The 2023 multi national iteration of Exercise Anatolian Eagle (AE2023/2) took place at Konya Air Base in central Turkey in early May, with exercise missions being flown between Tuesday 2nd and Thursday 11th May. Chris Wood reports from central Turkey for GAR.
Turkish Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons were the most prolific type used during the exercise. This F-16D is from 152 Filo at Incirlik © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Anatolian Eagle is a high level tactical training exercise providing realistic combat training opportunities for Turkish Air Force squadrons and allied nations. It is considered to be at the same level as the US Air Force’s Red Flag exercises and occurs several times a year. However, only one iteration includes significant numbers of allied nations.
The Qatar Emiri Air Force brought five of their recently delivered Eurofighter Typhoons; two twin seat aircraft and three single seaters © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
The training takes place in a high threat environment in dedicated airspace, the main area of which is roughly 180 NMs (nautical miles) by 215 NMs, from the surface to 50,000 feet, centred approximately 70 miles east of Konya. Additionally, there is a maritime operations area of 140 NMs by 75 NMs between the Turkish coast and the north west coast of Cyprus. This amount of airspace allows more than 60 aircraft to participate.
A busy ramp at Konya © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Since it’s inception in June 2001, there have been 49 exercises, involving aircraft from 15 countries, split between European nations and nations to the east of Turkey, plus the USA and NATO. Nearly 39,000 personnel using over 3,100 aircraft have flown in excess of 25,000 sorties, clocking up over 40,000 flying hours whilst benefiting from the training. Other exercises are also flown from Konya, adding to these totals.
The latest country to join the Anatolian Eagle club is Azerbaijan. It was noticeable that their aircraft were escorted by Turkish F-16s, reportedly for language reasons © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
The objective of Anatolian Eagle is to prepare aircrew for combat operations, thereby reducing the loss of inexperienced aircrews and aircraft in the early stages of conflicts. Exchanges of experiences are encouraged to improve interoperability. To achieve these aims, Anatolian Eagle seeks to provide the most realistic training domain to enable aircrews to execute their tactics, to exchange ideas and to maintain aircrew and Ground Control Interception controller combat readiness status so that they can survive in a combat environment.
United Arab Emirates Air Force F-16F heading out from the Eagle ramp for a mission © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
The Anatolian Eagle Training Centre has it’s own dedicated facilities which include operations buildings, accommodation blocks, social facilities and a dedicated Eagle ramp on the eastern side of the airfield.
131 Filo E-7T returns after a mission © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
For the exercises, it has three main components. The visiting squadrons make up the Blue Force and are the Training Audience. The Red Force are the Training Aid whilst the White Force provide Command and Control (C2).
A large part of the Blue Force was made up of Turkish F-16s, including this F-16C from 181 Filo based at Diyarbakir © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
The Red Force has three elements. It consists of a force of Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Fighting Falcons in the aggressor role provided by 132 Weapons and Tactics Squadron (132 Filo), callsign ‘Dagger’. They are controlled by Ground Controllers, callsign ‘Redeye’, and augmented by a range of ground based air defence systems, call sign ‘Hammer’, which are mostly mobile radar and anti-aircraft missile and gun systems.
132 Filo F-16C getting airborne. The squadron badge is a winged dagger, hence the callsign ‘Dagger’ © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
The White Force achieves its aims by determining the level of training, developing scenarios, releasing the Air Tasking Order, monitoring the missions and assessing and analysing the results.
Block 50+ F-16C from 161 Filo at Bandirma © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Fundamentally the Blue Force are given targets to attack in the Red lands using Composite Air Operations (COMAO), which are defended by the Red Force and all operations are monitored by the White Force using the Air Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation system. After analysis, the Blue Force success rate can be determined by the time the debriefing is complete.
Pakistan Air Force F-16D leaves the Eagle ramp © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
This year saw international participation, for the third consecutive year, from Azerbaijan with a pair of Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoots plus regular attendees Pakistan who this year brought five Block 52 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Fighting Falcons. They were joined by Qatar with five Eurofighter Typhoons, the United Arab Emirates with four F-16E/Fs, the United Kingdom with a further four Typhoons and NATO with a Boeing E-3A Sentry in the AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) role. The Royal Saudi Air Force was also scheduled to take part with Boeing F-15C Eagles but is believed to have withdrawn shortly before the exercise started.
