Turkey flexes air power with massive F‑16 'elephant walk'
At a Turkish military base, a spectacular "elephant walk" exercise was conducted using F-16 fighter jets. Turkey already possesses over 250 of these aircraft but continues its efforts to acquire additional fighters from the United States.
7:31 AM EDT, October 25, 2024
Footage shared on social media shows a squadron of F-16 fighters taxiing simultaneously along the runway, a scene characteristic of the "elephant walk."
Impressive "elephant walk" of Turkish F-16s
The term "elephant walk" originated during World War II, when large fleets of Allied bombers would launch attacks in massive missions. These missions often started with the rapid, simultaneous takeoff of all aircraft. Today, "elephant walk" refers to exercises that prepare pilots and crew for unexpected attacks or, conversely, for quickly evacuating aircraft in the event of an enemy strike.
The F-16 is a multirole fighter jet produced by Lockheed Martin and is the most popular combat aircraft worldwide. It can reach speeds of up to Mach 2 (over 1,200 mph) and operate at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet.
This aircraft has a takeoff mass of almost 37,500 lbs and can carry armaments weighing up to 15,400 lbs. The F-16 is compatible with a wide range of weaponry, including missiles such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Python-4, AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-88 HARM, or Penguin. It can also carry bombs like Paveway and JDAM, and it is equipped with a standard 20 mm six-barrel cannon.
How many F-16s does Turkey have?
Turkey, considered the third strongest military in the world after the United States and the United Kingdom, has around 260 F-16 fighters. However, the technical condition of some of these aircraft is not fully satisfactory and requires modernization. Turkish authorities are negotiating with the United States regarding both the modernization of existing aircraft and the acquisition of additional F-16s and even F-35s.
This issue is complex, as Turkey aims to maintain good relations with both NATO and Russia. Turkey delayed the ratification of Sweden's NATO accession. However, after doing so, it received the green light from the U.S. to purchase several dozen more F-16s and modernization packages for those already in its possession. In the context of acquiring F-35 fighters, a significant objection from the United States is Turkey's use of Russian S-300 and S-400 air defense systems.
In addition to negotiations with the U.S., Turkey is developing its domestic fighter jet, the KAAN, with the first 20 units expected to be produced by 2028.
