Operation Tigris Shield

[Jay]

OPERATION TIGRIS SHIELD
Security Classification: TOP SECRET

SITUATION REPORT

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OVERVIEW The Republic of Türkiye will conduct a sustained air campaign against PKK infrastructure and personnel across Iraqi Kurdistan. Following a series of bombing attacks in Southeastern Türkiye, the Prime Minister has directed the Turkish Armed Forces to execute retaliatory strikes under the right of self-defense against imminent harm. The National Security Council has reviewed and adopted the Prime Minister's recommendations, issuing formal orders authorizing the deployment of TSK strike and ISR assets into Iraq. The operation will be conducted in coordinated phases across both Tigris Shield and Tigris Saber, integrating manned strike aircraft, armed and unarmed UAVs, and wide-area surveillance assets. Strikes will target PKK command nodes, training camps, logistical infrastructure, fuel and ammunition depots, and transit networks identified during prior ISR collection. Turkish Intelligence, Army Intelligence, and Air Force liaison elements will support real-time targeting and battle damage assessment throughout the operational window.

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BELLIGERENTS

BLUFOR	OPFOR
Republic of Türkiye	Kurdistan Worker's Party HPG YJA-STAR Iraq Socialist Republic of Thailand (Alleged Support)[1]

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ORDER OF OPERATIONS

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Active Patrol:

• Fourteen General Dynamics F-16C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon fighter jets configured for strike operations will execute precision airstrikes against designated PKK target sets across Iraqi Kurdistan in sequenced waves.
  • x 6 GBU-12 Paveway II
• Four General Dynamics F-16C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon fighter jets will maintain continuous combat air patrol over the area of operations, ready to intercept any aerial threat seeking to disrupt strike packages or ISR assets.
  • x 4 AIM-120 AMRAAM
  • x 2 AIM-9 Sidewinder
• Five Baykar Bayraktar TB2 will conduct reconnaissance missions over Kurdish-related areasand capture pictures, weapon depots, troop movements, government facilities
• Boeing 737 AWE&C Unarmed Active Patrol: Scanning for air and ground threats to operation and relaying real-time information over datalink to Command Center Diyarbakır Air Base.

Standby Readiness:

• Six General Dynamics F-16C/D Block 52 fighter jets held at high alert at Diyarbakır Air Base, configured for strike, prepared for immediate deployment to expand strike capacity or replace expended airframes.
  • x 6 GBU-12 Paveway II per airframe
• Two General Dynamics F-16C/D Block 52 fighter jets held at high alert at Diyarbakır Air Base in air superiority configuration, prepared to reinforce CAP or respond to escalating aerial threats.
  • x 6 AIM-120 AMRAAM per airframe

Active Force
[18] F-16C/D Fighter Jets. 132 Air Force Squadron
[18] Pilots, Turkish Air Force
[1] Boeing 737 AEW&C. 211 Air Force Squadron
[10] Crew, Turkish Air Force
[4] Baykar Bayraktar TB2
[12] Crew, Turkish Land Forces

Stand By Force
[8] F-16C/D Fighters. 132 Air Force Squadron
[8] Pilots, Turkish Air Force
[24] Ground Crew, Turkish Air Forces

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CONFIDENTIAL MISSION OPERATION GİZLİLİKLE GÖREV OPERASYONU​ This document is classified and intended solely for official use within the Turkish Armed Forces. It contains sensitive operational details and is not to be viewed, shared, or disseminated outside of authorized personnel. Unauthorized access or distribution of this document is strictly prohibited. Please ensure the return of this document to the Turkish General Staff Building, located at Bakanlıklar, Çankaya, Ankara.

