Turkish Air Force

As of 2023, according to International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Turkish Air Force has an active strength of 50,000 military personnel and operates approximately 295 manned fixed-wing aircraft, 35 helicopters, and 52 unmanned aerial vehicles. In terms of aircraft quantity, it is the largest air force in Europe. The world's first black pilot, Ahmet Ali Çelikten, the world's first female fighter pilot, Sabiha Gökçen, and the first female jet pilot accredited in NATO, Leman Altınçekiç, all served in the Turkish Air Force.

History

First steps

The history of Ottoman military aviation dates back to between 20 June 1909 and 1 July 1911. 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. The same year the establishment of a Turkish airforce was taken into consideration. During the Italo-Turkish War of 1911, the Ottomans had to admit their disadvantage of not possessing an air force. Subsequently, the Ottomans employed German and French engineers who helped them to establish an air force with a dozen airplanes. The Ottoman Aviation Squadrons participated in the Balkan Wars (1912–1913) and World War I (1914–1918). 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. By July 1918, the Aviation Squadrons were reorganized as the General Inspectorate of Air Forces . (Kuva-yı Havaiye Müfettiş-i Umumiliği).

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. 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 23 April 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. 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.

Inspectorate of Air Forces

After the establishment of the Republic of Turkey on 29 October 1923, plans were made to form an 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. Starting in 1924, personnel were sent abroad for flight education. In 1925, the Air School was re-established in Eskişehir and its first students were graduated that same year. In the same year, the Air Force was deployed to take part in a campaign aimed to suppress the Sheikh Said rebellion. 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. Some personnel were sent to the United Kingdom and France for training; others were sent to the United States and Italy in 1930.

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

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

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. The growing inventory of air brigades required another structural change, which was made in 1940. 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. Thus, the Air Force became a separate branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. The first Commander of the Turkish Air Force was General Zeki Doğan. 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 Italian Islands in the Sea of Islands, 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. In addition to sales from foreign providers, UK munitions worth up to £34 million were provided to Turkey under the terms of the Armaments Credits of 1938 and 1939, under loan or credit arrangements, and between April 1943, and June 1945, Great Britain supplied an additional £26 million worth of war materials on "Mutual Aid" terms to support the general interests of the United Nations. The Turkish Air Force received large numbers of new aircraft in this period, including Supermarine Spitfires, Curtiss-Wright CW-22s, Fairey Battles, Avro Ansons, Hawker Hurricanes, Morane-Saulnier M.S.406s, Curtiss Tomahawks, Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk, Westland Lysanders, Consolidated B-24 Liberators, Bristol Blenheim IV/V, Bristol Beaufort, Bristol Beaufighters, Focke-Wulf Fw 190s, Martin 187 Baltimore, De Havilland DH.98 Mosquitos, Douglas B-26 Invaders, P-47D Thunderbolt and Douglas Dakotas.

The Air Machinist School (Hava Makinist Okulu) was reorganized as Aircraft Maintenance School (Hava Uçak Bakım Okulu) on 2 January 1950 to unite schools responsible for training non-pilot Air Force personnel. The beginning of Mutual Assistance Program military aid from the United States started a qualitative modernization and reorganisation of the entire Turkish Armed Forces, including the Air Force. Eight pilots were sent to the United States for jet pilot training. They graduated in 1951 and started training jet pilots in the Turkish Air Force. In the same year, the 9th Fighter Wing (9’uncu 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. Further training in the United States followed, usually involving jet manufacturers. In 1951 the Air Force Academy was formed, including some air schools in Eskişehir; its first academic year started on 1 October 1951. 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.

When Turkey joined NATO in 1952, additional attention and resources became available for the Air Force. In 1962 the Taktik Hava Kuvveti (Tactical Air Force) was founded by upgrading the Hava Tümeni (Air Division) units to corps-level organizations.

In 1972, the TAF was significantly reorganized. The roundel was changed, the fleets were rebuilt and propelled airplanes were phased out in favour of jet-powered ones.

In 1974 the Air Force was employed during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. 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, the Air Force was reorganized. 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). Another order for 70 more F-4Es were acquired between 1981 and 1987, and 40 more F-4Es were acquired between 1991 and 1992, as well as 46 more RF-4E reconnaissance aircraft. In total, the Turkish Air Force received 236 F-4 Phantom II (182 F-4E and 54 RF-4E) aircraft. In 1997, IAI (Israel Aircraft Industries) was selected to upgrade 54 of Turkey's F-4E fighter aircraft to the F-4E Terminator 2020 standard. 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.

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

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

In 1998, the Turkish Armed Forces announced a program of new equipment, with $45 billion 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).

