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61-654: The facility, formerly a base of the Turkish Air Force , is named after the Air Force fighter pilot Capt. Cengiz Topel , whose F-100 Super Sabre was shot down on August 8, 1964 during Turkey's military intervention in Cyprus . He ejected safely over land, but was promptly captured after landing and lynched by members of the Cyprus National Guard . He was the first Turkish pilot ever killed in action . Topel Airport

122-465: A Boeing 737-700 into an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform for Turkey's Peace Eagle program. The first Peace Eagle aircraft, named Kuzey (meaning North) was formally accepted into Turkish Air Force inventory on 21 February 2014. The remaining three aircraft will be named Güney (South), Doğu (East) and Batı (West). The six-year delay was a result of Boeing experiencing difficulties while developing some features required by

183-876: A branch of the Turkish Armed Forces was founded by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on 23 April 1920. In 1998, the Turkish Armed Forces announced a program of modernization worth US$ 160 billion over a twenty-year period in various projects, 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). As of 2023 , according to International Institute for Strategic Studies ,

244-771: A foreign partner was sought. The official bidders for the project were EADS Astrium (U.K.), OHB-System (Germany) and Telespazio (Italy); and the contract was won by Telespazio of Italy. International Institute for Strategic Studies The International Institute for Strategic Studies ( IISS ) is an international research institute or think tank focusing on defence and security issues. Since 1997, its headquarters have been at Arundel House in London . It has offices on four continents, producing data and research on questions of defence, security and global affairs, publishing publications and online analysis, and convening major security summits. The Guardian newspaper has described

305-597: A protocol signed with the Turkish Air Force two weeks before. That day, Turkish Navy's first rotorcraft unit was renamed 351st Naval Helicopter Squadron. The 301st Naval Air Squadron, formed in 1971 at Etimesgut Air Base in Ankara Province as the fixed wing aviation unit of the Navy, was transferred on 4 August 1972 to Bandırma Air Base to join the 6th Air Force Wing. With its four maritime patrol aircraft and twelve anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft of type S-2 Tracker ,

366-556: 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

427-449: 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 . 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

488-615: Is a partner nation in the Airbus A400M Atlas production program. The Turkish Air Force has ordered a total of ten A400M Atlas aircraft. The first two A400M Atlas were delivered to the Turkish Air Force in 2014. All A400M Atlas deliveries to the Turkish Air Force were completed by 2018. 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

549-564: Is scheduled to be launched and placed into orbit in 2025. Göktürk-2 is a 2m resolution reconnaissance satellite for use by the National Intelligence Organization , launched in 2012. Göktürk-1 is a 0.8m resolution reconnaissance satellite for use by the Turkish Armed Forces , launched in 2016. Some electro-optical parts that were required for the Göktürk-1 (0.8m resolution) satellite were beyond TAI's technological know-how, thus

610-621: The Airbus Military factory in Spain for assembly. 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 . As of 2023 , the Turkish Air Force operates HALE UCAVs such as

671-689: 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

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732-659: The Baykar Akıncı , and MALE UCAVs such as the TAI Aksungur , TAI Anka , and the IAI Heron . The jet-engined UCAV Baykar Kızılelma is developed for the Turkish Air Force and Turkish Naval Forces ; its maiden flight was successfully completed on 14 December 2022. 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

793-652: 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. Upon Turkey's membership to NATO in 1952, the process of modernization was accelerated. 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,

854-615: 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). 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

915-672: The Air School was re-established in Eskişehir and its first students 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

976-1067: 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 )

1037-624: The Baykar Akıncı HALE UCAV can also be armed with the SOM cruise missile . The runway tests of TAI Anka-3 , a jet -powered, flying wing type UCAV with stealth technology , began in April 2023. Its maiden flight was successfully completed on 28 December 2023. As of 2024, the Turkish Air Force operates the military intelligence satellites Göktürk-2 (in orbit since 2012), Göktürk-1 (since 2016), and Türksat 5A (since 2021), while Göktürk-3

