Turkish F16s escorting B-52s were radar-locked by Greek fighters

Photo credit: Tukrish MoD

Fighter jets linked to the Greek Air Force have placed radar locks on Turkish F-16s escorting US B-52 bombers as part of the NATO mission.

F-16 fighter jets from the 132nd Fleet Weapons and Tactics Command, located at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in the Turkish Air Force Command, escorted US B-52s as part of the NATO mission.

During the operation conducted in Slovakian airspace to protect NATO’s eastern flank, Turkish F-16s were tasked with protecting American B-52s loaded with AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile munitions. However, during the said activity, combat aircraft associated with the Greek Air Force placed radar locks on Turkish F-16s on NATO duty.

According to the information received, there was an immediate response to the blockade by Turkish fighter jets, and the Greek combat aircraft were withdrawn from the region. Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense reported the incident to NATO authorities and the Greek military attaché was called to the ministry and responded.

The Greek and Turkish air forces, which have so far clashed frequently in the Aegean region, have engaged in combat on numerous occasions. However, this event stands out from the rest as Greece placed a radar lock on Turkish F-16 fighter jets in the NATO mission.

Turkish plane lost radio

As we reported on August 22, two Tornado military aircraft belonging to Germany took off at around 02:00 on August 21 to the A320 passenger plane departing from Turkey and bound for Münster, Germany.

The German Air Force was alerted to the aircraft, which became unresponsive on the radio and could not be contacted by radio while in the airspace of the state of Bavaria. Two Tornado aircraft were immediately launched from the Fliegerhorst military airfield in Neuburg a der Donau.

Two planes flying over cities at midnight reached the A320 from Turkey at a speed of 2000 kilometers per hour. One of the planes passed behind the passenger plane, and the other began to fly next to it. Radio contact was later established with the A320.

Although it said there was no other problem, it was not disclosed which company the plane belonged to and the source of the problem.