Turkish Air Force

The Turkish Air Force (Turkish: Türk Hava Kuvvetleri) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. It traces its origins to June 1911 when it was founded as the Ottoman Aviation Squadrons by the Ottoman Empire.[8] It was composed of the Army Aviation Squadrons founded in 1911, and the Naval Aviation Squadrons founded in 1914 which used seaplanes. The Air Force as a branch of the Turkish Armed Forces was founded by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on 23 April 1920.[1] It is considered to be the third largest air force in NATO.[9]

Turkish Air Force
Türk Hava Kuvvetleri
Emblem of the Turkish Air Force
Founded
CountryTurkey
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size
Part ofTurkish Armed Forces
HeadquartersAnkara
Colours
  •   Grey
  •   White
  •   Blue
MarchTurkish Air Force March Playⓘ
Anniversaries1 June[7]
EngagementsTimeline of battles and operations
Websitewww.hvkk.tsk.tr
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefPresident Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Minister of DefenceYaşar Güler
Chief of the General StaffGeneral Metin Gürak
Air Force CommanderGeneral Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu
Chief of Air StaffLieutenant General Rafet Dalkıran
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Flag of Turkish Air Force Command
Aviator badge
Aircraft flown
AttackAnka-S, TB2, Akıncı
BomberF-4E
Electronic
warfare		ATR 72, B-737
FighterF-16C/D
ReconnaissanceBaykuş, Gözcü, Heron, IHA-X2, Keklik, Malazgirt, Martı, Şimşek, TB1, Turna, Vestel Karayel
TrainerF-5F, Hürkuş, SF-260, T-38, KT-1, PAC MFI-17 Mushshak
TransportA400M, C-130, C-160, CH-47, CN-235, KC-135
TankerBoeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Turkish Air Force
Components
History
Equipment
Turkish Armed Forces
Leadership
Branches
History
Special Forces
Member of
Current foreign deployments and missions

In 1998, the Turkish Armed Forces announced a program of modernization worth US$160 billion over a twenty-year period in various projects,[10] with $45 billion was earmarked for the overhaul of the Turkish Air Force, and included the commissioning new combat aircraft (consisting of multi-role and fifth generation stealth fighters) and helicopters (consisting of heavy lift, attack, medium lift and light general purpose helicopters).[11]

According to Flight International (Flightglobal.com) and the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Turkish Air Force has an active strength of 50,000 military personnel and operates (excluding the aircraft operated by the other service branches of the Turkish Armed Forces) approximately 534 manned fixed-wing aircraft,[12] 78 helicopters,[12] and 33 unmanned aerial vehicles,[13][5][6] as of 2023.[12]

The world's first black pilot, Ahmet Ali Çelikten, and the world's first female fighter pilot, Sabiha Gökçen, both served in the Turkish Air Force.[14][15][16]

History

Initial stages
Main article: Ottoman Aviation Squadrons

The history of Ottoman military aviation dates back to between June 1909[17] and July 1911.[18] In 1911 the former commander of the Action Army Mahmud Sevket Pasa achieved to send some Turkish military officers to the French Bleriot aviation school.[19] The same year the establishment of a Turkish airforce was taken into consideration.[19] During the Italo-Turkish War of 1911, the Ottomans had to admit their disadvantage of not possessing an air force.[20] Subsequently, the Ottomans employed German and French engineers who helped them to establish an air force with a dozen airplanes.[21] The Ottoman Aviation Squadrons participated in the Balkan Wars (1912–1913) and World War I (1914–1918).[1][22] The fleet size reached its apex in December 1916, when the Ottoman Aviation Squadrons had 90 active combat aircraft. Some early help for the Ottoman Aviation Squadrons came from the Imperial German Fliegertruppe (known by that name before October 1916), with future Central Powers 13-victory flying ace Hans-Joachim Buddecke flying with the Turks early in World War I as just one example.[23] The General Inspectorate of Air Forces (Kuva-yı Havaiye Müfettiş-i Umumiliği) By July 1918, the Aviation Squadrons were reorganized as the General Inspectorate of Air Forces.[1]

After the Armistice of Mudros and the occupation of the Ottoman Empire by the Allies in 1919, some Turkish aviators tried to build new units in Istanbul, İzmir, Konya, Elazığ and Diyarbakır with planes left over from World War I and tried to bring together flight personnel.[1] During the Turkish War of Independence, Turkish pilots joined the Konya Air Station (Konya Hava İstasyonu). With the formation of the Grand National Assembly (GNA) by Mustafa Kemal and his colleagues on April 23, 1920, in Ankara, and the reorganization of the army, the Branch of Air Forces (Kuva-yı Havaiye Şubesi) was established under the Office of War (Harbiye Dairesi) of the GNA.[1] A few damaged aircraft belonging to the GNA were repaired, and afterwards used in combat.

In July 1922, it was reorganized as the Inspectorate of Air Forces (Kuva-yı Havaiye Müfettişliği) at Konya.[1][24]

Inspectorate of Air Forces
Sabiha Gökçen became the world's first female fighter pilot in 1937,[25][26][27] aged 23.[28][lower-alpha 1] Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is named after her.

After the establishment of the Republic of Turkey on 29 October 1923, plans were made to form a modern air force. Originally consisting of three normal and one naval aviation units, and an air school, the number of units was increased to 10 normal and three naval aviation units.[34] Starting in 1924, personnel were sent abroad for flight education.[34] In 1925, the Air School was re-established in Eskişehir and its first students graduated that same year.[34] In the same year, the Air Force was deployed to take part in a campaign aimed to suppress the Sheikh Said rebellion.[35] The Inspectorate of Air Forces was reorganized as the Undersecretariat of the Ministry of Defense in 1928 and new schools were found for non-pilot personnel.[34] Some personnel were sent to the United Kingdom and France for training; others were sent to the United States and Italy in 1930.[34]

From 1932, the air regiments were considered to be a separate combat arm and started training its own personnel.[34] Turkish aviators wore blue uniforms from 1933.[34]

The Air War College (Hava Harp Akademisi) was established in 1937.[34]

Sabiha Gökçen became the first female fighter pilot in military history in 1937.[36] She joined the Turkish Air Force in 1936 and in 1937 took part in the military operation to put down the Dersim Revolt, thus becoming the world's first female air force pilot with battle experience. Throughout her career in the Turkish Air Force, which lasted until 1964, Gökçen flew 22 different types of aircraft for more than 8000 hours, 32 of which were active combat and bombardment missions.[37] She was selected as the only female pilot for the poster of "The 20 Greatest Aviators in History" published by the United States Air Force in 1996.[37]

Air Force Command

By 1940, Turkish air brigades had more than 500 combat aircraft in its inventory, becoming the largest air force in the Balkans and the Middle East.[34] The growing inventory of air brigades required another structural change, which was made in 1940.[34] The Air Undersecretariat under the Ministry of National Defense for logistical affairs and the General Staff for educational affairs were united to form the Air Force Command (Hava Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı) in 1944.[34] Thus, the Air Force became a separate branch of the Turkish Armed Forces.[38] The first Commander of the Turkish Air Force was General Zeki Doğan.[38] Turkey did not enter World War II on the side of the Allies until February 1945. However, the Turkish Armed Forces went on full alert and were prepared for war following the military alliance between neighbouring Bulgaria and the Axis Powers which was formalized in March 1941, and the occupation of neighbouring Greece by the Axis Powers in April 1941. Within a year, Turkey's borders were surrounded by German forces in the northwest and west, and Italian forces in the southwest. The Turkish Air Force made daily reconnaissance flights over Bulgaria, Greece, the Greek Islands in the Aegean Sea, and the Dodecanese Islands which then belonged to Italy, to monitor the positions of the Axis forces. The large cities in western Turkey were darkened at nights, and anti-aircraft guns and searchlights were deployed for defence against possible enemy planes. Almost all available money in the Turkish Government Treasury was used to purchase new weapons from any available provider in the world. The Turkish Air Force received large numbers of new aircraft in this period, including Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I/V/IX/XIX, Curtiss Falcon CW-22R/B, Fairey Battle-I, Avro Anson-I, Hawker Hurricane I/II, Morane-Saulnier M.S.406, Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk, Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk, Westland Lysander-I, Consolidated B-24D Liberator B-24, Bristol Blenheim IV/V, Bristol Beaufort, Bristol Beaufighter Mk.I/X, Focke-Wulf Fw 190-A3, Martin 187 Baltimore, De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito Mk.III/IV, Douglas B-26B/C Invader, P-47D Thunderbolt and Douglas C-47A/B Dakota.

