Tuesday, December 8, 2015

The U.S. Air Force Cannot Defend Turkey


Dave Majumdar, National Interest: Revealed: Why U.S. Air Force F-15s Can't Defend Turkey from Russia

U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles operating out of Turkey’s Incirlik air force base are not cleared to defend Ankara’s airspace even if confronted by Russian or Syrian warplanes. The Boeing-built air superiority fighters were originally deployed to the NATO base—which is relatively close to the Syrian border in Adana—because of increased Russian air activity near the border.

As one senior U.S. Air Force official explained, the service deployed six F-15C Eagle air superiority fighters and six F-15E Strike Eagle strike fighters to the Incirlik air base in November. While the Strike Eagles were tasked to hit Daesh targets in northern Syria, the F-15Cs were sent to stiffen Turkish air defenses against Russian encroachments.

WNU Editor: The Turks have already proven themselves to not be a reliable partner in this conflict, and with their jets now resuming patrols on the Syrian border .... Turkish Air Force resumes patrolling of state border with Syria (TASS) .... the possibility of another "incident" with Russia have risen exponentially. My advice to the U.S. is to walk away from Turkey .... U.S. fighter jets will not make a difference, but in the event that Turkey/Russia start to shoot at each other, this conflict can (and will) spread very quickly.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

I would like to see Turkey become Greek Orthodox and I am not Greek nor Orthodox.

Anonymous said...

Editor comment, pretty naive statement. We have had resources in Turkey over fifty years that are essential in balance of power, tactics and the new cold or cool war brewing. Many years living in both countries as U.S. forces, relationship is complex and necessary.