On the fourth of July, the international edition of Anatolian Eagle concluded at the 3rd Main Jet Base in Konya, Türkiye. For two weeks around seventy-five aircraft took off to the skies for their missions during the international edition of Anatolian Eagle 2025-2, locally known as ‘Anadolu Kartali 2025-2’.
After a year of absence, due to construction work at Konya, the Anatolian Eagle Training Centre (AETC) hosted the exercise again at their premisses at Konya Air Base, one of only four tactical training centres in the world and the only one in Europe. Konya Air Base also has a range nearby and around 50.000 square miles of surface area from ground level up to 50.000 feet as available airspace.
The Pakistan Air Force was scheduled to attend with JF-17 fighters, but this was cancelled due to the tensions with India. The Omani F-16s were also withdrawn from the exercise and the Egyptian Air Force cancelled their participation prior to the start of the exercise. While other air forces scaled down their numbers of aircraft. The Hungarian Air Force stepped in during the second week with three Saab JAS39C Gripens, flown by the Tactical Aviation Squadron at Kecskemét, Hungary, operating in the air-to-air role.
Azerbaijan attended as in previous editions with a pair of Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack fighters.
No less then twelve F-16s, piloted by aircrew from the 510th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Wing, arrived from Aviano Air Base, Italy. “This training is important to the U.S. because it brings us together with our partners from around the region.” Maj, Andrew Gallion, 510th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations and 31st Fighter Wing Anatolian Eagle 25 project officer explained. “It gives our tactical operators an opportunity to practice large force tactics they do not often get to employ at home station.”
Three F-16s, crewed by 6 Squadron of the Royal Jordanian Air Force, based As Shaheed Muwaffaq Al-Salti Air Base participated in this exercise. During their Multi-Role missions, an Air Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation (ACMI) System, developed and produced by SDT (Space & Defence Technologies) in Türkiye was used.
The Qatar Emiri Air Force is a regular participant but scaled down their participation to three Typhoons during this edition. The Air Combat Group based at Tamim Airbase operates the Typhoons with three squadrons under Flying Wing 1.
The Royal Saudi Air Force participated with six F-15SA from King Saud Air Base, operated by 92Squadron flying multi-role and Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) missions during the exercise.
Host nation Türkiye provided several types of assets; F-16s from various units as well as 132 Filo acting as the Red force. A NATO E-3A AEW&CF AWACS, provided command and control support (C2) while operating out of the 3rd Main Jet Base Konya which is a Forward Operating Base (FOB) for over forty years. Locally based 131 Filo Boeing E-7T Wedgetail AWACS (Airborne Early Warning and Control System) also supported the exercise in the C2 role. One KC-135R provided arial refuelling support for both red and blue forces. A 135 Filo Casa CN-235 provided tactical transport.
Countries that expressed their intention to participate in Anatolian Eagle for the first time are generally invited to attend in an observer status to gain a comprehensive understanding of the training environment, procedures and operational structures. Observers from Brazil, Bulgaria, Malaysia, Mali and Nigeria were present at Konya Air Base.
A single ANKA-S UCAV (Unmanned Combat Arial Vehicle) provided intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) support while a Bayraktar Akinci high-altitude long endurance (HALE) UCAV operated in the air-to-ground role. Both executed their missions while operating out of their homebases.
The Anatolian Eagle Training Centre (AETC) consist of three elements; Blue, Red and White. The Blue forces are the trainees tasked to act against the aggressors; the Red forces. The white element schedules the scenarios and determines the level of training needed. Each mission will be commanded, monitored, evaluated and analysed by the white element. Maj. Gen. Mete Kuş, commander of the 3rd Main Jet Base Command, said “This year’s exercise was planned as a multidimensional operational environment.” Turkish Air Force Anatolian Eagle Training Command squadron commander Maj. Ekrem Çekin added “It was the first time that prewar crisis scenarios were played out at actual flights. Participants executed prevention and demolition operations against multiple cruise missile threats. For the first time in an international, conventional exercise, unmanned aerial vehicles participated in direct bombing missions,”
Scenario development
At the White elements Headquarters at the Anatolian Eagle Training Centre Command, a multidisciplinary team consisting of fighter pilots, intelligence officers, electronic warfare specialists, unmanned arial vehicle mission planners, ground-based air defence systems developed a scenario in line with the evolving requirements of contemporary air operations and the specific training needs of the participating units. Legal advisors provided operational-level legal consultancy.
Commander Maj. Ekrem Çekin added “This training is designed to give aircrew maximum freedom to solve problems presented by tactical scenarios”. Participants are allowed to execute self-planned training sorties in a flexible and cooperative environment. This significantly contributes to the specific training requirements and enhancing interoperability between the participating units. In addition to the main scenario missions conducted collectively, participating units also have the opportunity to carry out joint missions with units from other countries in designated training areas upon request.
This year’s training was based on realistic, modern dynamic and multidimensional warfare. The scenarios reflected a high threat environment incorporating advanced air defence systems. One of the most prominent and the first ever performed during this exercise was the interception of a swarm of cruise missiles, emphasising early detection and identification. Low Radar Cross Section (RCS) cruise missiles were engaged during joint missions involving airborne and ground based systems, requiring full coordination”.
Maj. Gen. Mete Kuş, commander of the 3rd Main Jet Base added that “Anatolian Eagle is not merely an exercise, it is a multinational declaration of will aimed at preserving regional stability.” This year’s edition reached a critical phase, implementing several firsts. For the first time in an international exercise, crisis phase scenarios preceding the outbreak of war were simulated through actual flight missions. Within this framework, pilots were trained in preventive air operation planning, rules of engagements, and deterrence techniques aimed at preventing a surprise attack before a conflict erupts”. For the first time in an Anatolian Eagle exercise, Blue forces conducted interception end elimination operations in response to a simulated mass cruise missile attack launched by the Red force. This scenario tested the joint reaction capabilities of the Turkish Air force and the allied units against asymmetric missile threats that may be encountered in modern warfare environments. The third innovation was the use of Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs) in a strike role. For the first time in an internationally conducted exercise within the scope of conventional operations, UAVs alone were assigned to perform direct strike missions. More importantly, manned fighter aircraft conducted escort and protection missions for the Turkish defence industry-produced Akinci, Anka-S and Anka-III UAVs while operating in the strike role. This scenario represents one of the most advanced examples of manned-unmanned system integration. These developments reflect not only the scope of the exercise, but also a vision for an air force that is prepared for the operational environments in the future.
The ANKA-III, an Unmanned Combat Arial Vehicle with stealth capabilities, provided by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) executed two sorties in the air-to-ground role. A mishap resulting in a forced landing at a field nearby the air base prevented further participation. An Aksungur drone was used for both ISR and air-to-ground missions. Şimşek and Süper Şimşek high speed target drones were released from the Aksungur drone during the exercise to simulate cruise missiles.
Additionally, the strike plans prepared by the pilots were tested in a combat simulator used by most of the participants prior to the actual flights. After comparing these results with the results obtained by the real missions, they matched by over ninety percent, demonstrating how realistic the operational conditions are.
The exercise concluded after 415 sorties flown with a total of 786 hours of flying. Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Türkiye, once said that “the future is in the skies. Nations that cannot protect their skies can never be sure of their future.” Something that all of the participants had to keep in mind while planning and executing their missions.