The Air Machinist School (Hava Makinist Okulu) was reorganized as Aircraft Maintenance School (Hava Uçak Bakım Okulu) on 2 January 1950[39] to unite schools responsible for training non-pilot Air Force personnel.[38] In 1950 it also was decided to upgrade the Air Force fleet through the inclusion of jets.[38] Eight pilots were sent to the United States for jet pilot training.[38] They graduated in 1951 and started training jet pilots in the Turkish Air Force.[38] In the same year, the 9th Fighter Wing (9uncu Ana Jet Üssü) was founded in Balıkesir as Turkey's first fighter wing; the 191st, 192nd, and 193rd squadrons being the first ones which were established.[38] Further training in the United States followed, usually involving jet manufacturers. In 1951 the Air Force Academy was formed with integrating some air schools in Eskişehir and its first academic year started on 1 October 1951.[40] In 1956 the Hava Eğitim Kolordu Komutanlığı (Air Education Corps Command) was founded and all education was united under this command. The command was renamed as Hava Eğitim Komutanlığı (Air Education Command) in 1957.[38]

Upon Turkey's membership to NATO in 1952, the process of modernization was accelerated.[38] In 1962 the Taktik Hava Kuvveti (Tactical Air Force) was founded by upgrading the Hava Tümeni (Air Division) units to corps-level organizations.

In 1974 the Air Force was employed in the Cyprus War.[38] With the arrival of the first batch of 40 third generation F-4E Phantom II fighter jets ordered in 1972 and acquired between 1974 and 1978,[41] the Air Force was reorganized.[38] This was followed by a second order in 1978 of another batch of 40 units (32 F-4Es and 8 RF-4Es, deliveries began in 1980).[41] Another batch of 70 more F-4Es were acquired between 1981 and 1987,[41] and 40 more F-4Es were acquired between 1991 and 1992,[41] as well as 46 more RF-4E reconnaissance aircraft.[41] In total, the Turkish Air Force received 236 F-4 Phantom II (182 F-4E and 54 RF-4E) aircraft.[41] In 1997, IAI was selected to upgrade 54 of Turkey's F-4E fighter aircraft to the F-4E Terminator 2020 standard.[42] The upgraded aircraft were delivered between 1999 and 2003; of these, 26 aircraft were upgraded in Israel and the remaining 28 were upgraded in Turkey.[42]

In 1983 Turkey ordered the fourth-generation F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft and started receiving them in 1987.[43] The Turkish Air Force has received a total of 270 F-16C/D aircraft in its inventory, all of them Block 30/40/50 models.[43] Turkey is one of five countries that locally produce F-16 fighter jets.[43]

In 1995, the Turkish Air Force took part in NATO's Operation Deliberate Force.

Turkey provided 18 F-16s for the NATO campaign against Serbia during Operation Allied Force in 1999. Of these, 11 TAI-built F-16s were stationed at the NATO base in Aviano, Italy, while the other 7 were based in Ankara, Turkey. All were equipped with laser-guided bombs using the LANTIRN night vision system. Turkish jets had previously patrolled Balkan airspace, providing protection for attacking aircraft. During this allied air campaign, TAI-built F-16s set a world CAP record by patrolling for 9 hours and 22 minutes above the Balkan theatre. Normally, CAP missions last between 3 and 4 hours.

Turkey participated in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina, employing two squadrons (one in the Ghedi fighter wing, and after 2000 one in the Aviano fighter wing).[38] They returned to Turkey in 2001.

In 2006, 4 Turkish F-16 fighter jets were deployed for NATO's Baltic Air Policing operation.

In December 2007, the Turkish Air Force initiated Operation Northern Iraq, which continued until the end of February 2008, eventually becoming a part of Operation Sun. At the initial phase of this operation, on December 16, 2007, the TuAF used the AGM-65 Maverick and AGM-142 Popeye/Have Nap during a night bombardment for the first time.

In August 2011, the Turkish Air Force launched multiple aerial raids against the PKK in Iraq, striking 132 targets in six days. In 2013, the Turkish Air Force began striking ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq. In July 2015, during Operation Martyr Yalçın, the Turkish Air Force launched air strikes against ISIL and PKK targets in Syria and Iraq.

On 22 June 2012, during the Syrian civil war, a Turkish RF-4E Phantom II reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by a Syrian surface-to-air missile and crashed into the Mediterranean Sea; both the pilot and the navigator lost their lives.[44][45] On 23 March 2014, a Turkish F-16 shot down a Syrian MiG-23 near the Turkey-Syria border; the Syrian pilot was reported to have safely ejected from the aircraft.[46][47] On 24 November 2015, a Turkish F-16 shot down a Russian Su-24 strike aircraft which, according to Turkish authorities, had violated Turkish airspace by crossing the Turkey-Syria border. The Russian government contested those claims, stating that the aircraft never entered Turkish airspace.[48][49] The pilot and navigator both ejected from the aircraft; the navigator was rescued, but the pilot was shot and killed by Syrian rebel ground fire while descending by parachute.[50] The incident sparked a crisis in Turkey's relations with Russia, which were restored in 2016 when Turkish President Erdoğan expressed his regret and condolences to Russian President Putin.[51]

Other important air strikes by the Turkish Air Force in recent years include Operation Euphrates Shield (2016–2017), Operation Olive Branch (2018–2019), Operation Peace Spring (2019), Turkish intervention in Libya (2020), Operation Spring Shield (2020), and Operation Claw Sword (2022).

Turkish Air Force and NATO
Main article: Nuclear sharing
A Boeing 737 AEW&C Peace Eagle (foreground) and the tailfin of a Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker (background) of the Turkish Air Force at Çiğli Air Base in İzmir, June 3, 2011. The base was part of NATO's Allied Air Command İzmir between 2004 and 2013.

The Turkish Air Force contributes personnel and aircraft to the command centers and air bases of NATO and actively participates in the exercises of the alliance in Europe and North America.

The headquarters of NATO's Allied Air Component Command for Southern Europe (formerly designated as AIRSOUTH and originally headquartered in Naples, Italy) was established in İzmir, Turkey, on 11 August 2004. Allied Air Command İzmir was deactivated on 1 June 2013, when the Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany became the sole Allied Air Component Command of NATO.[52]

Turkey is one of five NATO member states which are part of the nuclear sharing policy of the alliance, together with Belgium, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.[53] A total of 90 B61 nuclear bombs are hosted at the Incirlik Air Base, 40 of which are allocated for use by the Turkish Air Force in case of a nuclear conflict, but their use requires the approval of NATO.[54]

Equipment
Further information: List of active aircraft of the Turkish Air Force and List of active weapons of the Turkish Air Force

Fighter and reconnaissance aircraft
A Turkish Air Force F-16D (code 07–1015) disconnects from a USAF KC-135 Stratotanker during Exercise Trident Juncture 2018 near Kallax Air Base, Sweden, October 29, 2018.

In 1984, the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) was established and Turkey started to produce fighter aircraft locally under license, including a total of 232 F-16 Fighting Falcon (Block 30/40/50) aircraft for the Turkish Air Force. Making it one of the only five countries in the world which produce the fourth generation jet fighter.[55] The air force had previously received 8 F-16s that were purchased directly from the United States, bringing the total number of F-16s received by the air force to 245.[55] In 2007 TAI built 30 F-16 Block 50+ aircraft for the airforce[56][57] and applied the CCIP modernization program to 117 of its Block 40 and 50 F-16s, bringing them to the Block 50+ configuration.[58][59]

Dozens of TAI-built F-16s were also exported to other countries, particularly in the Middle East. A total of 46 TAI-built F-16s have been exported to the Egyptian Air Force under the Peace Vector IV Program (1993–1995), making it TAI's second-largest F-16 customer after the Turkish Air Force.[60]

On July 11, 2002, Turkey became a Level 3 partner of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) development program, and on January 25, 2007, Turkey officially joined the production phase of the JSF program, agreeing to purchase a total of 116 F-35 Lightning II aircraft (100 F-35A CTOL for the Turkish Air Force and 16 F-35B STOVL for the Turkish Naval Forces).[61][62][63][64][65]

