under real physical conditions (G-force, etc.) without needing ground-based visual systems.
Delivery Schedule and Europe's Largest Facility
Türkiye’yi küresel simülatör pazarında ana oyunculardan biri yapacak olan sistemin teslimat takvimi de netleşti. HAVELSAN, HÜRJET simülatörünü bu yılın son çeyreğinde Türk Hava Kuvvetleri’nin kullanımı için hazır hale getirecek. Ardından İspanya ihracatı için yazılım entegrasyon süreçleri başlayacak. HÜRJET’in 2027’de Türkiye’de, 2028’de ise İspanya’da göreve başlaması planlanıyor.
On the other hand, to meet the increasing demands for national platforms (HÜRJET, GÖKBEY, KAAN, ATAK) and their export potential, HAVELSAN is constructing a new facility at Ankara HAB (Space and Aviation Specialised Organised Industrial Zone). Upon completion, the facility will become Europe's largest simulator production and integration centre, acting as a force multiplier for Türkiye's defence industry exports.
