Anatolian Phoenix
Anatolian Phoenix exercises have been held from 2008. Since 2012, there are at least one national and one international edition every year, with a total of 25 editions held so far. These exercises centre around Joint Task Force (JTF) missions. Thanks to the nearby Konya Shooting Range, live bombs and guns can be used, adding to the realistic effect.
The exercise is organised by local 135 Filo, a squadron dedicated to personnel recovery (PR) and Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) operations. The objectives are to execute ground assisted Joint Task Force missions and, while doing so, to strengthen the relationship and develop interoperability with the participants. Emphasis is on Command and Control, parachute jumping, JTAC and of course rescue in different forms, including close air support and fast roping.
All branches of the Turkish armed forces were present. The Türk Hava Kuvvelteri (THK, Turkish Air Force) was the largest participant, with an E-7T AWACS, about a dozen F-16s, two AS.532 and a CN.235, all from Konya-based units, as well as one Anka S UAV. Türk Kara Kuvvetleri (TKK, Turkish Army Aviation) provided a couple of T-129 ATAK helicopters from two different airbases, in addition to an S-70 from Ankara. The Turkish special forces command also sent an S-70 from its base at Ankara. The Jandarma was the third branch to send an S-70, which, because of its bright colours, really stood out among all the other camouflaged assets. The Türk Deniz Hava Komutanlığı (TDHK, Turkish naval aviation) did not send helicopters, but only a CSAR team, similar to all the other branches.
The JTAC team and AS.532 of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was considered a foreign participant. Other foreign participants were Azerbaijan, which returned with two Mi-17 ‘Hip’ helicopters and two CSAR teams, and Poland which sent another CSAR and a JTAC team. A Romanian delegation, which was planning to attend with two IAR.330 SOCATS, had to cancel last minute because of the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
As with Anatolian Eagle, a large training area was available. Most prominent was the Konya shooting range (LTD-9), where 132 Filo F-16s dropped live Mk.82 unguided bombs on different targets, and T-129 ATAK helicopters used their guns for strafing terrorist positions. All this to facilitate the rescue of downed airmen by several teams flown in by helicopters. A less visible but nonetheless important role was played by the JTAC teams, which directed the aircraft and helicopters during their combat action from a forward position on the ground, often in enemy territory. During the exercise, all aspects were practised, from medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) to close air support (CAS), and from casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat search & rescue (CSAR) and high altitude, low opening (HALO) parachute jumping.
All crews had to be combat ready before they were allowed to take part. They were responsible for all tactical planning, briefing and execution of the missions. To achieve this, they were given maximum freedom, so information can be exchanged and lessons learned.
At Konya the motto is “train as you fight”. Both exercises definitely lived up to that motto!