Military Watch Magazine

Turkey Just Deployed F-16s to Russia’s Eastern Border as NATO Joint Expands Pressure

Turkish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters have completed a temporary deployment to Latvia to reinforce NATO air defence, highlighting the role of its large fighter fleet in strengthening NATO’s eastern flank. The aircraft were deployed alongside Eurofighters from German and Italy. Latvian Defence Minister Raivis Melnis visited the Turkish contingent at Lielvarde Air Base on October 9 to thank its personnel for their contribution. The number of Turkish aircraft involved and whether they were scrambled during their deployment were not disclosed. Photographs released during the minister’s visit identified the Turkish aircraft as belonging to the Turkish Air Force’s 181st Squadron. The deployment followed an earlier visit by Turkish F-16s to Lielvarde in August, when two aircraft arrived from Amari Air Base in Estonia as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission.