Turkish Air Force

Turkish Air Force
Turkish Air Force
Türk Hava Kuvvetleri
	Emblem of the Turkish Air Force
Founded	1 June 1911; (114 years, 9 months); ; ; 23 April 1920 (Turkish Air Force); 31 January 1944 (Turkish Air Force Command, corps scale) ; 1 July 1949 (Turkish Air Force Command, army scale) ;
Country	Turkey
Type	Air force; Space force
Role	Aerial warfare; Space warfare
Size	50,000 personnel (2024); 294 aircraft; 3 satellites
Part of	TAF
Headquarters	Çankaya, Ankara
Colours	Grey; White; Delft blue;
March	Turkish Air Force March Playⓘ
Mascot	Eagle
Anniversaries	1 June
Engagements	See list War of Independence; Beytussebab rebellion; Ararat rebellion; Dersim rebellion; Korean War; Battle of Tillyria; Invasion of Cyprus; Operations against the PKK; Kurdistan Workers' Party insurgency; Operation Provide Comfort; Operation Deliberate Force; Operation Northern Watch; Operation Allied Force; Operation Enduring Freedom; Operation Northern Iraq; Operation Sun; Cross-border raids in Iraq; Operation Martyr Yalçın; Turkey–ISIL conflict; Operation Euphrates Shield; April 2017 airstrikes in Syria and Iraq; Operation Olive Branch; Operation Peace Spring; Turkish intervention in Libya; Operation Claw-Sword; Turkish offensive in northern Syria (2024–present); Operation Spring Shield; Operation Dawn of Freedom; 2024 Manbij offensive; 2024 Kobani clashes; East Aleppo offensive (2024–present); ;
Website	www.hvkk.tsk.tr
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Minister of Defence	Yaşar Güler
Chief of the General Staff	General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu
Air Force Commander	General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu
Chief of Air Staff	Lieutenant General Ergin Dinç
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Flag
Aviator badge
Aircraft flown
Attack	Akıncı, Aksungur, Anka-S
Bomber	F-4 Terminator
Electronic; warfare	C-160, CN-235, E-7T, Global 6000
Fighter	F-16C/D
Utility helicopter	Cougar, T-70, UH-1H
Reconnaissance	TB1
Trainer	TAI Hürkuş, KT-1, SF-260, T-38, T-41
Transport	A400M, C-130, CN-235, Citation
Tanker	Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

The Turkish Air Force (Turkish: Türk Hava Kuvvetleri) is the air and space force of the Turkish Armed Forces. It traces its origins to 1 June 1911 when it was founded as the Aviation Squadrons by the Ottoman Empire. It was composed of the Army Aviation Squadrons founded in 1911, and the Naval Aviation Squadrons founded in 1914 which used seaplanes. The Air Force as a branch of the Turkish Armed Forces was founded by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on 23 April 1920.

As of 2023, according to International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Turkish Air Force has an active strength of 50,000 military personnel and operates approximately 295 manned fixed-wing aircraft, 35 helicopters, and 52 unmanned aerial vehicles. In terms of aircraft quantity, it is the largest air force in Europe. The world's first black pilot, Ahmet Ali Çelikten, the world's first female fighter pilot, Sabiha Gökçen, and the first female jet pilot accredited in NATO, Leman Altınçekiç, all served in the Turkish Air Force.