SECRET​ Operation Parameters​ Mission Planning: Objective Definition: Identify and prosecute PKK targets across Iraqi Kurdistan and Northeastern Syria. Target sets include command and control nodes, communications infrastructure, leadership compounds, infantry training camps, fuel and ammunition depots, armored vehicles, logistical hubs, and transit points. ISR assets will maintain persistent coverage throughout the operational window to support dynamic targeting and battle damage assessment Area of Operations: Iraqi and Iranian air activity to be monitored continuously by AWE&C. Pre-Mission Preparation Aircraft Selection: F-16C/D Block 52 — Combat air patrol, quick reaction alert, and strike Boeing 737 AWE&C — Wide-area surveillance, threat cueing, and strike coordination Baykar Bayraktar TB2 — Pre-strike reconnaissance, persistent ISR, and armed dynamic targeting Equipment Check: All airframes complete pre-flight inspection prior to mission execution. Targeting pods, sensor packages, datalinks, and communications systems verified operational and calibrated. Weapons loads confirmed against tasking assignments. UAV ground control stations and encrypted storage systems checked and secured prior to first launch. AWE&C datalink verified against Diyarbakır Command Center terminal. Munitions inventory logged and cross-referenced against planned strike requirements. Surveillance Operations Armored Vehicles: Identify vehicle types, operational status, and movement patterns. Track displacement following initial strike waves. Infantry Training Camps: Monitor known and suspected training areas. Record personnel counts, activity patterns, and equipment visible on site. Logistical Dumps:Identify and assess supply depots, fuel storage, and munitions caches. Note quantity, type, and resupply frequency. Flag sites within proximity of civilian areas for legal review prior to strike authorization. Transit Points and Supply Routes: Monitor vehicle and motorbike movement along known resupply corridors. Identify handoff locations, vehicle exchange points, and buried cache sites. Track lorry patterns for cross-border movement toward the Habur corridor. Additional Targets: Record irregular personnel movement, signs of command presence, and any activity not previously catalogued. All sightings logged with timestamp, grid, and confidence rating for integration into the target database. Data Collection and Analysis Real-Time Monitoring: All UAV feeds routed continuously to Diyarbakır Command Center. AWE&C datalink maintained throughout the operational window. Intelligence integrated into the target database in real time by the on-duty analysis cell. Reporting: A comprehensive report compiled per sortie cycle containing target identification, annotated imagery, video footage, sensor data, personnel estimates, and threat assessment. Reports delivered to tactical and strategic decision-makers within two hours of each sortie cycle completion. The target database updated continuously to reflect new sightings, confirmed destructions, and revised confidence ratings. Post-Mission Procedures Equipment Maintenance: Post-flight checks conducted on all airframes per maintenance schedule. Faults logged and reported to the duty officer. Airframe hours, sensor package status, and weapons expenditure recorded. Readiness board updated prior to next tasking cycle. Data Storage: All collected imagery, sensor data, intercepts, and reports stored in encrypted format per operational security protocols. Chain of custody maintained on all intelligence products. Access restricted to cleared personnel only.

END OF DOCUMENT BELGENİN SONU​

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CAMPAIGN REGISTER

Phase	Description	Status
Tigris Shield – Phase I: Air Superiority Establishment Combat Air Patrol	Four F-16C/D Block 52 fighters will be deployed on continuous combat air patrol over the designated area of operations, providing active armed overwatch (x 4 AIM-120 AMRAAM, × 2 AIM-9 Sidewinder). The patrol will intercept or deter any hostile aerial threat that could compromise the attack mission or supporting ISR assets throughout the operational window.	Active
Tigris Shield – Phase II: AWE&C Surveillance Wide-Area ISR Support	A Boeing 737 AWE&C will be positioned to conduct continuous wide-area air and ground scanning across the Aegean coastal zone and the Iraqi Kurdistan AO simultaneously. Real-time targeting data, threat cueing, and situational awareness updates will be relayed via secure datalink to the Diyarbakır Air Base Command Center to support strike coordination.	Active
Tigris Shield – Phase III: QRA Fighter Reserve Standby Alert	Two F-16C/D Block 52 jets (x 4 AIM-120 AMRAAM, x 2 AIM-9 Sidewinder) and six F-16C/D Block 52 jets (x 6 GBU-12 Paveway II) will be on standby. These aircraft will stand ready to reinforce the combat air patrol, respond to escalating aerial threats, or provide additional strike capacity should mission requirements expand beyond the primary attack package.	Active
Tigris Saber – Phase IV: Initial Strike Package Priority Target Prosecution	Fourteen F-16C/D Block 52 fighters (x 6 GBU-12 Paveway II) will be deployed to execute strike packages against priority PKK target sets identified during Tigris Sentinel's reconnaissance phases. Initial strikes will focus on command and control nodes, communications infrastructure, and high-value leadership compounds to immediately degrade the PKK's ability to coordinate a defensive response to subsequent attack waves.	Active
Tigris Saber – Phase V: Sustained Strike Campaign Infrastructure Destruction	Following the initial strike package, the TSK will conduct a sustained campaign of 185 targeted strikes against known PKK infrastructure across Northern Iraq. Aimpoints will include training camps, fuel depots, ammunition dumps, armoured vehicles, and logistical hubs. Strikes will systematically dismantle the PKK's capacity to recruit, train, supply, and project combat power throughout the operational theatre.	Active
Tigris Saber – Phase VI: Targets of Opportunity Dynamic Targeting	Upon completion of the planned 185-strike sequence, Turkish fighter jets and armed Bayraktar TB2 UAVs will transition to dynamic targeting operations, prosecuting targets of opportunity as they are identified. Persistent UAV surveillance and AWE&C cueing will enable real-time strike tasking against PKK elements caught reacting or repositioning in response to earlier strikes, exploiting degraded enemy command timings.	Active
Tigris Saber – Phase VII: Campaign Culmination End-State Assessment	By 13 February 2009, the TSK will aim to complete their targeted 820 PKK targets across Iraqi Kurdistan, ranging from small transport vehicles and anti-tank emplacements to training facilities and ammunition storage sites. A comprehensive battle damage assessment will be conducted using post-strike UAV imagery and signals intelligence to confirm destruction and quantify degradation of PKK operational capability.	Planned
Tigris Saber – Phase VIII: Post-Strike Recovery & Debrief Exploitation & Readiness Reset	All UAV and manned aircraft systems will undergo full post-flight maintenance and battle damage checks. Collected strike footage, sensor data, and intelligence will be securely compiled into post-operation assessment packages and disseminated to tactical and strategic decision-makers. Equipment readiness and munitions status will be assessed and reported to enable rapid reconstitution for follow-on operations if required.	Planned