TAI TF Kaan, a twin-engine, fifth generation air superiority fighter, is currently being produced by TAI for the Turkish Air Force.[66][67][68][69][70] The runway tests of the prototype began on March 16, 2023.[71][72][73][74][75] Its maiden flight is scheduled to take place in 2023.[76][77][78]

Turkey placed an initial order for 30 F-35 Lightning IIs,[79] six of which were completed as of 2019[79][80][81] and two more were at the assembly line in 2020.[82][83] The first four F-35As were delivered to Luke Air Force Base between 21 June 2018[84] and 5 April 2019[85] for the training of Turkish pilots.[86][87]

On 17 July 2019, the U.S. Senate passed a defense spending bill which prevents the Turkish Air Force from obtaining the F-35 stealth fighter aircraft due to the country's acquisition of the S-400 missile system from Russia.[88][89] As of 2023, the U.S. has not refunded the $1.4 billion payment made by Turkey for purchasing the F-35A fighters and instead offered to support the sale of Block 70 F-16 fighter jets and the modernization program for the F-16 fleet of the Turkish Airforce.[90][91][92][93][80][81]

Turkey is currently developing a national fifth-generation jet fighter named the TAI TF Kaan,[94] a stealth, twin-engine,[95] all-weather air superiority fighter,[96] in development by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and BAE Systems as its sub-contractor.[97][98] The aircraft is planned to replace the F-16s of the Turkish Air Force and to be exported to foreign nations.[99] The runway tests of the prototype began on March 16, 2023.[71][100][73][74][101] Its maiden flight is scheduled to take place on 27 December 2023. In July 2023, it was reported that Pakistan and Azerbaijan have joined the development program of the 5th generation jet fighter. As a result of this collaboration, TAI signed an agreement with the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) to manufacture the subsystems of the jet fighter.[76][102][78][103][104]

Airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft
Boeing 737 AEW&C Peace Eagle (code 13–001) of the Turkish Air Force in Seattle, WA, United States

A total of four Boeing 737 AEW&C Peace Eagle (Turkish: Barış Kartalı) aircraft (together with ground support systems) were ordered by the Turkish Air Force, with an option for two more aircraft. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is the primary subcontractor for the Peace Eagle parts production, aircraft modification, assembly and tests. Another subcontractor, HAVELSAN, is responsible for system analysis and software support.[105]

Signed on 23 July 2003, the contract to Boeing was valued at US$1.385 billion, which was later reduced by US$59 million because some of the requirements were not met. The down payment to Boeing amounted to US$637 million. The project consists of the delivery of 737-700 airframes, ground radars and control systems, ground control segments for mission crew training, mission support and maintenance support.[106]

Peace Eagle 1 was modified and tested by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems in Seattle, Washington, USA. Peace Eagle 2, 3 and 4 were modified and tested at the facilities of TAI in Ankara, Turkey, with the participation of Boeing and a number of Turkish companies.[107] As of mid-2007, systems integration was ongoing and airworthiness certification works continued. In September 2007, Boeing completed the first test flight of Turkey's AEW&C 737.[108]

On 4 June 2008, it was announced that Turkish Aerospace Industries completed the first in-country modification of a Boeing 737-700 into an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform for Turkey's Peace Eagle program.[109]

The first Peace Eagle aircraft, named Kuzey (meaning North) was formally accepted into Turkish Air Force inventory on 21 February 2014.[110][111][112][113] The remaining three aircraft will be named Güney (South), Doğu (East) and Batı (West).[113]

The six-year delay was a result of Boeing experiencing difficulties while developing some features required by the Turkish Air Force. Turkey demanded compensation of US$183 million from Boeing for the delay. The payment of the penalty is requested in the form of increased start-up support period from an initially planned two years to five years, as well as three years of software maintenance service and around US$32 million in spare parts.[106]

Aerial refueling tanker aircraft
Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker (code 57–2609) of the Turkish Air Force at the 2019 Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, England

In 1994 the Turkish Air Force signed a deal to lease two and purchase seven Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aerial refueling tanker aircraft.[114] Following the arrival of all seven purchased aircraft, the two leased KC-135Rs were returned to the United States.[114]

All seven KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft of the Turkish Air Force have received the Pacer CRAG (Compass, Radar And GPS) upgrade.

The KC-135R-CRAG Stratotanker aerial refueling tanker aircraft of the Turkish Air Force are operated by the 101st Squadron, stationed at the Incirlik Air Base.[114]

Military transport aircraft
Airbus A400M Atlas (code 16–0055) of the Turkish Air Force taxies upon arrival at RAF Mildenhall, England

Turkey is a partner nation in the Airbus A400M Atlas production program.

The Turkish Air Force has ordered a total of ten A400M Atlas aircraft.[115] The first two A400M Atlas were delivered to the Turkish Air Force in 2014.[116][117][118] All A400M Atlas deliveries to the Turkish Air Force were completed by 2018.[119][120]

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) produces several components of the A400M Atlas, including the middle-front fuselage, emergency exit doors, rear fuselage upper panels, rear upper escape doors, ailerons and spoilers; which are sent to the Airbus Military factory in Spain for assembly.[121]

The Turkish Air Force also uses the C-130 Hercules, C-160 Transall and CASA CN-235 military transport aircraft.

The transport helicopters used by the Turkish Armed Forces include the Boeing CH-47 Chinook, Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk and Eurocopter AS532 Cougar.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
Baykar Bayraktar TB2 UCAV
TAI Anka UCAV
TAI Aksungur UCAV
Baykar Akıncı UCAV can be armed with the SOM cruise missile

At present, the Turkish Air Force operates HALE UCAVs such as the Baykar Akıncı, and MALE UCAVs such as the TAI Aksungur, TAI Anka, Bayraktar TB2 and the IAI Heron. The jet-engined UCAV Baykar Kızılelma is currently being developed for the Turkish Air Force and Turkish Naval Forces; its maiden flight was successfully completed on December 14, 2022.[122][123][124][125] Having been unable to purchase the armed version of Predator UCAVs from the United States, Turkey has fitted these drones with indigenous MAM series munitions, while the Baykar Akıncı HALE UCAV can also be armed with the SOM cruise missile.[126][127][128] Turkish Armed Forces currently stands as one of the top countries that uses UCAVs in combat effectively.[129][130] TAI was once the leading partner in the Talarion UCAV project of EADS.[131][132]

The runway tests of Anka-3, a jet-engined UCAV with a flying wing design and stealth technology, began in April 2023, with its maiden flight scheduled for May 2023.[133][134][135]

Satellites

The Turkish Air Force currently operates the military intelligence satellites Göktürk-1, Göktürk-2 and Türksat 5A, while Göktürk-3 is scheduled to be launched in 2023. Göktürk-1 is a 0.8m resolution reconnaissance satellite for use by the Turkish Armed Forces, launched in 2016; and Göktürk-2 is a 2m resolution reconnaissance satellite for use by the National Intelligence Organization, launched in 2012. Some electro-optical parts that were required for the Göktürk-1 (0.8m resolution) satellite were beyond TAI's technological know-how, thus a foreign partner was sought. The official bidders for the project were EADS Astrium (U.K.), OHB-System (Germany) and Telespazio (Italy);[136] and the contract was won by Telespazio of Italy.[137]

Göktürk-2 was launched from the Jiuquan Launch Area 4 / SLS-2 in China by a Long March 2D space launch vehicle at 16:12:52 UTC on December 18, 2012. It was placed into a low Earth orbit of 686 km (426 mi) at 16:26 UTC. The first signal from Göktürk-2 was received at 17:39 UTC by the Tromsø Satellite Station, northern Norway.

Göktürk-1 was launched later, after numerous delays due to political and business disputes, at 13:51:44 UTC on December 5, 2016, from the Guiana Space Center, on Vega flight VV08 of the European Space Agency's Vega rocket.

