Within the framework of strengthening cooperation and interoperability among NATO allies, U.S. Air Force F-16 fighters were deployed to Turkey to participate in the multinational exercise Anatolian Eagle 25. The activity, held from June 23 to July 4, 2025, at the 3rd Main Air Base in Konya, brought together assets and personnel from the Turkish Air Force, the United States, and other allied countries, with the objective of reinforcing operational cohesion, perfecting combat tactics, and consolidating capabilities in complex environments.
Anatolian Eagle 25 focused on executing realistic and high-intensity combat scenarios, specially designed to train crews in conducting missions under demanding conditions. Simulated operations included responses to cruise missile threats, demolition and prevention missions, and, for the first time in a conventional international exercise, the participation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in direct bombing, marking a milestone in the evolution of joint training.
The U.S. deployment was represented by F-16 aircraft from the 31st Wing based in Aviano, Italy, as well as by a strategic transport aircraft, the C-17 Globemaster III. These assets were joined by a NATO E-3A AWACS aircraft, responsible for air command and control of the training area located near Lake Tuz. The set of capabilities present allowed the participating forces to train against area access/denial (A2/AD) threats, in a simulated crisis environment prior to war.
According to Turkish authorities, this edition of the exercise was planned as a multidimensional operational environment, allowing aircrews to act with tactical autonomy in complex situations. The training structure also enabled comparison and improvement of procedures, capabilities, and doctrines among the participating forces, in a safe and cooperation-oriented context. Throughout the exercise, incentive activities were also carried out, such as demonstration flights for the deployed personnel, recognizing operational effort and maintaining high motivation in a demanding work environment.
In total, more than 30 countries were invited to Anatolian Eagle 25, including Turkey’s partner countries such as Azerbaijan and Jordan, reaffirming the international character and commitment to collective security. Since its creation in 2001, the Anatolian Eagle program has completed 55 editions, mobilizing more than 41,000 personnel, 3,300 aerial platforms, and recording about 27,000 operational sorties.
*Image credits: U.S. Department of Defense.
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