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[Jay]

SECRET

The interior of the AWACS aircraft was filled with the soft hum of its massive engines and the rhythmic beeps of various electronic systems. The array of screens and consoles shifted with the changing data inputs.

The cockpit door opened briefly as the senior pilot, Major Berk, walked into the body of the plane. He smiled and gave a simple head nod to the crew. He walked over to the center of the plane where he leaned over to discuss a minor adjustment with Captain Burhan. Captain Burhan sat at the central operations console, his eyes were fixed on the primary radar screen. The rotating radar dish on the AWACS provided a wide-angle view of the airspace, and Burhan's fingers moved over the controls, adjusting as he monitored the airspace over the area of operations.

Beside him, Lieutenant Murat was focused on tracking multiple aircraft on his screen, civilian aircraft from Syria, Iraq, Iran, and other international airlines. His headset crackled softly as he received updates from the F-16s patrolling alongside them, as he relayed any important information.

"Sector looks clear, Sir," Murat reported, adding that "there is no new activity in that zone."

Burhan nodded, "Understood. Keep an eye out for anything fast moving over Iraq. We don’t want a surprise for our teams when they are conducting their operations.”

Berk leaned over before speaking softly to Burhan. “I heard there is Iraqi Maloub on the menu for this flight.” He said with a light chuckle. “What’s the weather looking like?”

Burhan shook his head. “Skies look clear. No expected showers.”

Berk looked at the screen. “No Iraqi showers?”

Burhan shook his head again. “Unlikely. We’re waiting to see if the Iraqis scramble anything. I doubt it though. They can’t tell if we’re birds or planes.” He said with a hearty laugh as Berk just smiled and walked back.

As Berk returned to his seat, Aylin’s headset crackled with a new transmission. “Mother Hen, this is Eagle Flight. Any updates on the weather?”

Lieutenant Aylin monitored the communication frequencies, her headset pressed tightly against her ears. Two F-16s came into view through the small window. As they had probably gotten bored giving a wave with the tips of their planes as they had done before.

Aylin quickly adjusted her frequency. “Eagle Flight this is Mother Hen. No activity on the radar. The weather is clear. We’re tracking a few low-priority targets, but nothing immediate. Will update you on any weather changes.”

“Copy that, Mother Hen,” Eagle Flight responded. “Eagle Flight out.”

The F-16s waved off the E-7 and continued their patrol across the restricted air zone as they waited for the ground strike package to begin.

The Turkish Pilots walked out of the briefing room, their helmets under one arm, as their eyes narrowed at the sight of their F-16s waiting on the flight line. The sleek fighter gleams in the fading light. Their aircrafts were already outfitted with weapons systems and ready for take-off thanks to the diligent work of their ground crews.