1098-783: The General Inspectorate of Air Forces. 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

1159-825: The IISS as ‘one of the world’s leading security think tanks.’ The current Director-General and Chief Executive is Bastian Giegerich while Sir John Chipman is the Executive Chairman. The 2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index ranked IISS as the tenth-best think tank worldwide and the second-best Defence and National Security think tank globally, while Transparify ranked it third-largest UK think tank by expenditure, but gave it its lowest rating, "deceptive", on funding transparency. The institute has worked with governments, defence ministries and global organisations such as NATO . The IISS provides ‘strategic advice and political risk analysis to government and commercial clients’. In 2011

1220-468: The IISS had approximately 160 employees and an annual turnover of more than £25 million. Raymond L. Garthoff wrote in 2004: In 1959 the IISS issued a pamphlet on the "military balance" between the Soviet Union and NATO. It was unfortunately replete with errors, having been put together from published sources of widely varying quality. I called this to the attention of Alastair Buchan , the director of

1281-542: The Inspectorate of Air Forces ( Kuva-yı Havaiye Müfettişliği ) at Konya. 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. Starting in 1924, personnel were sent abroad for flight education. In 1925,

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1342-549: 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 ). Turkey placed an initial order for 30 F-35 Lightning IIs , six of which were completed as of 2019 and two more were at the assembly line in 2020. The first four F-35As were delivered to Luke Air Force Base between 21 June 2018 and 5 April 2019 for

1403-777: The Manama Dialogues secret". The IISS did not dispute the authenticity of the leaked documents or deny receiving funding from Bahrain , but issued a response stating that "[a]ll IISS contractual agreements, including those with host governments, contain a clause asserting the institute's absolute intellectual and operational independence as an international organisation that does not participate in any manner of advocacy". Peter Oborne in Middle East Eye subsequently reported that IISS may have received nearly half of its total income from Bahraini sources in some years. The IISS moved to new headquarters at Arundel House in 2000. In 2023,

1464-650: 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. On 11 July 2002, Turkey became a Level 3 partner of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) development program, and on 25 January 2007, Turkey officially joined the production phase of

1525-680: 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

1586-702: 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. The General Inspectorate of Air Forces ( Kuva-yı Havaiye Müfettiş-i Umumiliği ) By July 1918, the Aviation Squadrons were reorganized as

1647-614: 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

1708-543: 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

1769-505: 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

1830-475: The Turkish Air Force in case of a nuclear conflict, but their use requires the approval of NATO. 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

1891-563: 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

Cengiz Topel Naval Air Station - Misplaced Pages Continue

1952-459: The Turkish Air Force, with an option for two more aircraft. 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. 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

2013-598: The Turkish Air Force. 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,

2074-486: 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. In 1994 the Turkish Air Force signed a deal to lease two and purchase seven Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aerial refueling tanker aircraft. Following

2135-489: 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. By 1940, Turkish air brigades had more than 500 combat aircraft in its inventory, becoming

2196-463: The air station could use them also. In 2011, the airport was opened to public air traffic. Anadolujet operated domestic flights. The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Cengiz Topel Airport: Cengiz Topel Naval Air Station is situated 2 km (1.2 mi) east of Köseköy neighborhood in İzmit and 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Lake Sapanca between the highway [REDACTED] [REDACTED] E80  / D.100 and

2257-786: 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). The Turkish Air Force contributes personnel and aircraft to

2318-462: The arrival of all seven purchased aircraft, the two leased KC-135Rs were returned to the United States. 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 . Turkey

2379-462: 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

2440-703: 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 ,

2501-408: The facilities of TAI in Ankara, Turkey, with the participation of Boeing and a number of Turkish companies. 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. On 4 June 2008, it was announced that Turkish Aerospace Industries completed the first in-country modification of

Cengiz Topel Naval Air Station - Misplaced Pages Continue

2562-400: The force underwent major reorganization. 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

