Thursday, July 31, 2025
Nordic Monitor
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Extremism
  • Military
  • Terrorism and Crime
  • Intelligence
  • Foreign Policy
  • Contact Us
    • Give us a tip!
  • About Us
  • Home
  • Extremism
  • Military
  • Terrorism and Crime
  • Intelligence
  • Foreign Policy
  • Contact Us
    • Give us a tip!
  • About Us
No Result
View All Result
Nordic Monitor
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Extremism
  • Military
  • Terrorism and Crime
  • Intelligence
  • Foreign Policy
  • Contact Us
  • About Us

Turkey’s defense minister admits fighter pilot shortage after mass purge

January 8, 2019
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

 

Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has admitted that a single pilot in the Turkish Air Forces has to carry out assignments that are normally undertaken by five pilots, revealing the heavy toll an unprecedented purge has taken on the country’s air force.

Speaking to troops during a visit to Syria, where he toured the tomb of Süleyman Shah in the village of Ashmeh on January 1, 2019, Akar said one pilot in the air force has recently had to do the work of five pilots during cross-border air operations.

This is the first public admission by a senior government official of the acute shortage of fighter pilots in the Turkish military in the aftermath of a mass purge of officers from the air force on what observers believe are dubious charges.

According to local media reports, since 2016 the government has dismissed 716 pilots, more than half the total, through executive decrees, issued during a now-ended state of emergency, that are not subject to any effective judicial, military or legislative review.

 

 

Akar praised the air force in his speech and said, “When we conduct ground operations, our air force, with great heroism and sacrifice, successfully hits its targets, with one pilot assuming tasks that five pilots are supposed to do.”

He was accompanied by Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler, Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Ümit Dündar, Naval Forces Commander Adm. Adnan Özbal and Turkish Air Forces Commander Gen. Hasan Küçükakyüz.

The air force in 2017 recalled 1,040 military pilot candidates who had been eliminated in previous tests. Eight hundred thirty of them reportedly passed the competency test and were in training to become military pilots.

In an effort to solve the shortage, the Turkish government also issued a call in 2017 to former fighter pilots, most of whom work in civil aviation. Only 40 of the 300 former pilots responded to the call to return to duty.

The Turkish Air Forces has been hard hit by a purge of NATO officers following a controversial coup attempt, bringing the ratio of pilots to aircraft to “0.8 to 1,” which is worsening with new waves of arrests of fighter pilots. Some reports suggest that the ratio of pilots per airplane is 0.3.

ShareTweet
Previous Post

2019 funding for Turkey’s intelligence agency set at 2.2 billion lira

Next Post

Profile of an al-Qaeda-linked militant as a member of Turkey’s ruling party

Nordic Monitor

Nordic Monitor

[email protected]

Next Post
Profile of an al-Qaeda-linked militant as a member of Turkey’s ruling party

Profile of an al-Qaeda-linked militant as a member of Turkey's ruling party

Please login to join discussion
Turkey’s top appeals court rejects Greek nationals’ claim on Ottoman-era property

Turkey’s top appeals court rejects Greek nationals’ claim on Ottoman-era property

July 31, 2025
Turkey open to previously owned Eurofighter purchase amid urgent air force needs

Turkey needs stronger air force to counter Israel and Greece simultaneously, pro-gov’t think tank warns

July 30, 2025
Turkey forgives millions in debt for countries buying its weapons

Turkey forgives millions in debt for countries buying its weapons

July 29, 2025
Notorious ISIS commander wanted by INTERPOL received treatment in a Turkish state hospital, official document shows

Turkey refused to seek extradition of ISIS fugitives behind deadliest terror attack

July 28, 2025
Turkish judge at Europe’s top human rights court defends government’s false arguments during proceedings

Turkish judge again stands alone as Europe’s top human rights court condemns systemic abuses in Turkey convictions

July 25, 2025
US lawmakers target Turkey’s classification, triggering pushback from Erdogan gov’t

In today’s Turkey, threats to kill Americans and Jews are deemed protected free speech

July 24, 2025
Turkish court blocks indictment of Saudi al-Qaeda suspect for five years

Turkish court blocks indictment of Saudi al-Qaeda suspect for five years

July 23, 2025
Turkey continues assistance to Somali army to guarantee its presence in the country

Ankara likens Somalia to Syria, using military power to enhance its economic influence

July 22, 2025
Turkey’s top appeals court blocks extradition of drug trafficker to Sweden

Turkey’s top appeals court blocks extradition of drug trafficker to Sweden

July 21, 2025
UAE and Turkey agree to protect data in secret defense projects

UAE and Turkey agree to protect data in secret defense projects

July 18, 2025

Nordic Monitor

Nordic Monitor is a news web site and tracking site that is run by the Stockholm-based Nordic Research and Monitoring Network. It covers religious, ideological and ethnic extremist movements and radical groups, with a special focus on Turkey.

Tags

al-Qaeda Andrei Karlov China coup Cyprus Diyanet Egypt espionage Germany Greece Gülen Movement Hakan Fidan Hamas Hulusi Akar Ibrahim Kalın IHH Iran IRGC Quds Force ISIL ISIS Isis al-qaida Israel Libya Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu Milli İstihbarat Teşkilatı MIT Muslim Brotherhood NATO President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Profiling Qatar Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Russia SADAT spying Spying Activities Suleyman Soylu Sweden Syria Torture Turkey Turkish Intelligence Agency Turkish intelligence agency MIT Ukraine United States

Recent News

Turkey’s top appeals court rejects Greek nationals’ claim on Ottoman-era property

Turkey’s top appeals court rejects Greek nationals’ claim on Ottoman-era property

July 31, 2025
Turkey open to previously owned Eurofighter purchase amid urgent air force needs

Turkey needs stronger air force to counter Israel and Greece simultaneously, pro-gov’t think tank warns

July 30, 2025
Turkey forgives millions in debt for countries buying its weapons

Turkey forgives millions in debt for countries buying its weapons

July 29, 2025

Copyright © Nordic Research and Monitoring Network All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Extremism
  • Military
  • Terrorism and Crime
  • Intelligence
  • Foreign Policy
  • Contact Us
    • Give us a tip!
  • About Us

Copyright © Nordic Research and Monitoring Network All rights reserved.