In 2013 Turkey approved the construction by Roketsan of its first satellite launching center, initially for low earth orbit satellites.[138]

In 2015, Turkey and Ukraine signed a space program cooperation agreement worth billions of dollars.[139]

Türksat 5A was launched on January 8, 2021, at 02:15:00 UTC from Cape Canaveral (CCSFS), SLC-40. It greatly extended the range of drone operations from the west of Europe to the east of Kazakhstan, with more resistance against jamming, rejection and wiretapping; high-definition live streams of targets and commanding of munitions drops.[140][141]

Formation and structure
F-4E 2020 Terminator at the 3rd Air Force Base in Konya
F-16D of the 192nd Tiger Squadron
SOM-J cruise missile developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE and Roketsan is designed to fit the internal weapons bay of the F-35 and TAI TF Kaan.
Baykar Kızılelma, developed as part of Project MIUS for the Turkish Navy and Turkish Air Force, is a jet-engined UCAV designed to operate on TCG Anadolu.[122][142][143] Its maiden flight took place on December 14, 2022.[122][123][125][144][145] TCG Anadolu was commissioned with a ceremony on April 10, 2023.[146][147][148]
Baykar MIUS Kızılelma UCAV at Teknofest 2023 in Istanbul, on April 29, 2023.[144] The runway tests of Anka-3, another jet-engined UCAV of Project MIUS (with a flying wing design and stealth technology), began in April 2023.[133][134] Its maiden flight is scheduled for May 2023.[133][134][135]

For a long period, the combat units of the Turkish Air Force were organized into a 1st Air Force (deployed in the western part of the country and headquartered in Eskişehir) and a 2nd Air Force (deployed in the eastern part of the country and headquartered in Diyarbakır). On August 5, 2014, the two have been fused into the newly formed Combatant Air Force and Air Defence Command with headquarters in Eskişehir.[149] Due to its involvement in the coup d'état attempt on July 15, 2016, the 4th Main Jet Air Base Command near Ankara was disbanded and its F-16s were dispersed to other bases.

Air Force Command HQ (Hava Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı Karargâhı) (Ankara)
  • Combatant Air Force and Air Missile Defense Command (Muharip Hava Kuvveti ve Hava Füze Savunma Komutanlığı) (Eskişehir)
    • 1st Main Jet Base Command (1. Ana Jet Üs Komutanlığı) (Eskişehir)
      • 111th Squadron "Panther" (111. Filo "Panter") - F-4E 2020T Terminator (last operational F-4 unit)
      • 112th Squadron "Devil" (112. Filo "Şeytan") (temporarily disbanded in anticipation of F-35As[150])
      • 113th Squadron "Gazelle" (113. Filo "Ceylan") - F-16C/D Block 30/50 Fighting Falcon[151][152][153] (SNIPER and DB.110 recon pods-specialised. The former 113th Squadron "Light" ("Işık") flying RF-4E has been disbanded in 2014,[154] but the disbandment of the 4th Main Jet Base in Ankara-Akıncı has resulted in the relocation and rebadging of its reconnaissance 142nd Squadron "Gazelle" (142. Filo Ceylan) to Eskişehir[155])
      • 401st Test Squadron (401. Test Filosu) - F-16C/D Block 30/40, F-4E 2020 (weapons testing and evaluation squadron, took over this role from the 132nd Squadron[156])
      • 201st Liaison and SAR Squadron "Attack" (201. İrtibat ve Arama-Kurtarma Filosu "Atak") - CN-235M-100, AS-532UL Mk.1
    • 3rd Main Jet Base Command (3. Ana Jet Üs Komutanlığı) (Konya)
      • 131st Squadron "Dragon" (131. Filo "Ejder") - B-737-7ES AEW&C (AEW squadron)
      • 132nd Squadron "Dagger" (132. Filo "Hançer") - F-16C/D Block 50 Fighting Falcon (in 2014 the unit has been designated as a weapons and tactics training squadron.[157] However, after the 2016 restructuring of the TuAF units this might has changed, as the Turkish DHA news agency has reported, that 12 F-16s of the squadron have participated in bombing missions in Northern Syria as part of Operation Olive Branch in January 2018.[158])
      • 133rd Aerobatic Squadron "Turkish Stars" (133. Akrotim Filo "Türk Yıldızları") - NF-5A/B 2000 Freedom Fighter
      • 135th Liaison and SAR Squadron "Fire" (135. İrtibat ve Arama-Kurtarma Filosu "Ateş") - AS-532UL Mk.1+
    • 5th Main Jet Base Command (5. Ana Jet Üs Komutanlığı) (Merzifon)
      • 151st Squadron "Bronze" (151. Filo "Tunç")[151][159][160][161] - F-16C/D Block 40/50 Fighting Falcon (HARM-specialised)
      • 152nd Squadron "Raider" (152. Filo "Akıncı") - F-16C/D Block 40 Fighting Falcon[162] (relocated to Incirlik Air Base to free facilities at Merzifon for the relocation of 4th Main Jet Base's 143rd Squadron from Ankara-Akıncı, but retained as part of 5th Main Jet Base Command)
      • 153rd Squadron "Forefather" (153. Filo "Öncel") - F-16C/D Block 30/40 Fighting Falcon (F-16 OCU, the former 4th Main Jet Base's (in Ankara-Akıncı) 143rd Squadron in the OCU role, relocated to Merzifon and rebadged as the 153rd.)
      • 5th Main Jet Base Command SAR Flight "Angel" (5. Ana Jet Üs Komutanlığı Arama-Kurtarma Kolu "Melek") - AS-532UL Mk.1+
    • 6th Main Jet Base Command (6. Ana Jet Üs Komutanlığı) (Bandırma)
      • 161st Squadron "Bat" (161. Filo "Yarasa") - F-16C/D Block 40/50+ Fighting Falcon (LANTIRN-specialised)
      • 162nd Squadron "Harpoon" (162. Filo "Zıpkın") - F-16C/D Block 40 Fighting Falcon
      • 6th Main Jet Base Command SAR Flight (6. Ana Jet Üs Komutanlığı Arama-Kurtarma Kolu) - AS-532UL Mk.1+
    • 7th Main Jet Base Command (7. Ana Jet Üs Komutanlığı) (Malatya-Erhaç)[163]
      • 171st Squadron "Corsair" (171. Filo "Korsan") (temporarily disbanded, to convert to F-35A)
      • 172nd Squadron "Hawk" (172. Filo "Şahin") (temporarily disbanded, to convert to F-35A)
      • 173rd Squadron "Dawn" (173. Filo "Şafak") (recon squadron, RF-4E/TM(G) phased out of service, to operate armed TAI Anka UAVs)
      • 7th Main Jet Base Command SAR Flight "Burak" (7. Ana Jet Üs Komutanlığı Arama-Kurtarma Kolu "Burak") - AS-532UL Mk.1+
    • 8th Main Jet Base Group Command (8. Ana Jet Üs Komutanlığı) (Diyarbakır)
      • 181st Squadron "Leopard" (181. Filo "Pars") - F-16C/D Block 40TM/Block 50+ Fighting Falcon (LANTIRN-specialised)
      • 182nd Squadron "Accipiter" (182. Filo "Atmaca") - F-16C/D Block 40 Fighting Falcon
      • 202nd Liaison and SAR Squadron "East" (202. İrtibat ve Arama-Kurtarma Filosu "Şark") - CN-235M-100, AS-532UL Mk.1+
    • 9th Main Jet Base Command (9. Ana Jet Üs Komutanlığı) (Balıkesir)
      • 191st Squadron "Cobra" (191. Filo "Kobra") - F-16C/D Block 50 Fighting Falcon
      • 192nd Squadron "Tiger" (192. Filo "Kaplan") - F-16C/D Block 50+ Fighting Falcon[164]
      • 9th Main Jet Base Command SAR Flight (9. Ana Jet Üs Komutanlığı Arama-Kurtarma Kolu) - AS-532UL Cougar Mk.1+
    • 10th Tanker Base Command (10. Tanker Üs Komutanlığı) (Incirlik)
      • 101st Tanker Squadron "Asena" (101. Tanker Filosu "Asena") - KC-135R Stratotanker
    • 14th UAV Systems Base Command (14. İnsansız Uçak Sistemleri Üs Komutanlığı) (Batman)
      • TAI Anka, IAI Heron, Karayel, Harpy, I-GNAT ER
    • Air Defence Command (Hava Savunma Komutanlığı)
    • 13 x Airfield Commands (reserve air bases) (Akhisar, Antalya, Batman, Dalaman, Erzurum, Afyon, Çorlu, Muş, Ağrı, Sivas, Sivrihisar, Van, Yalova)
  • Air Training Command (Hava Eğitim Komutanlığı) (İzmir)
    • 2nd Main Jet Base Command (2. Ana Jet Üs Komutanlığı) (Çiğli-İzmir)
      • 121st Squadron "Bee" (121. Filo "Arı") - T-38A Talon (advanced flying training)
      • 122nd Squadron "Scorpion" (122. Filo "Akrep") - KT-1T (basic flying training)
      • 123rd Squadron "Chick" (123. Filo "Palaz") - SF-260D ((initial flying training)
      • 124th Squadron "Pioneer" (124. Filo "Öncü") (borrows a/c from the other squadrons) (instructor training, standartidation and instrumental flying training)
      • 125th Squadron "Panther" (125. Filo "Panter") - CN-235M-100, UH-1H Iroquois (transport and helicopter training)
    • Air Training Command Liaison Squadron (Hava Eğitim Komutanlığı İrtibat Filosu) (İzmir-Adnan Menderes Airport)
      • 203rd SAR Squadron "Aegean" (203. Arama Kurtarma Filosu "Ege") - CN-235M-100
    • Air Warfare School (Hava Harp Okulu, the Air Force academy) (Yeşilköy-Istanbul)
      • Training Corps (Eğitim Kıtaatı)
        • Sparrow Flight (Serçe Kol) - T-41D Mescalero
      • Search and Rescue Flight (Arama-Kurtarma Kolu) - UH-1H Iroquois
      • Yalova Glider Camp (Yalova Planör Kampı) - SZD-50-3
    • Air Force Technical Schools Command (Hava Teknik Okullar Komutanlığı) (Gaziemir Air Base, İzmir)
    • Air Force NCO Schools Command (Hava Sınıf Okulları Komutanlığı) (Gaziemir Air Base, İzmir)
    • Air Force Basic Training Brigade Command (Hava Er Eğitim Tugay Komutanlığı) (Kütahya)
  • Air Logistical Command (Hava Lojistik Komutanlığı) (Etimesgut-Ankara)
    • 11th Air Transportation Main Base Command (11. Hava Ulaştırma Ana Üs Komutanlığı) (Etimesgut-Ankara)
      • 211th Squadron "Globetrotter" (211.Filo "Gezgin") - various CN-235 variants, including ELINT, EW, MedEvac and VIP
      • 212th Special Squadron "Eagle" (212. Özel Filo "Doğan") - A330, A319, Ce. 550/ Ce.560, Ce.650, G.IV-SP - government and high command executive fleet
    • 12th Air Transportation Main Base Command (12. Hava Ulaştırma Ana Üs Komutanlığı) (Erkilet-Kayseri)
      • 221st Squadron "Breeze" (221. Filo "Esen") - A-400M, C-160D)
      • 222nd Squadron "Flame" (222.Filo "Alev") - C-130B/E)
    • 1st Air Supply and Maintenance Center Command (1. Hava İkmal Bakım Merkezi Komutanlığı) (Eskişehir)
    • 2nd Air Supply and Maintenance Center Command (2. Hava İkmal Bakım Merkezi Komutanlığı) (Kayseri)
    • 3rd Air Supply and Maintenance Center Command (3. Hava İkmal Bakım Merkezi Komutanlığı) (Ankara)
    • Military Air Traffic Control Command (Hava Malzeme Transit Komutanlığı) (Istanbul)
    • Air Museum Command (Hava Kuvvetleri Müzesi) (Istanbul)
Location of Turkish Air Force bases in Turkey

