Introduction
The Turkish Air Force (THK) hosted a Media Day in Konya 3rd Main Jet Base at Konya during the exercise International Anatolian Eagle 2022.
Since the first edition in 2001 up to 15 countries, more than 37000 personnel and 3055 air assets participated at 46 Anatolian Eagle editions, 21 of them were national and 25 were international for a total of around 25173 sorties flown.
The choice of Konya is for the large training area available, involving some air to ground ranges. In these ranges there are some anti-aircraft surface to air weapons systems, in order to simulate realistic combat missions.
Participants
Held between June 20th and July 1st, Anatolian Eagle 2022 has seen – in addition to the usual and numerous presence of the Turkish hosts – the participation of United Kingdom, Jordan, Azerbaijan and Pakistan Air Forces. NATO was represented from the Turks, the RAF (UK) and by the single NATO E-3A AWACS.
Azerbaijan Air Force participated at Anatolian Eagle for the second time with fighter jets, sending a pair of Su-25s from Kürdəmir Air Base.
The Pakistan Air Force’s were present in Konya again this year with six aircrafts, F-16A/Bs from No.11th Squadron, named the Arrows and based at PAF Base Shahbaz (Jacobabad).
Royal Air Force (RAF) sends four Eurofighters to Konya, all four aircrafts were from Romania as part of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing who are involved in operation BILOXI, composed by three Fighter Squadron of Typhoons.
Royal Jordanian Air Force were in Konya with three F-16A/B from 1st Squadron from Shaheed Muwaffaq Al-Salti Air Base (Al Azraq).
The large Turkish contingent was made by more than 30 F-16C/D from 113 Filo, 132 Filo, 151 Filo, 161 Filo, 162Filo 181 Filo, 182 Filo and 191 Filo which took part as Blue force along with some support aircraft, including one KC-135R tanker from 101 Filo, one UAV Akinci and one UAV ANKA-S of the 302 Filo. A single E-7T AEW&C of the 131 Filo provided the battlefield situational awareness (along with the single NATO E-3A Sentry).
In addition, Turkish Air Force also acted as Red Air with surface-to-air assets along with 8 more F-16C/Ds.
A welcome surprise during the Media Day of Anatolian Eagle 2022 was the arrival of two F-4E-2020 Phantoms from the 111 Filo “Panter”. Not appearing among the participants, the two planes (both special tail) took part in an afternoon display (some passages over Konya AB) the following day, before returning directly to their homebase in Eskisehir.
Finally, Turkish Naval Forces were present with 2 Frigates.
Exercise
The objectives of the each Anatolian Eagle Exercises are to prepare pilots and air defence personnel by working in an operational scenario that is as realistic as possible, developing joined and combined operational procedures decreasing the attritions to a minimum level, increasing mission effectiveness giving the opportunity to the fighter pilots to execute their planned tactics to employ in large aerial packages.
Last but not least, by training the participants as they fight and teach them how to survive, the exercise is a useful forum to exchange ideas and lessons learned.
Under the control of AE operation centre, within the most realistic operational war environment, the blue forces conducted Combined Air Operations (COMAO), SEAD/DEAD, Air superiority, CAP (Combat Air Patrol), CAS (Close Air Support) operations against targets located within red land heavily defended by different types of threat: from advanced SAM systems to 4-4,5 gen. combat aircraft simulating aggressor tactics.
NATO’s Deployable Air Command & Control Centre (DACCC) supported Anatolian Eagle. For the first time NATO’s surveillance and control unit new Deployable Air Defence Radar (DARS) had been deployed to a NATO nation. During the first week, the DARS was linked with the Turkish control network and provided control during operations.
Link to Anatolian Eagle 2021 Report.
Acknowledgment
The Author of Anatolian Eagle 2022 report would like to thank the Turkish Air Force, the Lt Col. T. Tumer from AETC, the Lt.Col. Serdar Turk, the Air Attache of Turkey in Rome, and the PAO, Capt. Emrah Akbay and CMsgt Tevfik Cimen for their help and great organization.