Turkey's Ministry of National Defence announced on Sunday (21/9) that fighter jets and support aircraft of the Turkish Air Force carried out a training flight south of Cyprus and in international airspace over the Eastern Mediterranean.
What the ministry said
In a post on social media, the Turkish defence ministry said aircraft took off from different air bases and carried out what it called an "extended training flight" south of Cyprus and in the Mediterranean's international airspace.
Composition of the formation
According to published information on the formation and footage accompanying the announcement, the operation involved armed F-16 fighter jets, an E-7T airborne early warning and control aircraft, a KC-135R aerial refuelling tanker, and a T-70 helicopter.
"Steel wings in the skies of the Mediterranean"
The Turkish defence ministry accompanied the announcement with the phrase "steel wings in the skies of the Mediterranean," linking the activity to what it described as the "protection of Turkey's rights and interests" in the Mediterranean.
✈️ Çelik Kanatlar Akdeniz’in semalarında! 🇹🇷
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) September 21, 2026
Ülkemizin Akdeniz’deki hak ve menfaatlerinin korunması, harekât kabiliyetlerimizin geliştirilmesi ve birliklerimizin hazırlık seviyesinin en üst düzeyde tutulmasına yönelik faaliyetlerimiz kararlılıkla devam ediyor.
Bu kapsamda, Hava… pic.twitter.com/1EWE4W52Cv
The announcement said the activities are continuing, with Ankara stating their aim is to protect these interests, develop operational capabilities, and maintain units' readiness at the highest possible level.