2623-409: 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

2684-578: The former Labour prime minister Clement Attlee . While the Institute’s initial composition was mainly British, from 1968 the council were joined by Australian and Japanese members. Because of this, it was renamed the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in 1971. Since then, the IISS has convened many private discussion groups and conferences and also hosted influential public events and lectures. The 1977 Alastair Buchan memorial lecture, delivered by West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt (an Institute member since 1959), which became known as one of

2745-481: The fourth generation jet fighter. 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. In 2007 TAI built 30 F-16 Block 50+ aircraft for the airforce and applied the CCIP modernization program to 117 of its Block 40 and 50 F-16s, bringing them to the Block 50+ configuration. Dozens of TAI-built F-16s were also exported to other countries, particularly in

2806-438: The institute published the FARC files —documents captured from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia that shed light on the movement's inner workings. The 2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index ranked the Shangri-La Dialogue as the best Think tank conference worldwide. The Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS), as it was originally known, was founded in 1958, following a conference in January 1957, which gathered together

2867-414: The institute, who was quite disturbed. A new version was issued in November 1960, much more correct and accurate, though still not up to the latest intelligence. Again, I called this to Buchan's attention, and he undertook to check out with British authorities what became annual issuances. The IISS is a registered charity, and fundraising is overseen by the board of trustees. The trustees appoint members of

2928-399: The key appeals for ‘Euromissiles’ to counter new Soviet intermediate-range missiles. In 2016, The Guardian reported that IISS "has been accused of jeopardising its independence after leaked documents showed it has secretly received £25m from the Bahraini royal family ", noting that leaked "documents reveal that IISS and Bahrain's rulers specifically agreed to keep the latter's funding for

2989-405: 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

3050-438: The main voices interested in the nuclear issues of the day. Military historian Michael Howard chaired a group which recommended that ‘we should set up a body whose primary  purpose should be the collection and dissemination of information about nuclear weapons and their implications for international relations…And so the Institute was born.’ Its first director was the defence journalist Alastair Buchan, and its first president

3111-463: The motorway [REDACTED] O-4 . Turkish Air Force The Turkish Air Force ( Turkish : Türk Hava Kuvvetleri ) is the air and space force of the Turkish Armed Forces . It traces its origins to 1 June 1911 when it was founded as the Aviation Squadrons by the Ottoman Empire . 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

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3172-405: 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

3233-431: 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. 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

3294-559: The sale of Block 70 F-16 fighter jets and the modernization program for the F-16 fleet of the Turkish Airforce. In January 2024, the U.S. State Department passed a $ 23 billion package that included the modernization of existing F16 fleets and new 40 F16 Block 70 fighter jets, as well as a wide range of ammunitions. As of August 2024, the project is continuing on as planned, as the Turkish Defense Minister said. A total of four Boeing 737 AEW&C Peace Eagle ( Barış Kartalı ) aircraft (together with ground support systems) were ordered by

3355-439: 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 with integrating some air schools in Eskişehir and its first academic year started on 1 October 1951. In 1956

3416-416: The training of Turkish pilots. 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 . 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

3477-466: The unit was then relocated to Cengiz Topel Air Base on 14 July 1976. The base, in joint use since 1973 by the air force and the navy, was transferred to the Turkish Navy Command on 14 July 1976 following the order of the Turkish General Staff . Finally, the Naval Air Station Command was established on 4 August 1976. The base was assigned to NATO on 28 October 1981. In 1983, helipads in Istanbul and Çanakkale were put in service so that helicopters of

3538-490: Was originally a Turkish Air Force facility. Following the re-establishment of the aviation branch of the Turkish Navy in 1968, the first naval helicopter pilots were trained by the Turkish Army Aviation Command's flight school at the Güvercinlik Army Air Base in Etimesgut , Ankara Province . The unit, formed in 1972 at the same base, was transferred on 19 May 1973 from Ankara to Cengiz Topel Air Base due to its location close to Gölcük Naval Base in Kocaeli Province following

3599-410: 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. In 1950 it also was decided to upgrade the Air Force fleet through the inclusion of jets. 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

3660-427: 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 batch of 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

3721-415: 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 received

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