The opening ceremony of Anatolian Eagle 2023, International Flight Tactical Exercise was held in Konya, Turkiye on May 3, 2023. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) contingent consisting of F-16 fighter jets along with the air and ground crew was also amongst the participants. The contingent landed back at an operational air base of PAF on May 16, 2023.

Anatolian Eagle is an annual exercise which was being hosted by the Turkish Air Force. The exercise is one of the largest and most complex joint air force exercises in the world, which aims at promoting interoperability between the participating nations while providing an opportunity for shared learning. The exercise mimics a realistic aerial war and provides a real-time opportunity for the participating Air Forces to test their operational readiness. Other than Pakistan and Turkiye, Air Forces of five other countries, including Azerbaijan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom participated in the seventh consecutive edition of the exercise.
In the face of challenging contemporary strategic situation and growing complexity in the security environment, such exercises will leverage PAF an opportunity to enhance its interoperability with friendly nations.

Air Marshal Irfan Ahmad, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Projects), PAF, witnessed the closing ceremony of the exercise and appreciated the efforts of PAF contingent for making the exercise a great success. He also lauded the PAF air and ground crew for smooth and professional conduct of this significant exercise which was aimed at validating interoperability in the face of realistic contemporary air combat scenarios. While interacting with the combat crew, he said, “The existing global security scenario coupled with the evolving dynamics of air warfare calls for an enhanced partnership between Pakistan and friendly countries. International and regional strategic situation is undergoing profound changes with growing complexity in security environment and such exercises provide an opportunity to enhance interoperability in the face of shared challenges”.

Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Projects) congratulated the Turkish Air Force on the culmination of yet another successful international air exercise. He added that both air forces have a long history of enviable cordial relations and hoped that the exercise would certainly enable combat crew of both air forces to learn from mutual experiences in addition to promoting interoperability.
During the exercise, the adroit PAF pilots upheld their mastery and legacy of professionalism amongst the aircrew of the seven participating air forces. The successful participation of PAF air and ground crew in the multinational air exercise is reflective of the sound foothold of operational training of PAF personnel in line with the latest developments in aerial warfare.