The Ministry of Defence announced that the 10th Tanker Base Command has been renamed to the 10th Main Jet Base Command, aligning with the evolving needs of the Turkish Air Force. Admiral Zeki Aktürk, Press Advisor of the Turkish Defence Ministry (MOD), stated at today’s press conference that “The name of the 10th Tanker Base Command located in Incirlik/Adana has been changed to ‘10th Main Jet Base Command’ in line with the needs of our Air Force.” Incirlik Air Base was opened for use in 1951. There are military aircraft of the Turkish Air Force and the US Air Force within the base. Royal Air Force also benefits from the facilities at the base. The Turkish Air Force classifies bases as ‘main jet’, ‘main transportation’, and ‘tanker base’. Incirlik was called ‘Tanker Base Command’ until today. The 152nd Fleet, located in Merzifon Air Base, was moved to Incirlik in recent years. With the assignment of a combat fleet to Incirlik, this place left the ‘Tanker Base’ category and became the ‘Main Jet Base’.
The 152nd Fleet, operating under the call sign ‘Akıncı Filo’, is a multirole fleet that excels in ‘Fighter-Bomber’ and ‘interceptor’ missions. In case of a scramble, it can take off in seven minutes. The Fleet protects the airfield of the Exclusive Economic Zone in the Mediterranean Sea. Its operational range and endurance have been significantly enhanced by the tanker fleet’s air refuelling capacity.