Squadrons

The above commands consist of:[169]

Insignia
NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D)Student officer
 Turkish Air Force[170]
 Various
[lower-alpha 2]
Mareşal Genelkurmay başkanlığı Orgeneral Korgeneral Tümgeneral Tuğgeneral Albay Yarbay Binbaşı Yüzbaşı Üsteğmen Teğmen Asteğmen Harbiyeli
NATO codeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
 Turkish Air Force[170]
 No insignia
Astsubay kıdemli başçavuş Astsubay başçavuş Astsubay kıdemli üstçavuş Astsubay üstçavuş Astsubay kıdemli çavuş Astsubay çavuş Astsubay astçavuş Uzman çavuş Çavuş Uzman onbaşı Onbaşı Er
  • OF3, OF2, & OR2 translate to "Head of 1000", "Head of 100", and "Head of 10" respectively.

Future of the Turkish Air Force
TAI TF Kaan is a 5th generation air superiority fighter currently being developed by the Turkish Aerospace Industries.

In 2008, HAVELSAN of Turkey and Boeing of the United States were in the process of developing a next generation, high-altitude ballistic missile defence shield. It was envisaged that the system would be used by Turkey, the U.S. and other NATO members.[171][172][173]

In 2011, Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), signed an agreement with TAI for the conceptual development of basic capabilities of a national fifth generation fighter aircraft project named the TAI TF Kaan.[174] On June 30, 2021, the Turkish Air Force made an official presentation about the TF-X program to the press.[175]

On 28 March 2013, the Turkish Secretary of the Defence Industry of the Ministry of National Defence of Turkey Murat Bayar announced intentions to replace the F-16 fighter with domestically produced multi-role fighters by 2023.[11]

TAI Hürjet completed its maiden flight on April 25, 2023.[176]

Following the agreement signed on 22 July 2018 between the Turkish Air Force and TAI, the program for developing an advanced jet trainer, TAI Hürjet, was initiated to replace the existing T-38 Talon aircraft. The Hürjet completed its maiden flight on April 25, 2023,[176] and is expected to be operational by 2025.[177]

Baykar Kızılelma, developed as part of Project MIUS for the Turkish Navy and Turkish Air Force, is a jet-engined UCAV designed to operate on TCG Anadolu.[122][142][143] Its maiden flight took place on December 14, 2022.[122][123][125][144][145] TCG Anadolu was commissioned with a ceremony on April 10, 2023.[146][147]

The runway tests of Anka-3, a jet-engined UCAV with a flying wing design and stealth technology, began in April 2023.[133][134][135]

Name Image Origin Type Details
TAI TF KAAN  Turkey Stealth multirole/air superiority fighter Turkey's first indigenously made 5th generation fighter jet. First flight is expected in the end of the 2023.[178]Delivery of 20 aircraft block 10 will be made in 2028.[179]
F-16 Özgür
F-16 Viper		  Turkey
 United States		 Multirole fighter F-16 Özgür and Özgür 2 are modernization programs for the Turkish F-16s which are aiming to upgrade the aircraft with locally developed avionics, munitions ,etc.[180][181]
Turkey requested to buy 40 F-16 Viper aircraft and 79 modernization packs , but the sale wasn't approved by US Congress yet.[182]
TAI Hürjet  Turkey Advanced Jet trainer and Light attack aircraft Developed by TAI for advanced jet trainer needs of Turkish Air Force to replace his fleet of T-38 Talon and CF-5s. Expected introduction in 2025.[183]
TAI ANKA 3  Turkey Stealth unmanned bomber Stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle developed by TAI. [184]
Baykar Bayraktar Kızılelma  Turkey Unmanned combat aircraft Developed by Baykar, Bayraktar KIZILELMA is very maneuverable multirole unmanned combat aircraft designed to engage both air and ground targets. Expected serial production in 2024.[185]
TAI Hürkuş 2  Turkey Advanced basic trainer Newly developed model from TAI for the Turkish Air Force.[186]
Airbus A330 MRTT
Boeing KC-46 Pegasus		  European Union
 United States		 Aerial refuelling tanker Turkey is interested to acquire new tanker aircraft for the Air Force. Candidates are Airbus A330 MRTT and Boeing KC-46 Pegasus.[187]
Bombardier Global 6000  Turkey
 Canada		 Electronic warfare aircraft Turkey ordered 4 Global 6000 aircraft for the HAVA SOJ project in which is aimed to be developed electronic warfare capable special mission aircraft.[188][189]
Sikorsky/TAI T-70 Black Hawk  Turkey
 United States		 Utility helicopter T-70 is licensed build Black Hawk helicopter by TAI with locally developed avionics. Turkish Air Force ordered 6 helicopters in total , which one of them was already delivered in 2023.[190][191]
PAC MFI-395 Super Mushshak  Pakistan Basic trainer Turkey ordered 52 Super Mushshak aircraft ,which 3 of them were delivered in 2022. It will replace T-41 and SF-260.[192]


Timeline of battles and operations
See also: List of conflicts involving Turkey

See also

Notes
  1. Others such as Marie Marvingt[29][30] and Evgeniya Shakhovskaya[31][32][33] preceded her as military pilots in other roles, but not as fighter pilots and without military academy enrollment.
  2. Student officer insignia designates school grade rather than military seniority.