NATO E-3A taxying for departure. Nominally only one E-3A was allocated to the exercise, but two aircraft were deployed to Konya © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
All the visiting nations were operating from Konya with the exception of the UK’s Typhoons which were mainly operating from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. They were observed on various tracking sites heading to the training area, along with an RAF Airbus Voyager for in flight refuelling. A number of other nations sent observers, including Georgia, Libya, Morocco and Uzbekistan.
A pair of Royal Air Force Typhoons were at Konya for the Media Day © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Turkish participation amounted to 24 F-16C/Ds from various squadrons and four McDonnell F-4E-2020 Phantoms, which all deployed to Konya for the duration of the exercise. Also taking part was one Konya based Boeing E-7T ‘Wedgetail’ AWACS from 131 Filo and a further 10 F-16s from the Konya based 132 Filo. Additionally, one Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker was allocated to the exercise which operated from its home base at Incirlik, and a pair of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the shape of a TAI Anka-S and a Bayraktar Akinci Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle, also reportedly operating from their home bases. There was also participation from the Turkish Navy.
111 Filo still operates a small number of upgraded F-4E-2020 Phantoms from Eskisehir © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
The priorities for this exercise were to practice procedures and tactics for COMAO, Time Sensitive Targeting, Dynamic Targeting, High Value Airborne Asset Protection and Anti Surface Forces Air Operations. The participating aircrew were responsible for tactical planning, briefings and mission execution. The exercise was designed to give maximum freedom to the aircrew to solve the problems presented by the tactical scenarios. Most days saw two missions being flown, and the participants also had the opportunity to fly missions outside the exercise in accordance with their training needs.
Pakistan Air Force F-16D from 5 (MR) Squadron © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
240 sorties were planned for the exercise, against 110 ground targets with a desired success rate of 80% hitting the desired mean point of impact. For air-to-air engagements, a 20% success rate was desired, with a less than 20% loss rate for the Blue Force.
A pair of Turkish F-16Cs from 113 Filo at Eskisehir head out from the Eagle ramp © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Anatolian Eagle attracts a lot of interest and is also an opportunity for the Turkish Air Force to highlight it’s capabilities. During this year’s exercise the Public Affairs team organized a Media Day, two Spotter’s Days and a Distinguished Visitors (DV) day. This provided opportunities for both the Solo Turk and Turkish Stars display teams to perform.
A unique formation. Anatolian Eagle participants followed by the Turkish Stars in their Northrop NF-5s © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Up close and personal during the Media Day © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
On May 9th during the first Spotter’s Days a third Azerbaijani Su-25 was noted, flying with what appeared to be a pair of 1000 lb bombs fitted with Wing Assistance Guidance Kits (Kanatlı Güdüm Kiti – KGK) produced by TÜBİTAK SAGE. The KGK converts unguided 500lb and 1000lb bombs into smart munitions, and significantly increases their range. It is reported that the Azerbaijan Air Force has ordered 1000 kits. The aircraft returned minus one bomb.
Azerbaijani Su-25 heads to the ranges with a pair of 1000lb bombs fitted with Wing Assistance Guidance Kits © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
The Su-25 was observed flying with a 132 Filo F-16C in a digital camouflage scheme. This aircraft arrived that morning and is believed to be the first Block 30 aircraft to receive upgrades as part of the Özgür (Liberty) Project. This upgrade replaces critical avionics with domestic components, in particular an Indigenous Mission Computer (Millî Görev Bilgisayarı/MGB) with locally produced software. Also being replaced is the Identification Friend or Foe equipment and another significant upgrade will be the replacement of the original radar with the locally produced MURAD Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, developed by Aselsan. This will provide a significant improvement to the aircraft’s capabilities compared to it’s current radar.
The upgraded F-16C in the digital camoflage arriving at Konya © Chris Wood – Global Aviation Resource
Anatolian Eagle has carved an important and unique place for itself, being able to offer unrivalled training facilities for both European, Asian and Middle Eastern customers. It will no doubt be a permanent fixture on the exercise calendar for many years to come.
