Turkish Air Force and F - 16... From "Kofana"...

Background and History...
The "Türk Hava Kuvvetleri (THK)" or Turkish Air Force is an important user of the F-16. In September of 1983, the government of Türkiye announced plans to buy 132 F-16Cs and 28 F-16Ds under the Peace Onyx I program, which operates under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The first eight aircraft in the order were to be Built at Fort Worth, but the remaining 152 aircraft were to be assembled in Türkiye at TUSAS Aerospace Industries (TAI) at Murted. TUSAS is an acronym which stands for Tusas Ucak Sanayii AS, or Turkish Aircraft Industries, which is a company owned jointly by Turkish and American shareholders. Under the terms of Peace Onyx I, TAI is not allowed to sell its aircraft to any air force, including the THK. Consequently, F-16s Built at Murted have to be first delivered to the USAF, which then turns them over to the THK.

Türkiye received its first two F-16s in knock-down kit form in March of 1987. Türkiye officially received its first F-16D in a ceremony at Fort Worth in July of 1987. The first Turkish F-16C/Ds arrived at Murted AB in October of 1987. The first flight of a Turkish-Built F-16C (86-0068) took place on October 20, 1987. The first F-16C/Ds to be operated by the THK were handed over to 141 Filo and 142 Filo stationed at No 4 Base at Murted. In addition, an OCU at Murted was also equipped with the F-16C/D. These F-16s replaced the F-104G Starfighter. F-16s were later issued to 161 Filo and 162 Filo at Bandirma and 191 Filo and 192 Filo at Balikesir. At Murted, the F-16 units are assigned to air defense duties only, but the Bandirma's squadrons also have a secondary close air support role.

Although the initial F-16C/Ds for the THK were Block 30 aircraft, starting with the 44th aircraft (USAF serial number 88-0033), all THK F-16s were manufactured to the Block 40 standard. The latter are fitted with the GPS navigation system, APG-68(V) radar, automatic terrain-following radar, digital flight controls, new ECM equipment, more efficient chaff and flare dispensers, and the ability to carry AIM-7 and AIM-120 radar-guided BVR missiles. These Block 40 machines are also compatible with the LANTIRN low-level night navigation and attack system. The Block 40 aircraft are powered by General Electric F110-GE-100 engines, which are Built under license by TAI Engines at Eskisehir.

During six years of operation, the THK has lost six F-16s in accidents. The AIM-120 AMRAAM is scheduled to be added to the F-16 at some future date. AGM-65A and B Maverick TV-guided missiles are already in the THK inventory. The ALQ-131 countermeasures pod is reportedly in service, but the THK has declined to confirm this. The last 20 of the F-16s delivered under Peace Onyx I were scheduled to replace the Starfighters of Diyarbakir-based 181 Filo. 181 Filo finally retired its last F-104Gs in April 1994. This marked the last use of the F-104G in THK service. The Bandirma-based F-16s were scheduled to receive the NA/AAQ-13 navigation and AAQ-14 targeting pod of the LANTIRN system, being the first F-16s outside the USAF to be given this system. 161 Filo received its first LANTIRN-equipped Block 40 F-16C in February 1994. By May of 1994, seven F-16s had received LANTIRN modifications locally, and the F-16s of 161 Filo are scheduled to be fully LANTIRN-equipped by the end of 1996. TAI has also been awarded a contract to build wings, center fuselages, and aft fuselages for USAF F-16s. They have also been awarded a contract to build 46 Block 40 F-16C/Ds for the Egyptian Air Force under the Peace Vector IV program.

In March of 1992, a follow-on order for two batches of 40 Block 50 F-16C/Ds (68Cs and 12 Ds) was placed under the Peace Onyx II FMS program. The funding of the first 40 planes will be met primarily by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the Emirates. The first of these planes are scheduled to re-equip Filo 182 at Diyarbakir from July 1996 as replacements for the group's CF-104 Starfighters. The remainder of the order are scheduled to replace the F-5A/B Freedom Fighters of 151 and 152 Filo at Merzifon. These Block 50 machines will be equipped with the APG-68(V5) radar, a secure-voice communication system, new radar warning receivers, and the ability to carry and launch the AGM-88 HARM antiradiation missile. A batch of AGM-88 HARM missiles will be delivered soon and used on the Block 50 F-16s.

Serials of THK F-16s...
86-0066/0072 General Dynamics F-16C Block 30B Fighting Falcon - for Türkiye under Peace Onyx I - first two Built by Fort Worth, rest by TAI
86-0191/0196 General Dynamics F-16D Fighting Falcon - Built by Fort Worth for Türkiye
87-0002/0003 General Dynamics F-16D Block 30E Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
87-0009/0018 General Dynamics F-16C Block 30B Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
87-0019/0021 General Dynamics F-16C Block 30E Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
88-0013 General Dynamics F-16D Block 30E Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
88-0014/0015 General Dynamics F-16D Block 40A Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
88-0019/0032 General Dynamics F-16C Block 30E Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
88-0033/0037 General Dynamics F-16C Block 40A Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
89-0022/0033 General Dynamics F-16C Block 40A Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
89-0034/0041 General Dynamics F-16C Block 40D Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
89-0042 General Dynamics F-16D Block 40A Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
89-0043/0045 General Dynamics F-16D Block 40D Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
90-0001/0009 General Dynamics F-16C Block 40D Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye
90-0010/0021 General Dynamics F-16C Block 40F Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye
90-0022/0024 General Dynamics F-16D Block 40F Fighting Falcon - - Built by TAI for Türkiye
91-0001/0005 General Dynamics F-16C Block 40F Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
91-0006/0021 General Dynamics F-16C Block 40J Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
91-0022/0024 General Dynamics F-16D Block 40J Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
92-0001/0017 Lockheed/General Dynamics F-16C Block 40L Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
92-0018/0021 Lockheed/General Dynamics F-16C Block 40P Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
92-0022/0024 Lockheed/General Dynamics F-16D Block 40L Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
93-0001/0014 Lockheed/General Dynamics F-16C Block 40P Fighting Falcon - Built by TAI for Türkiye, Peace Onyx I
Plus later contracts (Peace Onyx II).

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