Türkiye establishes 16th main jet base in Dalaman, Mugla
An F-16 combat jet aircraft of the Turkish airforce takes off at the Air Defender Exercise 2023 at the military airport of Jagel, northern Germany, June 9, 2023. (Reuters Photo)
According to an announcement in the Turkish Official Gazette, the Dalaman neighborhood of Mugla has become home to the 16th Main Jet Base Command.
Brigadier General Yusuf Karuk, who previously worked in the Air Force Command’s Flight Safety Evaluation and Inspection Department in Ankara, has been chosen as the head of the news base.
There are plans to station F-16 squadrons at this new base. The establishment of the 16th Main Jet Base Command in Dalaman suggests a shift in threat perceptions and objectives in the Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean regions. The appointment of Brigadier General Karuk signifies the near finalization of the base’s operational readiness.
Türkiye’s air defense capabilities in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean regions will significantly improve with the addition of the new base in Dalaman. Nevertheless, the Ministry of National Defense has not yet furnished comprehensive information regarding the issue, leaving the exact date of full operational readiness for the base uncertain.
Negotiations with the United States for F-16s and discussions about acquiring Eurofighter jets coincide with the establishment of this base. It seems that there is a clear effort to strengthen Türkiye’s air defense, especially in the Mediterranean region.