Turkey provided 18 F-16s for the NATO campaign against Serbia, 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 NATO air policing over Bosnia-Herzegovina, employing two squadrons (one in the Ghedi fighter wing, and after 2000 one in the Aviano fighter wing). They returned to Turkey in 2001.

In 2006, four 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 16 December 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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

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.

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. 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.

Turkish Aerobatics Teams

After the first aerobatics formation in the history of the Turkish Air Force was performed by Lt. Gen. Fazıl Bey on March 5, 1914, at an altitude of 1312 feet, other Turkish pilots also tried various acrobatic moves. The first "official" aerobatics studies within the Turkish Air Force began in 1926 at the Turkish Air Force Academy. The group, which was formed under the leadership of flight instructor Plt. Gen. Enver Akoğlu and included Plt. Gen. Tekin Arıburun, carried out successful studies. As opposed to studies, the first aerobatic team in the Turkish Air Force was established in 1952 under the name "Milli" (National), immediately after the transition to jet aircraft. This team, which was established at the 9th Air Base Command in Balıkesir, the first jet base of the Turkish Air Force, used the F-84G Thunderbird. This first team, call sign "Milli", which operated between 1952 and 1962, achieved significant successes. The acrobatic team named Milli, which performed numerous flight displays in Turkey, managed to make a name for itself with the shows it organized primarily in Italy and Belgium. The call sign of the second acrobatic team in history, established in 1955 at the 4th Air Base Command in Ankara, was "Uçan Kuğular" (Flying Swans) Using F-86E Sabre aircraft painted in red and white with swan motifs embroidered on the nose sections, this aerobatics team continued its activities for 10 years. "Uçan Kuğular" gained an important place in Turkish aviation history in the shows it performed in 1964. The aerobatics team, call sign "Akrep" (Scorpion) established towards the end of 1957 at the 8th Air Base Command in Diyarbakır was the third Turkish aerobatics team in history; It continued its activities until 1959. The acro team, whose aircraft type was F-84G, participated in various shows both in Turkey and abroad (Pakistan). The fourth acro team in Turkish aviation history, bearing the call sign "Yarasalar", was established in 1964 at the 5th Main Jet Base Command in Merzifon. This acro team, whose aircraft type was F-86E Sabre and whose aircraft were painted with a special motif in black and white, operated for 2 years and performed 5, 9 and 12 (plane?) aerobatics shows. This acro team, which was established in 1966 and called “Kartal” (Eagle) from 1966 to 1971, received the call sign “Coşkun” (Enthusiastic) named after the Lit. Coşkun Turan, who was on duty in the team, and was killed during a mission flight on 21 May 1971. The aircraft type of the acro team, established at the Bandırma 6th Main Jet Base Command, is the F-5A Freedom Fighter. The acro team, called “Coşkun”, performed flight demonstrations in Turkey and around the world (1971 in Italy). No continuously active acroteam was established between 1971 and 1992.

After a 20-year hiatus, the Turkish Air Force decided to establish an acroteam again and started activities to implement the project in 1992. In accordance with the directives of the Commander of the Turkish Air Force, Gen. Halis Burhan, work was started for the establishment of an acroteam in 1992 and approval was received for the establishment of an acroteam within the 132nd Weapon Tactics and Standardized Squadron Command at the Konya 3rd Main Jet Base on 11 September 1992. While the establishment and examination studies were continuing rapidly, the order to establish an acroteam consisting of four NF-5 wings within the 132nd Squadron was issued on 7 November 1992. In the meantime, the selection of the first four pilots who would constitute the core of the acroteam was made. In 1993, double training was started and the planned acrobatic movements were tried and the desired result was achieved after a flight of five sorties. Later, training of right and left wing fliers was started and quadruple training was started. In the meantime, some of the personnel working in the acroteam were sent to England, Canada and Italy to conduct research on the subject. In order to fulfill the acroteam duty with more safety and efficiency, a study was started on April 27, 1993, for the modifications to be made on the NF-5 aircraft, primarily the smoke system and painting of the aircraft, to increase flight safety. While the studies were ongoing, on June 18, 1993, the closing day of the Turkish Air Force Command Shooting Competitions, the Turkish Stars acroteam performed its first official display as a quartet to state dignitaries and other guests at the 4th Main Jet Base Command in Ankara. Following this display the Turkish Stars, which gained fleet status, managed to make a name for itself as the youngest supersonic acrobatic team in the world. In August 1993, the aircraft modification/painting activities were initiated by the 1st Main Jet Base Command and Maintenance Center Command in Eskişehir. During this process, five- and six-wing flight training was also initiated. The modifications and changes made to the 9 NF-5 and 1 NF-5B aircraft allocated to the Turkish Stars acroteam were completed in July 1994 and delivered to the unit.