Ankara: The Turkish Air Force has declared a state of alert, with continuous monitoring of the airspace to secure the NATO summit in Ankara. Commander Fatih Kulak of the Turkish Air Force’s early warning aircraft mission announced the deployment of warplanes for 60 hours of continuous sorties to ensure the summit’s security.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, these aircraft are stationed at the Third Main Air Base Command in Konya, equipped with advanced multi-function air and sea radar using electronic scanning technology. This technology enables a 360-degree scan, detecting numerous targets up to 400 kilometers away. The aircraft can relay detected targets in real-time to ground operations centers, aircraft, and ships within the operational area.
Kulak affirmed the Turkish Air Force’s readiness to execute missions during the NATO summit, emphasizing the role of early warning and control aircraft in providing surveillance and control capabilities for the airspace. He mentioned an aerial sortie over the Black Sea region to monitor potential threats, with reports directed to relevant authorities.
Regarding the summit’s aerial missions, Kulak stated, “We will conduct a continuous 60-hour mission across 11 sorties. All sorties will be uninterrupted and monitored by early warning and control aircraft.” He further elaborated that today’s eight-and-a-half-hour flight involves a crew of 15 and that mission extensions are possible if needed.
Kulak highlighted the aircraft’s ability to detect and identify air and sea targets through active and passive sensors. He noted the tracking of leaders and delegations arriving in Turkey for the summit. Additionally, he mentioned ongoing cooperation with NATO naval forces in various regions, including the Eastern Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea.
The 36th NATO summit commenced today in Ankara, marking Turkey’s second time hosting the event since Istanbul in 2004. The summit holds significant importance amid challenges facing the alliance and the global security landscape.