According to information published by Daily Sabbah on November 18, 2021, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed Turkey-Niger relations with President Mohamed Bazoum in a phone call and in particular defense purchases, including a possible purchase of Hürkuş-C armed close air support and training aircraft.

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Hürkuş-C aircraft (Picture source: Daily Sabbah)

The TAI Hürkuş is a tandem two-seat, low-wing, single-engine, turboprop aircraft being developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) as a new basic trainer and ground attack aircraft for the Turkish Armed Forces.

The Hürkuş is equipped for day and night flying as well as basic pilot training, instrument flying, navigation training, weapons and formation training.

The aircraft has good visibility from both cockpits with a 50 degree down-view angle from the rear cockpit, cabin pressurization (nominal 4.16 psid), Martin-Baker Mk T-16 N 0/0 ejection seats, an onboard oxygen generation system (OBOGS), an Environmental Control System (Vapor Cycle Cooling), an anti-G system, high shock absorbing landing gear for training missions, and Hands On Throttle and Stick (HOTAS).

The Hürkuş-C version for the close air support role in addition to pilot training missions, will have a maximum weapons load of 3,300lb (1,500kg) and also carry a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor.