Ankara: Turkish Air Force Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW and C) aircraft are set to embark on 11 sorties over a 60-hour period to ensure the security of the 36th NATO Summit in Ankara, significantly contributing to the monitoring of Turkish airspace.
According to Anadolu Agency, these E-7T aircraft, known locally as the 'Peace Eagle,' are stationed at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya. They are equipped with advanced electronically scanned radar systems capable of providing 360-degree surveillance and identifying multiple targets up to 400 kilometers (249 miles) away. The aircraft transmit detected targets in real time to ground operations centers and to aircraft and naval units operating in the field, facilitating coordinated air defense operations.
AEW and C Mission Crew Commander Maj. Fatih Kulak emphasized the aircraft's role as Trkiye's airborne early warning and control platform during the NATO Summit. "Our mission during the NATO Summit will be to monitor our country's airspace. We will provide early warning and support the identification of any unidentified aircraft approaching Turkish airspace," Kulak stated. He further mentioned that the aircraft would patrol over the Black Sea region, monitoring potential threats and reporting them to relevant authorities.
Providing further details, Kulak explained that the mission would consist of 11 sorties conducted over a continuous 60-hour period. "We will carry out an uninterrupted mission lasting 60 hours with 11 sorties. The entire operation will be conducted continuously under the surveillance of our AEW and C aircraft. Maintaining uninterrupted operations requires an intensive tempo, and our personnel are prepared and standing by for subsequent sorties," he explained. Kulak added that the current mission involves a crew of 15, with the flight expected to last approximately eight and a half hours, and they are ready to extend the mission if necessary.
Kulak also highlighted the advanced capabilities of the aircraft, which is equipped with both active and passive sensors to detect and identify targets in both air and sea environments. The aircraft has been tracking the flights of leaders and delegations arriving in Trkiye for the summit. "Peace Eagle aircraft perform a wide range of missions, from counterterrorism operations to international and national exercises, as well as air surveillance missions over European airspace assigned to us by NATO. Under joint missions, we work alongside NATO's naval forces. Whether in the Eastern Mediterranean or the Baltic Sea, we contribute significantly by operating jointly across different regions," Kulak said, underscoring the discipline and strength of the Turkish military.