The Turkish Armed Forces on Tuesday inaugurated the Weapons Tactics School Command at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya, establishing a new center for advanced pilot training and air combat doctrine development as part of ongoing efforts to enhance operational capabilities.
Chief of the General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu attended the ceremony alongside senior commanders, marking the formal opening of what officials describe as a “domestic Top Gun” concept within the Turkish Air Force.
The facility is designed to train combat pilots in advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground tactics while simultaneously developing modern operational doctrines. Experts say the school will play a central role in refining the effective use of weapon systems and integrating lessons learned from real-world operations.
Beyond training, the center will function as an “air warfare laboratory,” where new combat concepts are tested and operational analyses are conducted. Scenarios will focus on optimizing the employment of smart munitions, precision-guided systems and electronic warfare capabilities.
The school operates in coordination with the 132nd Weapons and Tactics Squadron, which assumes an “aggressor” role in NATO exercises. Officials say this integration enables training, testing and tactical development processes to be consolidated under a unified structure.
Following the inauguration, commanders observed a special demonstration flight by SOLOTÜRK marking the team’s 15th anniversary. The display, performed with two aircraft for the first time, was followed by a commemorative ceremony on the runway.
The opening coincided with the ongoing Anatolian Eagle-2026 Exercise, held at the same base between April 6 and 17. The exercise involves Turkish forces and 25 teams from countries including the United States, Azerbaijan, Poland and Slovakia, with additional nations participating as observers.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, the exercise focuses on personnel recovery operations, aiming to test command-and-control processes and improve interoperability. Scenarios include the extraction of a downed pilot, with helicopter-borne units deploying via fast-rope insertion, neutralizing threats and evacuating personnel under close air support.
The establishment of the Weapons Tactics School Command is expected to strengthen Türkiye’s airpower by enhancing doctrinal development, pilot proficiency and the integration of advanced combat systems into operational planning.
