Supercruise Aviation - Article |
Anatolian Eagle 2021 ‘The art of winning the war is to know your enemy’ |
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The last held Anatolian Eagle training exercise dated back from June 2019. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the 2020 edition got cancelled. Early April 2021 word got out that the Turkish Air Force (Türk Hava Kuvvetleri) would organize another international Anatolian Exercise . Anatolian Eagle is hosted by 3rd Main Jet Base Konya, Turkey. The AETC, Anatolian Eagle Training Centre, provides the realistic combat training possibilities. This year's exercise ran from 21 June until 2 July 2021. Military exercises are important for sharing knowledge and enhancing the training level for joint operations between countries. Exercises like Anatolian Eagle help to achieve these goals. Among others Pakistan’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer ud Din Babur visited Konya to view the international military exercise Anatolian Eagle exercise. |
In a realistically simulated operational environment, the Anatolian Eagle training exercise is executed at Konya. Main goal of the exercise is to increase the training level of pilots, air defence staff and controllers in operations, where they experience and improve joint and combined operation methods, which minimizes losses under real operation conditions and increasing task effectiveness to the maximum level. Since the establishment of the center a total of 16 countries participated. The Anatolian Eagle Training Center established at the 3rd Main Jet Base in 2001 is one of the world’s most developed tactical training centers with its realistic threat environment. Anatolian Eagle features one of the largest worldwide military training areas with a width of about 330 km at a North-South direction and about 400 km at an East-West direction. This vast exercise area enables aircraft to execute their flight tactics without any limitations and without being affected by civilian air traffic. During the Anatolian Eagle training exercise the blue forces, units/elements attending the training, attack the targets in the red zone protected by enemy’s air defence systems and the aircraft. During the training F-16C/D aircraft from the 132nd Squadron fly and act as the red force, or in other words the enemy. At the Anatolian Eagle Operation Center, data/information transfer between all aircraft, early warning aircraft, ground surveillance radars and other components, are monitored in real-time, coordinated and evaluated. |
One of the two Phantoms visiting the Anatolian Eagle exercise. |
Nice Fly-by of two Phantoms before returning to their homebase at Eskisehir airbase. |
E-7T from 131 Filo, Konya airbase, returning to its homebase from another Anatolian Eagle mission. |
F-16C with 162 Filo markings on its way to runway 01L for another mission. |
F-16C with 113 Filo markings on its way for another Anatolian Eagle mission. No less as 6 aircraft from 113 Filo participated in this years Anatolian Eagle Training Exercise. |
A F-16C from 182 Filo ‘Atmaca (Hawk)’ and normally operating out of Diyarbakir airbase. |
NATO Response Force Foreign participation Turkish participation |
The Azerbaijan Air Force was present with two Mig-29’s. You have to love these colors. |
Next to two Mig-29’s the Azerbaijan Air Force sent also two Su-25’s to the Anatolian Eagle exercise. |
An Azerbaijan Air Force Su-25 returning from its afternoon mission. It was the first time Su-25 aircraft participated. |
One of the two Su-25’s preparing for take off from runway 01L. |
A Pakistan JF-17 from 26 squadron ‘black panthers’ taking off for an afternoon mission. |
Qatar sent four Rafales to the Anatolian Eagle exercise. With the knowledge that Geece purchased these aircraft it was nice for Turkey to see its performance. |
Adversary Air TF-X Project Turkish Fighter-TF, the 5+ Generation Multirole Fighter Aircraft, provides significant capabilities in both Air to Surface and Air to Air combat requirements. Turkish Aerospace’s survivable, strong and agile platform Turkish Fighter is a fully aware warrior, with intelligent and strong combat capabilities. Turkish Fighter provides air dominance through:
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An Iraqi C-130J visiting Konya airbase. An unexpected visitor. |
Transport aircraft like the CN235 were used as slow movers and were protected by the fighter aircraft. |
F-16C from 113 Filo ‘Ceylan (Gazelle)’ take off for an Anatolian Eagle afternoon mission. |
A 191 Filo ‘Kobra (Cobra)’ F-16D returning. Three F-16’s from 191 Filo participated. |
Red Air was provided by 132 Filo. For this occasion the F-16’s were equipped with red stickers. |
F-16D from 132 Filo ‘Dagger (Hançer)’ almost touching down on the runway. 132 Filo provided Red Air. The unit has Konya as its homebase. |
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F-16D from 181st Filo ‘Pars (Leopard)’. Nice to see that all Turkish F-16 units apply tailart to show the unit markings. |
Report and Photos by Edward Antonissen |