combat aircraft

completed in 2012 before TAI  nished

the remaining six jets.

The second stage of Peace Onyx III

essentially involved the serial upgrade of

165 CCIP aircraft. TAI handled 149, while

the remaining 16 saw TAI supervising

the 1st Air Supply and Maintenance

Center Command at Eskişehir. The

process began in October 2010 and

was completed with the return of the

last aircraft, F-16D Block 40 89-0044, on

April 10, 2015.

In 2006, Peace Onyx IV was drawn up

for another 30 ‘Vipers’, this time Block 50+

aircraft that were put on contract in 2008.

TAI re-opened its production line for 16

F-16Cs and 14 F-16Ds, which were all

completed by the end of 2012.

Service highlights

It’s well known that the THK has

employed its F-16s in combat on a

number of occasions. Operation ‘Deny

Flight’, which was initiated after the

United Nations decided to impose a

no- y zone over Bosnia, saw 142 Filo  rst

joining this mission. Various THK units

deployed to Ghedi in Italy before the

task switched to Operation ‘Deliberate

Force’ in August 1995, which targeted

the Bosnian Serb Army. Again the F-16s

joined the action, and they also  ew

during ‘Allied Force’ over Kosovo from

March 1999.

The operations by 10 F-16 squadrons

over Bosnia and Kosovo from April 21,

1993 until August 7, 2001 served to give

the THK huge experience in precision

strike and combat air patrols. Turkish

F-16s have notched up signi cant air-

to-air action including the downing of

A LANTIRN-equipped F-16D of the

401st Test Squadron at Eskişehir.

The sleek lines and conformal fuel

tanks of the Block 50+ ‘Vipers’

operated by 181 Filo.

An instructor assigned to the

training unit 153 Filo.

FORCE REPORT // TURKISH F-16S

78 July 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net

74-79 Turkish F-16s C.indd 78 22/05/2018 15:53