Anatolian Phoenix 2025

From May 12 till May 23 the Turkish Minstery of Defence ( Milli Savunma Bakanligi) organised the bi-annual Anatolian Phoenix exercise at the 3rd Main Jet Base at Konya, central Turkey. I was able to join the mediaday at May 22 at Konya AB and on the nearby exercise range west of Konya. This year the flight schedule was altered to more realistic war environment with a extra mission during darkness. Above picture: a AB412EP from the Turkish Coast guard made a very nice fly by after his mission.

3 pictures to show the excellent photo conditions during the platform tour at Konya AB, a Turkish T-129B from the Turkish Army, a T-70 of the Jandarma and a T-70 from the Turkish AF..

After registration near the main gate we got a word of welcome by major-general Meta Kus and a very clear presentation of the purpose and other details of the exercise was given. After this a bus brought us to the platform opposite of the runway where all helicopter participants from the Turkish armed forces were present and to the platform with all the foreign participants. Unfortunately on the platform with foreign participants the photo opportunities were limited. Around 1600 we moved by bus to the exercise area and access was given to a high tower with clear view of the exercise range. After a fly-by of all participants the exercise started. We had excellent photo opportunities at the tower. Below a picture of one of the highlights: a SU-25 Frogfoot from the Azerbeidjan Air Force

Since 2008 Anatolian Phoenix Exercises have been carried out at 3rd Main Jet Base, Konya, bi annually (23 National and 12 International participants) in order to increase the the level of expereince required by the battlefields of today and future with elements of "Personal Resque Task force"elements in a realistic operational environment. The aim is to experiment the possible ground assisted Joint Task force (JTF) missions in a similar multi-domain environment. And to share JTF experiment and tactics with participating forces. Jet Aircraft, AWACS aircraft, Transport aircraft and personnel resque teams will be participating in this exercise and "Joint Personnel Rescue" methods to be performed in the operational environment are going to be tested and developed and its aim is to operate the command and control process, personnel resque, close air support and dynmic targeting effectively, within the scope of joined and combined operations. Tasks such as time sensitive targeting are going to be carried out by including them in the exercise scenarios.

Before the exercise all the VIP guests were brought in by helicopters of the Turkish Air Force.

The main mission types for Anatolian Phoenix are: Close air Support, Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Time Sensitive Targeting, Ground Assisted Air Interdiction, Air Assault, Parachute from high altitude and low opening, Evacuation, Small Unit Tactics, Infiltration and Exfiltration, High Electronic Warfare environment. Air Transport of Special Forces and JTAC's

Participating international forces are: Italy with 2 HH-101 (Military CSAR version of the Civil Leonardo AW101), Qatar with 2 AW-139, 2 NH-90 and Saudi Arabia with 2 AS 532

Participating were two AH-64 Apaches from Qatar Air force in their beautifull desert colour scheme, Romania with 2 IAR-330's ( Romania built SA-330 and the US Army with 2 UH-60M's specially flown in from Fort Hood in Texas from 3-227th/ Avn.

Upper picture: Cargo dropping from a C-17 Transport Aircraft. And of course the entire media day was closed by a perfect demonstration of the Turkish Stars aerial Demonstration Team and a very nice dinner at the platform of the exercise area. Thanks to the Turkish Ministery of Defence, major-general Meta Kus and the entire communication and PR team of the Turkish Air Force for their hospitality. See you next year!