References
  1. Hv. K. K. Mebs. "1918-1923". Archived from the original on 5 May 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  2. "1944-1980" in the official website of the Turkish Air Force Archived 2011-04-26 at the Wayback Machine (in Turkish)
  3. 1949 Temmuzunda Türk Silâhlı Kuvvetleri yeniden örgütlendirilerek, Genelkurmay Başkanlığına bağlı Kara, Deniz, Hava Kuvvetleri kuruldu., Genelkurmay Başkanlığı, Türk Tarihi, Silahlı Kuvvetleri ve Atatürkçülük, Genelkurmay Başkanlığı, 1973, p. 65. (in Turkish)
  4. https://www.birgun.net/haber/turkiyedeki-asker-sayisi-tskde-kac-asker-gorev-yapiyor-guncel-433963
  5. "BAYKAR'dan İkinci Parti AKINCI Teslimatı | SavunmaSanayiST". August 24, 2022.
  6. "İşte TSK'nın İHA envanteri". Sabah.
  7. "Bugün Hava Kuvvetleri'nin kuruluş yıldönümü!". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  8. Hv. K. K. Mebs. "The First Establishment and the Early Years". Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  9. Embraer2020-12-04T12:30:00+00:00, In association with. "World Air Forces 2021". Flight Global. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  10. Economist Intelligence Unit:Turkey, p.22 (2005)
  11. "Turkey terrific fighter jet project". Archived from the original on 2014-12-25. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  12. "2023 World Air Forces". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  13. "Türk Hava Kuvvetleri'ne Yeni Nesil ANKA Teslimatı". August 1, 2021.
  14. Clavin, Tom; Keith, Phil (November 5, 2019). All Blood Runs Red: The Legendary Life of Eugene Bullard-Boxer, Pilot, Soldier, Spy. Harlequin. ISBN 9781488036033 – via Google Books.
  15. Scott, Alev (October 4, 2018). Ottoman Odyssey: Travels through a Lost Empire: Shortlisted for the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year Award. Quercus. ISBN 9781784293703 – via Google Books.
  16. "First female combat pilot". Guinness World Records.
  17. "Turkey in the First World War - Story of Turkish Aviation". Archived from the original on December 7, 2013.
  18. Olson, Robert (2000). "The Kurdish Rebellions of Sheikh Said (1925), Mt. Ararat (1930), and Dersim (1937-8): Their Impact on the Development of the Turkish Air Force and on Kurdish and Turkish Nationalism". Die Welt des Islams. 40 (1): 67–94. doi:10.1163/1570060001569893. ISSN 0043-2539. JSTOR 1571104.
  19. Olson, Robert (2000). p.74
  20. Olson, Robert (2000). pp.74–75
  21. Olson, Robert (2000). p.75
  22. "Turkey in the First World War - Aviation". Archived from the original on June 11, 2013.
  23. "Turkey in the First World War - Turkish Aircraft". Archived from the original on June 11, 2013.
  24. Utkan Kocatürk, Atatürk ve Türkiye Cumhuriyeti tarihi kronolojisi, 1918–1938, Türk Tarîh Kurumu Basımevi, 1983, p. 674.
  25. "First Female Combat Pilot". Guinness World Records Official Web Site. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  26. Mango, Andrew (2000). Atatürk: The Biography of the Founder of Modern Turkey. Overlook Press.
  27. "Eagle Biography - Sabiha Gökçen". GoE Foundation. Archived from the original on 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  28. Naughton, Russell (2014). "Sabiha Gokcen (1913-2001), Pioneer Aviatrix". Hargrave Pioneers of Aviation. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  29. "1915 - First woman pilot in combat missions as a bomber pilot - Marie Marvingt (France)". Centennial of Women Pilots. Archived from the original on 11 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015. In 1915, Marvingt became the first woman in the world to fly combat missions when she became a volunteer pilot flying bombing missions over German-held territory and she received the Croix de Guerre (Military Cross) for her aerial bombing of a German military base in Metz.
  30. Historic Wings – Online Magazine; Article on Hélène Dutrieu Coupe Femina and Marie Marvingt:, Published on December 21, 2012: http://fly.historicwings.com/2012/12/helene-dutrieux-and-the-coupe-femina Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  31. Lawson, Eric and Jane (1996). The First Air Campaign: August 1914- November 1918. Da Capo Press. p. 56. ISBN 0-306-81213-4. Eugenie Shakhovskaya, a 25 year old Russian princess, was the first female fighter pilot in history.
  32. "Women Combat Pilots of WW1". Monash University. Retrieved 10 January 2015. Princess Eugenie M. Shakhovskaya was Russia's first woman military pilot. Served with the 1st Field Air Squadron. Unknown if she actually flew any combat missions, and she was ultimately charged with treason and attempting to flee to enemy lines. Sentenced to death by firing squad, sentence commuted to life imprisonment by the Tsar, freed during the Revolution, became chief executioner for Gen. Tchecka and drug addict, shot one of her assistants in a narcotic delirium and was herself shot.
  33. "300 Women who changed the world". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 10 January 2015. In Russia, Princess Eugenie Shakhovskaya is the first female military pilot. She flies reconnaissance missions.
  34. Hv. K. K. Mebs. "1923-1944". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  35. Olson, Robert (1989). The Emergence of Kurdish Nationalism and the Sheikh Said Rebellion, 1880–1925. University of Texas Press. p. 120. ISBN 978-0-292-76412-5.
  36. "The Air University 404 Page". Archived from the original on 2013-05-29. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
  37. "TRT World". Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  38. Hv. K. K. Mebs. "1944-1980". Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  39. "official website of the Air Technical Schools Command". Archived from the original on August 17, 2011.
  40. Mehmet Özel, 2000'li Yıllara Girerken Türk Ordusu, Kültür Bakanlığı, 2000, ISBN 978-975-17-2226-3, p. 198. (in Turkish)
  41. "Türkiye F-4'leri neden emekli etmiyor?". savunmasanayist.com. SavunmaSanayiST. 5 February 2019.
  42. "F-4E Phantom II ve Terminator 2020 Modernizasyonu". SavunmaSanayiST. 6 August 2020.
  43. "Turkish Air Force - TUAF". www.f-16.net. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  44. "BBC News - Syrian military says it downed Turkish fighter jet". BBC News. 23 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2014-10-03. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  45. "Turkey locates bodies of downed jet pilots". Al Jazeera. 4 July 2012.
  46. "Turkish F-16 shoots down a Syrian MiG-23". www.f-16.net. 23 March 2014.
  47. "Turkish jet downs Syrian warplane near border". The Big Story. Archived from the original on 2014-10-31. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  48. "Is this start of a wider war?". NewsComAu. 25 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-11-26. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
  49. "How is this not World War III?". CNN. 24 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-11-25. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
  50. "Syrian rebels fired on parachuting Russian pilots, killing at least one after Turkey shot down warplane: official". National Post. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  51. Luhn, Alec; Black, Ian (2016-06-27). "Erdoğan has apologised for downing of Russian jet, Kremlin says". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-07-14.
  52. "NATO deactivates Allied Air Command Izmir". NATO. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  53. "Yankee Bombs Go Home: Foreign Minister Wants US Nukes out of Germany". Spiegel Online. Hamburg, Germany. 10 April 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-02-14. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  54. "NRDC: U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Europe • Hans M. Kristensen / Natural Resources Defense Council, 2005" (PDF). nrdc.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-01-01. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
  55. "F-16.net: Turkish Air Force". Archived from the original on 2008-01-24. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
  56. "Turkey signs $1.78 bln deal to buy warplanes". Reuters. May 11, 2007. Archived from the original on 2009-06-08. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  57. "Turkey signs contract to buy 30 F-16 block 50+ jets". F-16.net. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  58. "$1.1B to Upgrade Turkish F-16 fleet". Defense Industry Daily. Archived from the original on 2007-02-04. Retrieved 2006-12-25.
  59. "Turkey Receives Last Upgraded F-16". Defense News. 12 April 2015. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  60. "Turkish Aerospace Industries: Programs". Archived from the original on 2008-02-27. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  61. "Türkiye 116 adet F-35 alacak". ZAMAN. 23 January 2011. Archived from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  62. "STAR - Haberler, Son Dakika, Haber, Son Dakika Haberleri". Archived from the original on 2011-01-26. Retrieved 2012-06-28.