As Burcu approached her aircraft, her fellow flight section pilots, Lieutenants Aydınlar, Taner, Aydoğan, Turker, Aydoğdu, Durmaz, Zarakolu, Hulusi, and Unal were gathered by their jets, chatting easily.

Aydoğan noticed Burcu approaching, and with a mischievous grin, he called out.

Lt. Aydoğan: "Hey Burcu, still flying that museum piece? Heard she’s older than you!"

Lieutenant Turker: “I heard the Iraqis have the same model!” Burcu smirks, slowing her pace just enough to run her gloved fingers along the side of her F-16 as she walks by, almost as if comforting the aircraft.

Lieutenant Şahinkaya with a grin, shouted back: "Careful, boys. She’ll be on your tail and shoot you down before you can even tell what is happening. She’s just got… character. Which is more than I can say than you two." She said handing a camera to her ground chief Mehmet to take a photo before their operation.

Hulusi and Zarakolu exchanged glances, chuckling. Şahinkaya then stopped at the nose of her F-16, eyes tracing over the sharp contours of her jet.

"Besides, it’s not the plane that matters…It's the pilot. And last I checked, I actually hit my targets during practice." Lieutenant Şahinkaya said teasingly as she patted the fuselage. With that, Şahinkaya entered the cockpit of her jet as the rest of her flight section got into theirs.

Inside the cockpit of Lieutenant Şahinkaya's F-16, the engines were still silent. The base was quiet, as the other pilots got into their aircraft. Lieutenant Şahinkaya murmured to herself as she ran her hand across the cold switches:

"Alright, time to wake this bird up.” She said as she reached for the Main Power switch. Lieutenant Şahinkaya's voice was steady as she muttered "Main Power… Battery." The displays flicker on, and a quiet hum begins to fill the cockpit as systems power up. She looks over her left shoulder to the Engine panel.

"Now for the Jet Fuel Starter... Start 2."The JFS switch clicks into place, and a low growl begins as the engine starter engages. She keeps a sharp eye on the RPM gauge. "Come on... come on... 20%, let’s go." The RPM ticks upward. Once it hits 20%, she smoothly moves the throttle from OFF to Idle. "Throttle to Idle. Light it up."

The engine roars to life, and the vibrations of power building in the machine resonate through her seat. She glances at the engine parameters: RPM climbing to 70%, oil pressure steady. The F-16 is awakening. "Engine's alive... good. Time to get the avionics online."

She flips a series of switches on the left console, bringing the electrical systems to full power, then turns to the ICP in front of her. "INS Alignment, List… Option 6. Normal alignment. HUD's up."

The HUD blinks on, its pale green symbology painting a path before her. She adjusts its brightness with a practiced flick of her fingers, making sure the numbers are sharp. "Good, we’re getting there."

She taps on the UFC to configure her radios and brings the MFDs to life, one showing the radar and another displaying her weapons loadout: six GBU-12 Paveway IIs. They appeared on the weapon screen.

She reaches to the right console, pulling the Oxygen lever. "Oxygen’s on…” Now, her hands move to the Flight Control System. "FLCS power… online. Alright, controls check."

She grips the stick and gently moves it, watching the control surfaces outside respond in sync. Everything looks smooth. She rolls her shoulders to loosen them, mentally running through the mission. Her eyes fall on the ejection seat switch. "Better safe than sorry. Seat armed."

With a deep breath, she focuses on the right console, ensuring the countermeasures are active. "CMDS set... let's hope I won’t need you.” She glances at the sky outside her cockpit and reaches for the taxi lights. "Taxi lights on. Almost time to move."

She disengages the parking brake, feeling a slight release in tension as she secured her helmet, making sure the oxygen mask was tight. She flicks the switch to activate her comms and listens to the low hum of the radio as it connects her to Ground Control.

Her hands hovered over the flight controls, feet resting lightly on the rudder pedals. Outside the canopy, ground crew cleared away, giving her a thumbs-up. She nodded back, confirming her readiness.

Lieutenant Şahinkaya keyed the radio to Ground Control frequency. "Ground Control, Dagger 4-3 requesting permission to taxi to runway 3 for departure." Ground Control responded. "Dagger 4-3, Ground Control. Taxi approved. Proceed via taxiway Alpha to runway 3. Hold short of the runway."

