International Anatolian Phoenix 2021
International Anatolian Phoenix 2021 Exercise was held during 24 May - 04 June 2021 with the participation of national and foreign elements at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya. The event was hosted by AKEM (Anatolian Eagle Training Centre Command). Since 2009, the Anatolian Phoenix Military Exercises have been executed at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya periodically, twice a every year to increase the level of experience required by the current and future’s combat zone and to execute the training of the “Personnel Rescue Task Force” elements in the real-like operational environment. One period of the military exercise has been carried out nationally and the other internationally, since 2012.
The exercise aims to test and develop the command control process as part of the Personnel Rescue (PR) Operation, test the interoperability of the PR Task Force elements (Helicopter, JTAC (Advanced Joint Terminal Attack Controllers), PR and CSAR teams) with the Air Force elements (Fighter jets, Command Control Aircraft and UAV pilots) in the combat zone, develop the “Survival and Escape and Evasion” methods and increase the training level of the pilots and within the scope of Joint and/or Combined Operations plan and execute the tasks such as Personnel Rescue (PR), Close Air Support (CAS), Dynamic Targeting (DT), Time-Sensitive Targeting (TST) by including them in the military exercise scenarios, develop the level of interoperability with other countries and identify areas of cooperation.
The Convoy Protection, Close Air Support, Casualty Evacuation, Parachute Jump and CSAR tasks are conducted at the Konya Shooting Range as part of the military exercise. The elements participating in this year’s exercise are as follows.
Air Forces Command: Six F-16C/Ds, one E-7T (AWACS) Aircraft, one ANKA-S, one CN-235M-100 and two AS-532AL Search and Rescue Helicopters, three PR (Personnel Rescue) Teams, one JTAC (Advanced Joint Terminal Attack Controllers) Team
Land Forces Command: One AS-532UL, two T-129B ATAK Helicopters and one PR Team
Naval Forces Command: One UO (Underwater Offence) Team
Gendarmerie General Command: One S-70i Helicopter and one PR Team
General Staff Special Force Command: One S-70A-28 Helicopter and one Special Forces Team
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus: One AS-532UL Helicopter and one PR Team
Qatar: Two AW139 Helicopter, one C-130J-30 and one C-17 aircraft
Azerbaijan: Two Mi-17 Helicopter and 3xPR Teams
The Press and Distinguished Observer Day of the military exercise was on 31 May 2021. The activities on the press day started with the transfer to the AKEM Main Briefing Hall and the brief to the press members on the Personnel Rescue, CSAR and Dynamic Targeting scenarios to be conducted at Konya Shooting Range. Later, the air components displayed in the static area were introduced to the participants. Particularly two air vehicles attracted the attention of the press members during this introduction. The first vehicle has been the Special Force Commands’ S-70A-28 helicopter equipped with ASELSAN’s TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) for the first time. The other one has been the HÜRKUŞ Air-Ground Integration aircraft (AGIA) with the tail number 17-105 that was manufactured by TUSAŞ. The latter will be soon delivered to 135th Fleet Command. TUSAŞ Product Director Nezaket Güneri ORBAY briefly introduced the HÜRKUŞ and added that they will be delivering training courses on Advanced Air Controller, Advanced Combat Controller and Joint Fire Support Team with the HÜRKUŞ AGIA.
Previously, the F-16C/D and F-4E/2020 aircraft were utilized for such training purposes. HÜRKUŞ AGIA will be eliminating the need for these aircraft. As a result, both training expenses will be severely reduced while the requirement of using fighter jets for training purposes will be terminated. Following the photo-shoot at the static area, the participants watched the air shows of Türk Yıldızları (Turkish Stars) and SoloTürk demonstration teams. The highlight of the air show was the selection of the 132nd Fleet’s F-16C Block 30 for the show instead of SoloTürk’s specially colored aircraft. The participants arrived at Konya Shooting Range upon the air shows.
According to the scenario, the Gendarmerie S-70i and Qatar’s AW139 helicopter arrived at the zone and started the exercise with the evacuation of the casualties. During the evacuation, HÜRKUŞ AGIA attended the exercise for the first time provided Close Air Support to the helicopters. Later, the elements representing the enemy at the zone were identified by the JTAC team with ASELSAN’s SCOUT-II, hand-held integrated electro-optical sensor system and the coordinates of the targets were determined. The identified targets were illuminated with ASELSAN’s ENGEREK laser target designator by another JTAC personnel. In this way, the JTAC team directed two F-16Cs on the air towards the targets. The F-16s successfully destroyed all four targets with the 500-pounds’ Mk-82 general-purpose bomb.
Following the destruction of the targets, a Combat Search and Rescue operation was launched to rescue the pilot of the F-16 that crashed due to an engine failure according to the scenario. Support was requested when the ground fire started towards the helicopters arriving at the zone. Two T129B ATAK helicopters reached for help and destroyed the enemy targets with a 20mm M197 cannon. After the security of the zone was maintained, the helicopters landed and PR teams initially ensured the safety of the zone. Then the pilot who has signaled his location with the fog was rescued.
Due to adverse weather conditions, unfortunately, the ANKA-S fires and Parachute jumps in the scenario were cancelled. The military exercise was completed with the salute of the low altitude flight of all air vehicles attending the operation.
