In March 2023 I was invited for the press day for the Anatolian Eagle exercise at Konya AB in Turkey for the third time. March 28 and March 29 we were the guest of the THK (Turk Have Kuvvetleri) at the Turkish Air Force's 3rd Main Jet Base Command at Konya. All the staff of the Turkish Air Force were very friendly to us and they cooperated in every request to make many beautifull pictures. At first something about Anatolian Eagle.
Anatolian Eagle 2023
At the Konya airbase is the Anatolian Eagle Training Centre (AETC) located. The AETC organizes and hosts the Anadolu Kartali (Anatolian Eagle) series of live air exercises. The AETC includes a dedicated ramp and a purpose-built facility for (de)briefings and command and control centre for White HQ, which organizes, monitors and runs each mission. The Anatolian Eagle exercises take place over a two week period. In the week preceding the exercise the participants arrive, mass briefings and familiarization flights are conducted. During the exercise two missions are flown daily Eagle-1 and Eagle-2, at the last Thursday only one mission is being flown followed by a mass briefing to conclude the exercise. On Friday all participants are leaving.
Pakistan AF, with their F16's was one of the interesting participants
Participants fly Combined Air Operations as Blue Force, while Red Force consists of real and simulated threats. First the training exercise is planned in the 'White Headquarters' building. Training is monitored with computers to help test knowledge, abilities and find deficiencies of the participants. In the scenario the "Blue forces" attacks tactical and strategic targets in a "Red Land" during Combined Air Operations (COMAO). The Red Force personnel conduct their planning and briefings in the Red Building, while the national and foreign participants do the same in the Blue 1, Blue 2 and Blue 3 buildings. Red Force is restricted to their own Red Building, and nobody else can enter Red Building. Airspace for Anatolian Eagle is 250 nm from east to west and 180 nm from north to south. The operations airspace, also known as the Salt Area, can be used from ground level up to 60,000 feet.
The Boeing E7 AEW aircraft is the latest addition for the Turkish AF
The RAF was present with 4 Typhoons FGR 2, here in take-off against the mountains of Konya
The Turkish AF has more than 180 F-16's in active service, here the Block 50 with external fuel tanks
The aim of the Anatolian Eagle exercise is threefold: 1) Improving the capabilities of international elements in daytime joint operations and increasing mutual support. 2) Enhancing training levels of participants via providing a realistic operational environment within a generic scenario form simple to complex. This includes planning and executing combined air operations against tactic and strategic targets which have air-defence systems and fighter aircraft. 3) Providing opportunity to try new tactics and techniques. Thanks go to the Turkish Air Force and in particular to the Commander Anatolian Eagle Training Center, Turkish Air Force. All pictures (c) Ronald Stevelink
The Azerbeidjan Airforce was the most interesting presence with their SU-25, this type we do not see anymore in Europe.
The AS350 from the Turkish AF was at the exercise for CSAR
The landing of an IL76 was one of the highlights, it arrived at Konya for the transport of all the equipment of the Pakistan AF