About 250 personnel and 12 U.S. Air Force F-15C “Eagle” jet fighters from the 48th Fighter Wing based at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, are participating in the preplanned exercise, Warren said.
Anatolian Eagle, which is taking place at Konya Air Base, Turkey, began June 8, he said. The exercise is slated to conclude June 18, Warren said.
Anatolian Eagle is focused on exercising operational and logistical processes for U.S. Air Forces and increasing tactical interoperability between U.S. and Turkish Air Forces, the Colonel said.
Anatolian Eagle (AE) exercises simulate a war-time environment and the difficulty level increases from easy to hard. First the training exercise is planned in the 'White Headquarters' building. Training is monitored with computers to help test knowledge, abilities and find deficiencies of the participants. The scenarios consist of a "Blue Team" which attacks tactical and strategic targets in a “Red Land” during Combined Air Operations (COMAO). The Red Land is defended by opposing combat aircraft and surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. Statistical studies are also completed in the White Headquarters.
During the training exercise, the location, position and flight information of participating aircraft is transferred to a Command Control Centre (CCC) via an Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) system. Radar tracks and missile shots from SAM systems, AWACS aircraft, land-based radars and other anti-aircraft systems are also transferred to the CCC. Pre-flight briefings and post-flight de-briefings are carried out in the CCC where there is a briefing hall with capacity of 450 people. Sorties during the AE exercise are controlled and commanded at the MASE (Multi Aegis Site Emulator) Operation Center.
Airspace for Anatolian Eagle is 200 nm from east to west and 150 nm from north to south. The main operations airspace, also known as the Salt Area, can be used from ground level up to 50,000 feet. During the exercise, AWACS aircraft give command and control support to Blue Forces and a land-based radar gives GCI support to the Red Forces. Air-to-air refueling tankers refuel aircraft of both forces.
The Red Force personnel conduct their planning and briefings in the Red Building, while the national and foreign participants do the same in the Blue 1, Blue 2 and Blue 3 buildings. Red Force is restricted to their own Red Building, and nobody else can enter Red Building. Participants are housed in dormitories.
Source: U.S. DoD; Wikipedia
Photo: Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Aircrafts Arrive in Turkey to Participate in Anatolian Eagle (SPA)
