Turkish military conducts long-range Mediterranean exercise

The Turkish Air Force has carried out a long-range training exercise that demonstrated its ability to project air power into the central Mediterranean.

A Turkish F-16 takes off for the long-range training exercise over the Mediterranean. (Turkish Ministry of Defence)

The Turkish Ministry of Defence (MSB) said the exercise took place on 11 June and involved 17 aircraft controlled by the Combat Air Forces Command at Eskişehir as well as eight frigates and corvettes under the Northern Task Group Command.

“During the eight-hour mission extending nearly 1,050 n miles (2,000 km) away from Turkish territorial waters, command-and-control procedures were practiced, exercises that included in-flight refuelling and joint naval-air operations were conducted and the maritime and air picture was built and shared,” the MSB said in a statement released on the following day.

It released photographs showing Lockheed Martin F-16s, Boeing KC-135R tankers and 737 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, an Airbus CN235M-100 transport, and a Lockheed Martin C-130 transport being prepared and taking off from their bases.