Anatolian Eagle 2022 - Konya Turkey

I was fortunate enough to be permitted to attend the Press Day for this major training exercise; an exercise that the Air Force of Türkiye has, for some years now, run as an annual event.

The airbase at Konya, the Third Main Jet Base, home to 111, 112, 113 and 115 Filo, has hosted Anatolian Eagle for over twenty years and the base has the infrastructure especially to accommodate it. The airspace around, some 120-150 miles, provides excellent opportunities for realistic air to air and air to ground training to take place. There is of course ACMI equipment to help in monitoring and reviewing operations, command and control is exercised through the C2 Centre and Radar Operations Room at Konya, with airborne command and control being available from the based E-7’s and a NATO E-3 that was attending.

On each occasion, most, if not all, of the fighter squadrons in Türkiye take part. Hitherto this would have been a mix of F-16’s and F-4E’s but not now. Now it is exclusively F-16’s providing the fast jet element from the host nation. However, much to the delight of the invited audience, two F-4E’s from 1 AJU arrived especially in readiness for the Spotters Day which was to be held on the following day. The Air Force of Türkiye did not have to do that – very thoughtful of them and appreciating what pleasure it would bring to see two of these Phantoms – still relevant, still with a role to play, but now in their twilight years.

General Hasan Küçükakyüz, Chief of the Air Force of Türkiye gave an address to a number of those participating in the exercise and to the assembled Press on the Wednesday. He outlined how the Anatolian Eagle exercises had developed since they began in 2001, of these 21 exercises have been national and 25 international, with 15 different countries having taken part over that time.

For the 2022 Anatolian Eagle, there were 48 observers present from 19 different countries and aircrew participating from four countries and NATO. The first two to three days of the exercise involve the arrival of participating aircrew, support personnel and equipment. There will be a general welcome once all have arrived there will be briefings and, of course, familiarisation flights will take place before, in the following week, the exercise starts in earnest. Seven to eight weekdays of intensive flying are involved (with some 196 sorties planned) including the Wednesday of the second week, also the day set aside for special visitors and the Press. That also provides for some of the Wednesday and all of the Thursday to be used if needed should weather, for example, have hindered some of the operational missions. General Küçükakyüz reflected on the value of the many missions conducted during Anatolian Eagle 2022, what was being learned by those attending and how that could be put into effect.

The size of the training area and the complexity of the various systems to help defend targets and the skills pilots could learn to help overcome the complex defences of ground targets, other aircraft and seaborne targets (two frigates were involved in the exercise also) were of value to all participating. The General also reflected that, with technology ever changing, the challenges faced by participants in the 2022 exercise would help develop, help shape Anatolian Eagle 2023. The address was very well received and many of those involved in the exercise joined General Küçükakyüz and other distinguished visitors outside the briefing room for a photograph.

Alongside the many fighter squadrons of the Air Force of Türkiye were support aircraft – the E-7 Wedgetail for command and control – the first aircraft to take off and the last to land. Also present were CASA 235’s (logistical support) and a Cougar (CSAR) of 135 Filo.

For the first time, there was participation from a UAV, the Bayraktar Akinci, used primarily for reconnaissance during the exercise.

What makes these exercises really valuable is the training they provide, not just to members of the Air Force of Türkiye, be they pilots or ground crew, but to other air forces within the region and to partners within NATO. There will always be several other nations in attendance with aircraft and representatives of other air forces can see how it all works.

The visiting nations vary from year to year but several have participated on a number of occasions. In 2022 NATO sent an E-3 AWACS, Azerbaijan sent two Su-25’s, Jordan sent three F-16’s, Pakistan sent six F-16’s and the RAF sent four Typhoons.

Although a key member of NATO, Türkiye has a strong influence within the region and develops relationships with countries nearby where interests are shared and where learning how to work together now could be very helpful in the future – to all of those involved.

As with "Red Flag" in the USA, the participants in Anatolian Eagle will take back some of what they have learned and share it with others in their respective squadrons, improving, enhancing, the overall effectiveness of those units. That the Anatolian Eagle exercises are very well organised and that is made clear from the desire of other air arms to visit and to take part. In addition to the clear success on the operational side, there was the organisation of the Press Day and then of the Spotter’s Day. Registration for both was straight forward, the issue of passes on each day ran smoothly, transport within the airbase to move the 200-300 members of the Press and a considerably larger number of Spotters the next day, was flawless. Refreshments and other facilities were also available. There was nothing but praise for Tevfik Cimen, TUAF PAO, and his colleagues for all they managed to achieve. All very impressive.

Highlights of the event for me were being close to the action; photographing the participating aircraft ‘up close’, being able to photograph the TUAF F-16’s in attendance, watching the F-4E’s as they flew through a couple of times for all the photographers, the arrival of the IL-78 support aircraft of the Pakistan AF and the demo on both Wednesday and Thursday of the TUAF Solo F-16.

If the opportunity arises, I hope very much to attend another Anatolian Eagle.

I will just close on a completely different aspect of my visit to Türkiye. It may be of use or of help to someone reading this if they have an opportunity to attend either a Press or Spotters-Day in the future.

What about Konya, itself? I hadn’t been there for twenty-five years or more. It is a city. A city over which care has been taken to balance its history with the needs of people living there today.

As I write this, I am sitting in my hotel, the Bayir Diamond, a modern, comfortable, hotel with good staff and with a very good buffet dinner! (It was also just twenty minutes in a taxi from the airbase and that taxi ride is very affordable). As I sit by the window, I can hear the call to Prayer – the past connecting to the present. Not really very far from the hotel are parts of the older city and from the restaurant, I can see the hills on the outskirts, below I can watch the passage of people. On foot, the road (three lanes in each direction) the middle of which is a tramway. Beyond the road are different styles of apartments. Blocks, yes, but rectangular, no different styles, different designs and trees everywhere.

If you venture into the centre of Konya, the older part of the city can be enjoyed. Many local restaurants and local shops and stalls. Colour and character abide. When you travel out you come across the more industrial activities. They are beyond the city so they don’t spoil its look and they must provide many jobs. It all seems to combine to make Konya a thriving city.

If you have the opportunity to visit for Anatolian Eagle, I’d recommend you take it. A long way to go for a day or two but, as I now know, that day or two could be extended to enjoy Konya and maybe other places within Türkiye.

AviationReporting would like to thank the Turkish AF HQ and the Defence Attache London for once again being invited to attend this event.

Author Peter Nelson

Photograpy Mark Forest & Peter Nelson