TR Air Forces|News & Discussion

Noting new just qualification process

Sanchez said:

As noted earlier; first two C-130Js to be delivered in late Q4 2026.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2070078802324054200

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"The aircraft are undergoing comprehensive maintenance and inspection work at Marshall Aerospace’s facilities in Cambridge before being delivered in a baseline configuration that will allow Türkiye to integrate its own mission systems.

Deliveries are expected to take place over three to four years, with the first aircraft planned to arrive by the end of 2026.

The C-130J-30 is the stretched-fuselage variant of the C-130J. Its fuselage is approximately 4.6 metres longer than that of the baseline aircraft, increasing cargo volume and providing space for additional pallets, personnel or mission equipment...

TurDef has learned that some of the aircraft underwent centre wing box replacement after their retirement from RAF service. Those still requiring the procedure will receive new centre wing boxes as part of the programme for Türkiye.

The condition of the centre wing box will determine much of the work required on each aircraft and the duration of its maintenance. As a result, a standard turnaround time cannot be established for every airframe.

The aircraft will therefore enter Turkish service either with centre wing boxes installed under the current programme or with structures replaced after their retirement from RAF service. In both cases, the work is intended to provide the structural life required for their planned service with the Turkish Air Force...

RAF-specific mission equipment, cryptographic devices and other sovereign systems will be decommissioned and removed before delivery. This does not mean that the aircraft will be stripped of their core C-130J avionics. Instead, they will be returned to a baseline configuration suitable for the integration of Turkish equipment..."

Sanchez said:

Finally some updates on this front.

Company in question is Marshall Aerospace based in UK, most probably. All 15 aircraft were being kept near their hangar since 2023:

Now my question is, what will the transfer really entail; there are some really nice specimens in the ex-RAF fleet, like the C-130J4 RAF 47 SQN used for special forces missions, equipped with AN/AAQ-24 DIRCM. Being an American system, it is possible that this might be removed if the said aircraft is one of the ones to be transferred. Most aircraft are also equipped with American MWRs as well, which air force would probably would like to change with Aselsan ones.

Well after the program is concluded and aircraft are delivered to TurAF, there'll be work to do.

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Pointing to above post from last year. Looks like the DIRCM that was on some of the aircraft will also be removed.

Sanchez said:

It's not a new squadron per se. It was formed last year from aircraft and crews being sent over to Dalaman, some of them were 401 squadron aircraft, but probably not all.

Gök vatanın "demir kartalları" yeni yıla nöbette giriyor

Türkiye Cumhuriyeti'nin hava yetki alanlarının teminatı Hava Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı personeli, yeni yıla ailelerinden uzak, komutanları ve silah arkadaşlarıyla girdi. - Anadolu Ajansı

www.aa.com.tr

Brings the new total to 10 squadrons, if we count 113. There were some talks about it for some time, but it's nice to finally put a face on it. Newest fighter squadron of the air force, 166 'Uçbey', based in 16th jet base in Dalaman finally have a patch.

HvKK lowered the number of squadrons since 2011 for multiple reasons. First was to get ready for F-35s, but major reason was the loss of personell after 2016 coup attempt. It's nice to see some return to normalcy.

View attachment 75038

To go over fighter squadrons, I count 111 Panthers operating F-4s, 113, 132, 151, 161, 181, 191, 193, 152 and now 166 operating F-16s. Orko's ekşisözlük entry where he actively follows HVKK organization with OSINT data since 2005 is probably the best source to follow changes.

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Looks like the old 133 "Claw" was brought back to life as well. They used to fly F-5s and it was disbanded in 2013. The "132" detail on the first patch makes me think they will possibly be another tactics and training squadron like the 132?


Funfact, with 133 being returned back to life, we now have a full house at Konya 131 through 138. Only 132 and 133 are fighter squadrons, but fun still.

Sanchez said:

To go over fighter squadrons, I count 111 Panthers operating F-4s, 113, 132, 151, 161, 181, 191, 193, 152 and now 166 operating F-16s. Orko's ekşisözlük entry where he actively follows HVKK organization with OSINT data since 2005 is probably the best source to follow changes.

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Updating this with 113, 132, 133, 151, 161, 162, 181, 191, 192, 193, 152 and 166 for F-16 squadrons. 193 usually acts as a transition unit for future F-16 pilots but they undertake combat ops as well.

In the last 2 years, 162, 192, 166 and now 133 were revived/formed, bringing the total to 12 squadrons if I count right. Manpower issues are being sorted out; now we need more planes as some of these squadrons share a fighter pool. That nearly all F-16s underwent CCIP and share the same avionics across blocks is a godsend; they are basically plug and play.

Supply chain problems will delay deliveries for everyone.

We are best served when our small turbofan engines are made in quantities and free from foreign supply chains as soon as possible. Just like how it was with the TS1400 engine we should be looking for 100% accessible/local materials rather than the highest performance. High performance can come when it can. This would be the same for the large engines too. Those engines should be made in several different generations. Reliable but lower performing first generation can serve initial needs and exports. A second generation with additional higher grade materials can be the upgraded new capability engine. And the highest performing but limited quantity engines reflecting the frontier technologies we can afford.

