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Turkish Air Force aircraft took part in a NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) exercise conducted in Romanian airspace on August 13, 2026, Türkiye's Ministry of National Defence announced.
Four aircraft from three separate Turkish air bases were deployed for the joint activity, according to a statement posted on the ministry's social media account.
The exercise marked the first time a low-speed interception training drill was successfully carried out as part of this kind of joint NATO activity, the ministry said.
The ministry said two F-16 fighter jets from the 6th Main Jet Base Command in Bandirma took part in the exercise, alongside one E-7T airborne early warning aircraft from the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya and one KC-135R aerial refueling tanker from the 10th Main Jet Base Command in Adana.
The aircraft operated jointly with NATO elements over Romanian airspace as part of the alliance's ongoing integrated air and missile defence efforts.
According to the ministry, the drill included the first successful execution of low-speed interception training within this framework, a milestone highlighted as a key outcome of the joint activity. No further technical details about the training were provided in the announcement.
The ministry framed the deployment as part of Türkiye's continued contribution to NATO's collective air defence posture. "With our powerful air force, we are always ready in the skies, on duty at all times for peace and security," the ministry said in its statement.
NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defence system is a long-standing alliance framework that pools member states' air and missile defence assets to detect, track and respond to aerial threats across allied territory.
The E-7T is a Boeing-based airborne early warning and control aircraft operated by the Turkish Air Force for surveillance and command functions, while the KC-135R is a US-made aerial refueling tanker used to extend the range and endurance of fighter aircraft during extended operations. Türkiye has been a NATO member since 1952 and regularly contributes personnel and equipment to alliance air-policing and air-defence missions.
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