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The Anatolian Eagle exercises are held three times a year of which two are classed as national exercises whilst during the third the Turkish Air Force invites Allied Air Forces to give them the opportunity to join the exercise. Held at Konya Air Base in central Turkey, dedicated ground facilities like large scale briefing rooms, are on hand. With its dense Airspace surrounding Konya, the exercise takes place in a large training area just North of the Base.
The international Anatolian Eagle 2014-2 exercise was organized from June 9th- 20th. During the exercise two missions were flown every day with one morning wave and an afternoon wave, each with up to 60 aircraft involved in the exercise. With its central location between Europe and Asia, the exercise attracted a number of foreign nations participating with different types of aircraft.
The Royal Air Force brought over six Eurofighter Typhoons from 11 Squadron and 3(F) Squadron based at RAF Coningsby. The Spanish Air Force participated with six Eurofighters from Ala 14 based at Albacete/Los Llanos AB, making it one of the first exercises the squadron participates with the new Jets, after the recent transition from Mirage F-1. Ala 12 based at Madrid/Torrejón AB also participated the exercise with six of its F/A-18 Hornets.
The Qatar Emiri Air Force attended with four Mirage 2000-5's from the 7th Air Superiority squadron based in Doha AB while the Royal Jordanian Air Force brought along three F-16s from 1 squadron based at As Shaheed Muwaffaq al Salti AB near Al Azraq.
The Turkish Air Force participated with a large contingent. Elements were drawn from the multiple frontline fighter units, flying different versions of the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the F-4E Phantom. Also participating the exercise were the local Super Puma Helicopters next to the NATO E-3A Awacs and the latest B-737AEW of the Turkish Air Force. The 101 Sqn provided Air-to-Air refueling capability with their KC-135 flying from their homebase Incirlik AFB.
On the last day of the exercise various transport aircraft arrived to bring back home the ground equipment and the groundcrew. One very special surprise was the newly acquired A-400M of the Turkish Air Force, performing it’s very first operational mission.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Turkish Air Force Public Affairs Office, Maj. Hasan Saffet Çelikel, Commander Anatolian Eagle Training Centre and all the staff at the Konya Air Base for their great hospitality.

 

Check out the "Anatolian Eagle 2014-2" photobook made by the Aviation PhotoCrew. Personal copies can be ordered via the link below.

       

 
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