We make what we can make sure we can make.

Strong AI said:

I hope we won't buy Vipers at all.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2089664102142472575

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Strong AI said:

I hope we won't buy Vipers at all.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2089664102142472575

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Strange US supply chains are among the best

Strong AI said:

So why do we need this if we already have Seyit Onbaşı?

2021

https://m5dergi.com/savunma-haberleri/seyit-onbasi-bomba-yukleme-aracinin-teslimatlari-devam-ediyor/

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This one has smaller fooprint, probably electric powered and more convenient, as an option.

Earlier this month, a pair of Turkish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon single-engine multirole fighters took part in a mission from Amari Air Base in Estonia to shoot down a Russian drone that crossed into the Baltic nation’s airspace. That sortie followed another, in which the Turkish F-16s were joined by two Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons operating from Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania, which also identified a suspected Russian drone that crossed into Latvian airspace.

These activities were coordinated from the NATO Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) in Uedem, Germany, and from Allied Command at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. It is part of a transition from the NATO “Baltic Air Policing” (BAP) mission to the “Baltic Air Defense” (BAD) mission, which is more expansive.

We had some in Poland too. Is this the replacement or in addition to the other mission?

what said:

We had some in Poland too. Is this the replacement or in addition to the other mission?

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You still alive bro?

TR_123456 said:

You still alive bro?

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I'm a father now so barely

what said:

I'm a father now so barely

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Congrats! Best of luck on everything.

what said:

I'm a father now so barely

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Congratulations bro!!!

what said:

I'm a father now so barely

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Congratulations!
Great news! Wish you all the best.

what said:

I'm a father now so barely

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Congrats, brother!
Allah anali babali büyütsün!

Sanchez said:

Looks like the old 133 "Claw" was brought back to life as well. They used to fly F-5s and it was disbanded in 2013. The "132" detail on the first patch makes me think they will possibly be another tactics and training squadron like the 132?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2083913371443708315

Funfact, with 133 being returned back to life, we now have a full house at Konya 131 through 138. Only 132 and 133 are fighter squadrons, but fun still.

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First Claw seen with a F-16D B40M. This aircraft used to fly under 132 Daggers, so we can indeed say 133 was born out of 132. I also now see the dagger the bird is holding on the first patch; must be a reference as well.

RAT: The turbine powering the pod—and saving the aircraft

Civil aviation certification is extremely rigorous regarding flight safety.

This is no different for an aircraft's electrical generation and distribution systems.

The FAA and EASA classify engine generators as active sources, the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) as an active backup, and the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) as a passive backup.

The APU is a small gas turbine that operates independently of the aircraft's main engines.

The RAT, on the other hand, is a completely independent small wind turbine powered by the airflow generated by the aircraft's forward motion.

APUs and RATs are typically found on large aircraft.

For instance, the ATR72-600 has neither an APU nor a RAT.

Batteries are present on every aircraft.

Why is a RAT system needed?
So, why is a RAT necessary?

No single power source offers sufficient redundancy on its own.

Battery power is not limitless.

The APU can also fail or become unavailable.

A recent example occurred on March 4, 2026, when the RAT deployed on an American Airlines Airbus A321 following the loss of both generators.

Conversely, in military applications, this same technology may be utilized for purposes entirely different from—and for reasons far more demanding than—those in the civil sector.

When developing an AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control) aircraft from a Boeing 737, a P-72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft from an ATR72-600, or an Airborne SOJ (Stand-Off Jammer) from a Bombardier Global 6000, the aircraft's existing electrical architecture may prove insufficient to meet the demands of high-power mission systems.

The first step taken is to upgrade the active power source—essentially installing a larger generator.

What if that isn't enough?

As seen with our Airborne SOJ aircraft, the emergency APU system is transformed into a continuous power source. Alternatively, one might even consider a dedicated generator for the mission system.

But the most interesting aspect is the use of a RAT.

RAT = Independence!

The AN/ALQ-99 is a US tactical electronic warfare system developed in the late 1960s for the EA-6B Prowler.

Later, advanced versions were used on the EA-18G Growler.

And all of them featured RAT generators.

Israel’s ELTA Scorpius-EJ also utilizes a RAT.

In short, they all generate their own electricity.

The US maintains this approach with the AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) program.

So, why?

Aircraft have fixed capacities.

Modifying them comes at a cost.

And it creates platform dependency.

For instance, the RAT provided 27 kW for the ALQ-99; for the NGJ, that figure is 140 kW!

However, the RAT is no miracle solution.

It doesn't provide free electricity; it increases drag and fuel consumption.

RAT performance fluctuates with changes in speed, altitude, and air density.

Icing is another issue.

It is a mechanical system, meaning it requires maintenance!

But the advantage is clear: Independence.

In 2025, a project titled "Development of a RAT-Based In-Pod Electric Power Supply" was conducted with the support of Gazi University and TUSAŞ.

The target was 50 kW.

The outcome?

Making pods as independent as possible from the aircraft could pave the way for more modular systems with reduced platform dependency.

Ultimately, how you generate power is just as important as the amount of power the pod delivers!

I believe our work will prove beneficial.