"Copy, Ground. Taxiing via Alpha to runway 3, holding short. Dagger 4-3 ." Burcu said as she smoothly released the parking brake, gently pushing the throttle forward. The F-16 began to roll forward, its engine rumbling deeply. She carefully steers the aircraft using the rudder pedals to control the nosewheel and keep her fighter aligned with the center of the taxiway.

She idled the engine slightly as she waited at the hold line, her eyes flicking towards the other Dagger flights taking off in the distance. After a few moments, she heard ATC on the radio again. "Dagger 4-3, cleared for takeoff runway 3, wind 234 at 10 knots. Good luck out there. Knock ‘em dead."

"Dagger 4-3 cleared for takeoff runway 3. See you on the return. Will give them hell." With that, Şahinkaya hit full throttle. Her body fell backwards as the weight of gravity hit against her. Within seconds her F-16 was off the ground and in the air.

 

[Jay]

SECRET

​

Flying at 20,000 feet over northeastern Iraq, Lieutenant Burcu Şahinkaya watched the beautiful scenes below her. The clouds stretched across the horizon as Lieutenant Burcu Şahinkaya zeroed in on Sulaymaniyah, a PUK stronghold and area crawling with the PKK.

Lieutenant Burcu Şahinkaya tightened her grip on the stick, the roar of the F-16’s engine humming through her helmet. She looked at the target map, a PKK fuel and ammunition depot, sitting nestled among the mountains below.

Lieutenant Şahinkaya spoke to herself softly, "Alright, Burcu… let’s get this done." She glanced at her MFD, checking the loadout one last time. Six GBU-12 Paveway IIs armed and ready. Her hand moved to the Master Arm switch, flipping it to ARM. "Master Arm… on."

She switched the aircraft to A-G mode, the HUD symbols shifting as she prepares for her bombing run. The green symbols flicker on her display. She pressed the TGP button on her right MFD, bringing the targeting pod online. The feed flickers to life, showing her a bird’s-eye view of the mountains below. The crosshairs sweep across the terrain as she scans for the depot. "Let’s find you…"

Her gloved fingers tap the DMS switch, making the targeting pod her SOI. The crosshairs tighten as she adjusts the view, locking onto a cluster of vehicles and fuel tanks.

"Depot spotted. TMS up… target designated." She said as the crosshairs flashed, and the target was locked. She glanced down at her UFC, confirming the laser code is set to 1688. Her hand moves to the Laser Arm switch, flicking it to ARM. The TGP screen confirms that the laser is ready to fire.

Burcu mumbled to herself again, "Laser armed. Let’s get the GBU-12s on target."

She checked her altitude, adjusting her flight path to give her a clean approach toward the target. Her HUD displayed the bomb’s release cues in CCRP mode. "Target set. Approach at 20,000 feet… speed’s good." She said as she pushed the throttle slightly forward, eyes locked on the HUD as the bomb fall line began to descend toward the release point.

The enemy depot grew larger on her targeting pod camera. "Wait for it… steady…"Lieutenant Şahinkaya muttered under her breath. The release cue flashed, and she pressed the pickle button, holding it down as the system calculated the perfect moment to drop.

Lieutenant Şahinkaya spoke into her encrypted communications. "Dagger 4-1 GBU-12 away."

The bomb released from the wing, and she immediately engaged the laser to guide it. Her targeting pod trackd the depot, the laser designating the target as the bomb fell steadily toward its mark.

Burcu had her eyes on the MFD as she watched the missile fall towards its target. "Stay on target… laser active."

She watched as the bomb adjusts its flight path, zeroing in on the fuel tanks below. "Come on, girl… hit it." She said. A second later, the targeting pod shows the explosion: a bright orange flash, followed by a rolling wave of black smoke as the fuel ignites. Secondary explosions erupt as the ammunition stored nearby catches fire.

"Dagger 4-3 to Dagger Flight lead. Direct hit.” Şahinkaya said over the radio. “That’s what I’m talking about." She said with a scream.

She took a moment to scan the area for any remaining threats before switching back to her A-G display. “One GBU-12 down, five more ready. Let’s give them a little more.” Lieutenant Şahinkaya said, murmuring to herself.

Lieutenant Burcu Şahinkaya banked her F-16 sharply to the right, pulling away from the smoking wreckage of her final target. The HUD indicated that all six GBU-12s had found their marks. She throttled back, setting a course to rejoin Flight D’s holding pattern.

