Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) hosted Azerbaijan's Minister of Defence Industry, Vugar Mustafayev, and his accompanying high-level delegation at its facilities. The visit, which strengthens the defence industry integration between the two brotherly nations, was dominated by the HÜRKUŞ Basic Training and Light Attack Aircraft. In the photos shared by TUSAŞ General Manager Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu, the new and modern fuselage paint scheme of the HÜRKUŞ, which the Azerbaijani delegation inspected in the cockpit, was seen clearly for the first time.
The defence industry collaborations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, conducted under the "One Nation, Two States" understanding, are gaining new momentum with aviation projects. TUSAŞ General Manager Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu made a post on social media containing strategic messages regarding the visit of Azerbaijan's Minister of Defence Industry, Vugar Mustafayev, to the company. However, the real surprise of the visit was hidden in the shared photographs. HÜRKUŞ, one of Türkiye's national wings, was on stage with a brand new look.
HÜRKUŞ in the Delegation's Sights
In Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu's post, the Azerbaijani delegation is seen conducting detailed examinations around the HÜRKUŞ aircraft in the hangar and receiving briefings on the aircraft's cockpit architecture.
This interest is no coincidence. The Azerbaijani Air Forces have long been closely interested in the HÜRKUŞ project to conduct pilot basic/advanced training on a modern platform and to use it for Close Air Support (CAS) missions when necessary. The fact that Azerbaijani combat pilots have previously come to Türkiye and conducted test flights with the HÜRKUŞ also demonstrates the depth of this interest. The inspection of the aircraft at the level of the Minister of Defence Industry during the visit is interpreted as a sign that the procurement process specifically for Azerbaijan may accelerate.
Latest Version of HÜRKUŞ: Modern Design with Blue Paint
The most striking detail in the photos shared from the meetings was the change made to the HÜRKUŞ's exterior paint. The HÜRKUŞ, which we are accustomed to seeing in red-white or classic military colours during test phases, has now taken on a much different identity.
Unshakeable Brotherhood, Strong Cooperation
In his statement regarding the meeting, TUSAŞ General Manager Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu emphasised common goals, stating:
"We hosted the Minister of Defence Industry of the brotherly country Azerbaijan, Mr. Vugar Mustafayev, at our company. On the occasion of the Minister's visit, it was extremely valuable for us to once again see that we share the same vision, the same determination, and the same goals with Azerbaijan. I sincerely believe that the unshakeable brotherhood between Türkiye and Azerbaijan will grow even stronger with robust cooperation in the defence industry."
This visionary statement and the photos from the hangar are the strongest signals that alongside projects like KAAN, HÜRJET, and ANKA, the HÜRKUŞ is also preparing to play a critical role in ensuring airspace security in the Caucasus.
