The signing ceremony held at the Third Konya  Main Jet Air Command was attended by President Abdullah Gül, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly Cemil Çiçek, Chief of Staff General Necdet Özel, Turkish Air Force Commander General Akın Öztürk as well as a large number of military and defence officials. Speaking at the ceremony, the Commander of the Air Force Gen. Akın Öztürk said, “Today, only a small number of air forces around the world that have this capability have now been gained by the Turkish Air Force as well. Our Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircrafts have the world’s most advanced and most modern radar systems.” Stating that only few air forces around the globe have this capability and which has now been attained by the Turkish Air Force Command, Öztürk added, “Our AWACS are equipped with the most advanced and modern radar systems in the world. Turkey is the third country to include the AWACS aircraft that has these features in its inventory after Australia and South Korea.”

Öztürk: “Our airspace can be monitored more effectively”