Between May 16-27, the Turkish military held the 2022 edition of its annual International Anatolian Phoenix exercise at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya, under the supervision of the Anatolian Eagle Training Centre (AKEM). Held twice a year since 2008, Anatolian Phoenix is primarily a helicopter-oriented exercise focused on practising and developing Joint Task Force missions, including components such as combat search and rescue (CSAR) and rescue escort missions, command and control (C2), parachute jumping and forward air control.
It also enables bilateral and unilateral training of methods such as formation flight, tactical navigation, close air support, dynamic targeting, time-sensitive targets, fast roping, high-altitude low-opening parachute jumping and mountain recovery.
This year, the participating nations comprised Azerbaijan, the Turkish-backed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Poland. Including the Turkish forces, around 480 personnel and 21 aircraft took part in the exercise. In addition, 11 nations from across Europe, Africa and the Mid…