  63. "Süper uçaktan 116 adet alınacak!". Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  64. "SÜPER UÇAKTAN 116 adet alınacak". 23 January 2011. Archived from the original on 2014-12-25. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  65. "Turkey plans to purchase four more F-35 jet fighters and five CH-47F transport helicopters". January 8, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-05-22. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  66. Gareth Jennings (24 November 2022). "Turkish future fighter comes together ahead of 'victory day' roll-out". janes.com.
  67. "Turkey's Domestic 5th Generation TF-X Fighter Jet Is On The Final Assembly Line". overtdefense.com. 25 November 2022.
  68. "Image of the TF-X/MMU released by the Turkish Defence Industry Agency (SSB) on 8 January 2023". stargazete.com. 8 January 2023.
  69. Gastón Dubois (8 January 2023). "TF-X/MMU: Turkey's future fifth-generation fighter is taking shape". aviacionline.com. Aviacionline.
  70. Joseph Trevithick (10 January 2023). "Unique Sensor Setup Emerges On Turkey's Stealthy New Fighter". thedrive.com.
  71. Joseph Trevithick (17 March 2023). "Our First Full Look At Turkey's New TF-X Stealthy Fighter". thedrive.com.
  72. "Images from the second day of the taxiing and ground running tests of the TAI TF-X (MMU) on 17 March 2023, released by Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir, President of the Turkish Defence Industry Agency". 17 March 2023.
  73. Anıl Şahin (17 March 2023). "Milli Muharip Uçak'ın piste çıktığı anlar". SavunmaSanayiST.
  74. "SSB Başkanı Demir'den '18 Mart' mesajı: "MMU bugün pistin başında"". CNN Türk. 17 March 2023.
  75. "Milli Muharip Uçak ilk kez piste çıktı". NTV. 17 March 2023.
  76. "İlk uçuşa ilerleyen Milli Muharip Uçak sürprize hazırlanıyor". Anadolu Agency. 27 April 2023.
  77. "Image of the TF-X (MMU) released by the Anadolu Agency (AA) on 27 April 2023". star.com.tr. 27 April 2023.
  78. "Turkish Stealth KAAN Fighter will Replace American F-16 Fighter jets". The Military Curiosity. 2 May 2023.
  79. Fergus Kelly (21 June 2018). "Turkey receives F-35s from Lockheed, despite US Senate ban". The Defense Post.
  80. Ryan Finnerty (23 January 2023). "US, Turkish defence officials meet for second round of F-35 discussions". flightglobal.com.
  81. Gareth Jennings (24 January 2023). "US, Turkey continue talks to settle F-35 dispute". janes.com.
  82. "US to buy eight F-35 jets originally built for Turkey". trtworld.com. TRT World. 21 July 2020.
  83. Valerie Insinna (21 July 2020). "It's official: US Air Force to buy Turkish F-35s". defensenews.com. Defense News.
  84. "F-35'lerin ilk teslimat töreni ABD'de gerçekleşti". trthaber.com. TRT Haber. 21 June 2018.
  85. "Turkish F-35 delivered to training base in Arizona, official says". Reuters. 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
  86. "Turkish F35 takes flight". YouTube. 23 May 2018.
  87. "Turkish Air Force pilots training with Turkish F-35As at Luke Air Force Base". YouTube. 27 February 2019.
  88. "US removes Turkey from F-35 fighter jet programme". bbc.com. BBC. 17 July 2019.
  89. Rogers, Katie; Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (17 July 2019). "U.S. Punishes Turkey by Canceling Sale of Jets". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2019-07-19. Retrieved 2019-07-19.
  90. "Turkey Demands U.S. Deliver Fighter Jets or Return $1.4 Billion Payment for Them". newsweek.com. Newsweek. 30 September 2021.
  91. "Will the US refund $1.4B Turkey paid for F-35s?". TRT World. 26 September 2021.
  92. Jared Szuba (30 June 2022). "Pentagon 'fully supports' F-16 sale to Turkey". al-monitor.com.
  93. Abraham Mahshie (1 July 2022). "F-16 Modernization Sale to Turkey Now Awaits Congress After Biden, DOD Voice Support". airforcemag.com.
  94. "Turkish Fighter (TF)". Turkish Aerospace Industries.
  95. "Turkey advances TFX fighter project, orders new rifles, more F-35s, CH-47s", Jane’s 360
  96. "IDEF 2013: TAI reveals fifth generation fighter designs". Jane's Defence Weekly. IHS. 8 May 2013.
  97. "BAE Systems signs Heads of Agreement for a future contract with Turkish Aerospace Industries for TF-X Programme". BAE Systems. 28 January 2017.
  98. "Rolls-Royce and Kale Group create defence aero engine joint venture". Rolls-Royce. 8 May 2017.
  99. "Turkey to replace F-16s with local jets". Hürriyet Daily News. 29 March 2013.
  100. "Images from the second day of the taxiing and ground running tests of the TAI TF-X (MMU) on 17 March 2023, released by Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir, President of the Turkish Defence Industry Agency". 17 March 2023.
  101. "Milli Muharip Uçak ilk kez piste çıktı". NTV. 17 March 2023.
  102. "Image of the TF-X (MMU) released by the Anadolu Agency (AA) on 27 April 2023". star.com.tr. 27 April 2023.
  103. "Pakistan and Azerbaijan Join Turkey's 5th Gen Stealth Fighter Jet Program". ProPakistani. 2023-07-29. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  104. Khan, Rizwan (2023-07-30). "Joint Venture: Azerbaijan and Turkey Collaborate on Fifth-Generation Fighter Jet, Kaan". BNN Network. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  105. Peace Eagle (PE) - Turkish Airborne Early Warning & Control System Archived 2008-08-20 at the Wayback Machine, Havelsan.
  106. "Turkey imposes $183 million penalty on Boeing over delivery delay". Hürriyet Daily News. 2014-02-18. Archived from the original on 2014-02-25. Retrieved 2014-02-20.
  107. "Boeing Installs MESA Antenna on First Peace Eagle Aircraft" Archived 2008-09-05 at the Wayback Machine, Boeing, March 2, 2006.
  108. "Boeing Successfully Completes First Test Flight of AEW&C Peace Eagle Aircraft" Archived 2008-01-24 at the Wayback Machine, Boeing, September 6, 2007.
  109. "Turkish Aerospace Industries completes modification of Peace Eagle AEW&C aircraft". Frontier India. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  110. BEKDIL, BURAK EGE (8 February 2014). "Boeing Delivers 1st Spy Plane To Turkey; Faces Penalties". www.defensenews.com. Gannett Government Media. Archived from the original on February 8, 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  111. "TSK yeni yıldızı Barış Kartalı'na kavuştu" Archived 2015-02-22 at the Wayback Machine. Hürriyet, 21 February 2014.
  112. "Turkey takes delivery of military aircraft" Archived 2015-02-22 at the Wayback Machine. Today's Zaman, 21 February 2014.
  113. "First Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft of the Peace Eagle Project, Kuzey (North) was taken into inventory" Archived 2014-03-11 at the Wayback Machine. Turkish Air Force
  114. "Boeing KC-135R "Stratotanker"". Archived from the original on 2008-04-12. Retrieved 2008-05-17.
  115. Bekdil, Burak Ege (24 December 2014). "Turkey Receives Second A400M". DefenseNews. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  116. "Turkish air force receives second A400M". Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 2014-12-30. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  117. "Airbus Defence and Space delivers A400M to Turkish Air Force". airbus-group.com. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  118. "Turkey Accepts First A400M" Defense news Retrieved: 11 May 2014.
  119. "Military cargo plane to be delivered to Turkey in 2013." Archived 2011-05-21 at the Wayback Machine Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved: 1 July 2011.
  120. "Turkey accepts delivery of its First Airbus A400M". 5 April 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-12-24. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  121. "TAI ships first body parts of A400M planes". TodaysZaman. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  122. "Baykar's unmanned fighter aircraft completes first flight". baykartech.com. 15 December 2022.
  123. "Bayraktar Kızılelma: Maiden Flight". Baykar Technologies. 14 December 2022.
  124. "Maiden flight of Baykar MIUS Kızılelma UCAV (14 December 2022)". SavunmaSanayiST. 14 December 2022.
  125. Herk, Hans van (14 December 2022). "Kızılelma takes to the sky!". www.scramble.nl.
