enhance its training.
After gaining important
experience during operations
over Bosnia and Kosovo in the
1990s as well as participating in
different foreign manoeuvres and
drills, the air arm decided to launch
a training exercise of its own. The
first Anatolian Eagle took place in
June 2001 and is broadly similar
to the famous Red Flag conducted
at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
The Anatolian Eagle Training
Centre is one of three recognised
tactical instruction facilities of its
type in the world and is located
at Konya. In common with similar
manoeuvres, the Anatolian Eagle
training becomes increasingly
difficult throughout the course and
participating crews are exposed to
a realistic ‘wartime’ environment.All
aircraft
movements
are monitored digitally for
debriefing and analysis.
Anatolian Eagle airspace is
primarily located to the south of
the air base, with additional areas
extending up to 200nm on an east-
west axis and 150nm north-south.
More than 60 aircraft can operate
simultaneously without confliction.
Using the Air Combat
Manoeuvring Instrumentation
(ACMI) system, the airborne
‘picture’ is relayed to Konya’s
Command Control Centre where
it is monitored in real time. The
centre ‘sees’ the entire Konyaairspace and
activity, including
tracks detected by airborne
early warning assets and
ground radars as well as real-
time search, engagement and
impact data from surface-to-
air missile (SAM) and other anti-
aircraft systems. A briefing hall,
located in the same building as
the Command Control Centre, can
accommodate up to 450 people.Exercise scenario
Anatolian Eagle scenarios are
typically based around attacks
on the (friendly) Blue Force and
focus on composite air operations(COMAO)
directed
against tactical and
strategic targets belonging to
the Red Force. These objectives
are defended by aggressor
aircraft and SAM systems.
This year, the exercise ‘script’ was
based around two neighbouring
countries – Blue and Red. An oil
pipeline within Blue borders and
an associated port were identified
as strategic targets. The Red team
supported a terrorist organisation
operating around the pipelinereturn to Konya
OneofEurope’slargest airexercises
tookplacein Juneaftera two-year
hiatus. Anatolian Eagle 2019 involved
participationfromItaly,Jordan,
Pakistan,Qatar,theUSandNATO
withAzerbaijanjoiningthe
manoeuvresasanobserver
country.OnurKurçandTay fun
YaşarreportfromKonya.http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #378 September 2019 // 3736-39 Eagles AFM Sep2019.indd 37 8/5/2019 11:54:43 AM