TR Air Forces|News & Discussion

[MonteCarlo]

2 f-16's in a formation flight with an f-16 decoy Süper Şimşek

 

[Fatman17]

Turkish Air Force Inducts Roketsan's SOM-B1T Cruise Missile

Türkiye's SOM-B1T enters Turkish Air Force service with Kale's KTJ-3200 turbojet, ending the cruise missile's dependence on a French engine.

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Turkiye AF integrates cruise missiles on F-16s

 

[Pokemonte13]

Noting new just qualification process

 

[Sanchez]

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

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

"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..."

New Details on Ex-RAF C-130J-30s for Turkish Air Force | TURDEF

Türkiye’s 12 ex-RAF C-130J-30s are undergoing deep maintenance, centre wing box work and configuration changes ahead of delivery to the Turkish Air Force.

turdef.com

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.

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

 

[Sanchez]

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.

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 136. Only 132 and 133 are fighter squadrons, but fun still.