  126. "Roketsan's Smart Micro Guided Munitions Boost Effectiveness of UAVs". Asian Military Review. 2019-03-25. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  127. "MAM-L Boosts Effectiveness of UAVs - Defence Turkey Magazine". www.defenceturkey.com. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  128. "Roketsan's Smart Micro Munition Product Family". Global Business Press | GBP. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  129. "Everything We Know About The Fighting That Has Erupted Between Armenia And Azerbaijan". The Drive. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  130. "Bayraktar TB2 Armed UAVs operated by the Azerbaijan Air Force have destroyed 2 more Armenian Smerch MLRS platform". Cybershafarat. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  131. "Turkey signs up as Talarion partner". Flight Global. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-05-16. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  132. "Cassidian and Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) agree on cooperation in the Talarion programme". EADS. 11 May 2011. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  133. Göksel Yıldırım (26 April 2023). "İnsansız savaş uçağı ANKA-3 ilk kez piste çıktı, uçuşa hazırlanıyor". Anadolu Agency.
  134. "New Turkish Stealth Drone Anka-3 Revealed". Defence Labs. 26 April 2023.
  135. Alican Ayanlar (12 May 2023). "NexTech: Türkiye's Air Strategy – More Homegrown Hardware and Options". TRT World.
  136. "Undersecretariat for Turkish Defence Industries: Electro-Optical (EO) Reconnaissance and Surveillance Satellite System (GÖKTÜRK)". Archived from the original on 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  137. "ECONOMY - Eurofighter hopes to sell 40 jets to Turkey". Archived from the original on 2010-11-15. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  138. Burak Ege Bekdil (28 July 2013). "Turkey's Sat-Launcher Plans Raise Concerns". DefenseNews. Archived from the original on 2013-08-30. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  139. "Ukraine, Turkey agree on space program worth billions of dollars". Unian. 26 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-11-25. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  140. "What is the contribution of the Türksat 5A and 5B satellites to the Turkish defense industry?". www.defensehere.com. Archived from the original on 2020-12-11. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  141. "Satellite network filings including UG earth stations providing UAS CNPC links". ITU (in Swiss French). Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  142. Tayfun Özberk (1 May 2022). "Here Is How UAVs Will Be Recovered Aboard TCG Anadolu". navalnews.com. Naval News.
  143. "Image of Baykar MIUS Kızılelma UCAVs deployed on TCG Anadolu (L-400)". stargazete.com. 14 December 2022.
  144. "Flight of the Baykar MIUS Kızılelma UCAV at Teknofest 2023". Savunma Sanayii. 30 April 2023.
  145. "Baykar MIUS Kızılelma UCAV flies in formation with the Turkish Stars aerobatics team of the Turkish Air Force". Habertürk TV. 7 June 2023.
  146. Emma Helfrich (11 April 2023). "Turkey's 'Drone Carrier' Amphibious Assault Ship Enters Service". thedrive.com.
  147. "Turkish Navy Officially Welcomes Its New Flagship, TCG Anadolu". TRT World. 11 April 2023.
  148. "TCG Anadolu (L-400) at the Bosporus strait in Istanbul". TRT Haber. 23 April 2023.
  149. "Turkish Air Force > Turkish Air Force > Organization > Combatant Air Force and Air Missile Defence Command". www.hvkk.tsk.tr. Archived from the original on 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  150. "112 Şeytan Filo veda etti". www.kokpit.aero. Archived from the original on 2018-02-10. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  151. "Arşivlenmiş kopya". Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  152. "113 Filo (TUAF)". Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  153. "142 Filo (TUAF)". Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  154. Mehmetciktv.com.tr. "113.FİLO KAPANIYOR". Mehmetçik TV. Archived from the original on 2018-02-10. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  155. "İşte filoların yeni görev yerleri". www.kokpit.aero. Archived from the original on 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  156. "401. Filo hangi yerli mühimmatları test ediyor?". www.kokpit.aero. Archived from the original on 2018-02-10. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  157. "132. Filo'nun yeni görevi!". www.kokpit.aero. Archived from the original on 2018-02-10. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  158. "Afrin'deki bombardımana, Hançer Filo'dan 12 savaş uçağı da katıldı". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2018-02-10. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  159. "141 Filo (TUAF)". Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  160. "143 Filo (TUAF)". Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  161. "151 Filo (TUAF)". Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  162. "152 Filo (TUAF)". Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  163. "Scramble". www.scramble.nl. Archived from the original on 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  164. "192 Filo (TUAF)". F-16.net. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  165. "ABD'liler S-400'leri uydudan izleyecek, etraftaki tarlalar satın alınacak". www.aydinlik.com.tr. 7 October 2019.
  166. "S-400'ler bakın nereye yerleştirilecek". odatv.
  167. "S-400 hazırlığı başladı! S-400'ler nereye kurulacak?". Ahaber.
  168. "S-400 nereye konuşlanacak? İşte öne çıkan 3 yer..." www.aydinlik.com.tr. 7 August 2019.
  169. "Scramble on the Web: Turkish Air Force - Order of Battle". Archived from the original on October 1, 2010.
  170. "Rütbeleri". Official air force (in Turkish). Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  171. "Manta - Rediscover America's Small Business". Manta. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  172. "Boeing: Boeing and Turkey's HAVELSAN Renew Missile Defense Partnership. April 22, 2008". boeing.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2008.
  173. "Undersecretariat for Turkish Defence Industries: Long Range Air and Missile Defence System Project". Archived from the original on 2008-11-23. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  174. "Türk Hava Kuvvetleri'nin MMU TF-X Sunumu ve Öne Çıkanlar" (in Turkish). 2021-07-01. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
  175. "Turkey Displays Its Fifth-Gen Stealth Fighter Jet At Singapore Air Show; Looks For Customers, Partners In Asia". Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News. 2022-02-18. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
  176. "Hürjet completed its maiden flight". Savunma Sanayii. 25 April 2023.
  177. Bekdil, Burak Ege (2018-02-20). "Turkey to replace T-38 aircraft with locally built armed jet". Defense News. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  178. Orman, Yakup Kaan (2023-05-15). "MMU KAAN için ilk uçuş tarihi belli oldu!". Teknoloji Haberleri - ShiftDelete.Net (in Turkish). Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  179. "Milli muharip uçak KAAN gökyüzüyle buluşmaya hazır". www.trthaber.com (in Turkish). 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  180. ""ÖZGÜR"leştirilen ilk F-16'lar Hava Kuvvetlerine teslim edildi". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  181. "F-16 Blok 30,40 ve 50'ler için ÖZGÜR-2 Projesi imzalandı" (in Turkish). 2023-07-26. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  182. "3 SORUDA- Türkiye'nin ABD'den F-16 talebi". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  183. "Türkiye's indigenous light combat aircraft Hurjet makes maiden flight". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  184. "Turkish combat drone Anka-3 gets on runway for 1st time". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  185. "KIZILELMA 2023'ün sonuna doğru seri üretime geçecek". www.trthaber.com (in Turkish). 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  186. "Turkish Aerospace to Begin HURKUS-2 Combat-Trainer Production as HURKUS Stocks are Exhausted". www.defensemirror.com. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  187. sanayi, savunma (2019-09-22). "Türk Hava Kuvvetleri'nin Yeni Tanker Uçağı". Savunma Sanayi (in Turkish). Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  188. Alemdar, Ahmet (2021-03-10). "Elektronik harp özel görev uçağı HAVA SOJ Projesi 2026'da tamamlanacak". DefenceTurk (in Turkish). Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  189. Azman, Kaan (2022-11-28). "HAVA SOJ'un test uçuşları icra ediliyor!". DefenceTurk (in Turkish). Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  190. Embraer, In association with. "2023 World Air Forces directory". Flight Global. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  191. "Hava Kuvvetleri Komutanlığına ilk T-70 tipi helikopter teslim edildi". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  192. "Pakistan'ın üç adet Super Mushshak uçağı, Türk Hava Kuvvetleri envanterine girdi". Defense Here (in Turkish). 2022-10-31. Retrieved 2023-10-17.

Bibliography
  • Morgan, Eric B. & Burnet, Charles (December 1981 – March 1982). "Walrus... Amphibious Angel of Mercy". Air Enthusiast (17): 13–25. ISSN 0143-5450.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.