Exercise Anatolian Eagle 2016-2, Konya AFB, Turkey

by | Jun 8, 2016 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Thanks to The Turkish Air Force and their personnel who arranged an excellent programme over three days in June, Rapcon is able to present a photographic report on Anatolian Eagle 2016/2 held at Konya AFB. The access given to runway, taxiway and flight lines was first class.

History

Anatolian Eagle sprang from a visit to Nellis AFB by TuAF observers in 1983 followed by participation in 1997 by six F-16s. The first exercise, Anatolian Eagle 01 was held by TuAF Operations Command in June 2001.  Over the ensuing years this has progressed to three exercises per year with varied nations taking part. The exercise is very similar to Red Flag with two opposing forces.  The Blue team supported by AWACS aircraft attacks tactical and strategic targets in Red Land during Combined Air Operations, while the Red Team defend their territory using land based radar and ground launched missiles. There is a full debriefing after each launch.

Anatolian Eagle 2016/2

The TuAF was represented by F-16 aircraft from the following squadrons

132 Filo, The Aggressor Squadron

151 Filo

152 Filo

161 Filo

162 Filo

182 Filo

191 Filo

In addition, 111 Filo attended with 8 F-4E-2020 Phantoms and 131 Filo provided E-7T Wedgetail AWACS aircraft .

101 Filo supplied a KC-135R tanker aircraft on one day only, whilst SAR facilities were provided by 135 Filo with AS532AL and UH-1H helicopters.

Overseas Participants

11(OCU) Squadron Pakistan Air Force with 6 F-16A/B aircraft

24 Squadron, 11th Wing Royal Saudi Air Force with 8 Tornado IDS aircraft

The Italian Air Force was represented by 6’Stormo with 3 Tornado IDS aircraft and 50 Stormo with 3 Tornado ECR aircraft

The NATO AEWF supplied 2 E-3A aircraft from Geilenkirchen AB in Germany.

The Netherlands Air Force supplied a KDC-10 tanker from 334 Squadron.

Galleries

Five galleries of photos have been uploaded to the Rapcon website as follows :-

  1.   two covering the large force of TuAF F-16s
  2.   one for the TuAF F-4s and Pakistan F-16s
  3.   one for the other overseas participants
  4.   one for the support and other heavy aircraft, plus helicopters