The mission clock ticked away. Forty-five minutes had passed since her first drop, but it felt much longer. The adrenaline rush of the strikes slowly faded, leaving behind a familiar sense of focus as she watched her instruments. One by one, the other jets in Flight D completed their bombing runs, radioing in their status.

Lieutenant Şahinkaya spoke into the radio. “Dagger 4-3 returning to pattern, mission accomplished."

A faint hiss crackles over her radio as the last aircraft finishes its strike. After fifteen more minutes of holding, Flight D began its return to base. Diyarbakır Air Base, their homes began to illuminate the dusk skies, awaiting them for refueling and rearming, as well as a brief moment of respite. Lieutenant Şahinkaya murmured to herself, "Time to head home" as she banked the aircraft into formation.

Her F-16 slips back into formation, engines roaring as the Turkish flight group heads southward. The cold blue light of her instruments is steady as she contacts ATC for approach clearance.

The landing lights of Diyarbakır Air Base gleamed in the distance as Flight D made its final approach. Şahinkaya brought her jet down smoothly, the tires screeching as they hit the tarmac. A slight jolt ran through the frame, but the landing was clean. The powerful jet rolled down the runway, gradually decelerating as she steered it toward the taxiway. As she taxis back to the hangar, she sees the bright lights of Flight A lined up on the runway, engines roaring to life for their next round of strikes.

Lieutenant Şahinkaya watched on as they took off, “It’s going to be a long night." She thought to herself. Flight A roared into the sky, afterburners glowing as they climbed into the darkness, their mission just beginning. Şahinkaya knew the pounding wouldn't stop tonight, the Turkish Air Force was determined to hit the PKK hard. The relentless bombing runs in Iraqi Kurdistan only meant it was not going to be a quiet night.

She flipped the switches to power down the systems, her hands moving with the ease of repetition, though her mind lingered on the next sortie. There would be little sleep for others, thought to herself as she got off the fighter jet. "There is no rest for the weary."

PUBLIC

OOC Note: Most news agencies can use the footage from the video and begin reporting that the TSK has conducted airstrikes. You may use that to confirm that the TSK is conducting air operations against the PKK. The strikes would begin on January 12th.

 

[Jay]

SECRET​

Captain Emre walked towards the hangar he mentally ran through the cold start checklist for his F-16 Fighting Falcon. The excitement of the mission ahead mingled with the familiar routine, a comforting rhythm in his pre-flight preparations.

Arriving at the aircraft, he paused for a moment, taking in the sleek lines of the jet. “Time to wake you up,” he thought, as his hands glided across the body of his aircraft. He checked the weapons payload, four GBU-12s were attached. He double-checked to make sure they were secured as he inspected the aircraft.

Then climbing the ladder to the cockpit. He settled into the ejection seat, feeling the snug fit. Reaching for the battery switch, he flipped it on, watching the cockpit displays come to life. His chief ground officer handed him his helmet, which he put on.

“Batteries are online,” he noted silently, glancing at the fuel gauge. “Fuel quantity… check. Full tanks.”

Next, he activated the external power switch. “Ground power engaged,” he confirmed, feeling the systems begin to hum around him. He glanced at the fuel boost pump switches and flipped them to the ‘ON’ position. “Boost pumps operational. Let’s get that fuel flowing.”

Emre shifted his attention to the engine start procedure. “Throttle to idle, time to light this fire.” He moved the throttle gently, ensuring it was in the right position. With a deep breath, he pressed the starter switch. The engines roared to life, and he monitored the RPM and temperature gauges closely. “Looking good. Engine one… stable. Engine two… stable. All parameters in the green.”

He quickly ran through the after-start checks. “Hydraulic pressure… normal. Flight controls… check.” He moved the stick, verifying the control surfaces responded correctly. “All surfaces are functional.”

As he navigated through the MFDs, he set the navigation system to INS and programmed the waypoints for the mission. “Waypoints set. Time to configure the weapons systems.” He checked the armament panel, ensuring everything was in order for their intended mission. “Missiles and bombs ready. Gotta love this loadout.”

With the pre-flight configuration complete, Emre took a moment to breathe. He scanned the panels one last time, ensuring all switches were in their correct positions.

“Comm systems operational,” he confirmed, tuning to the appropriate frequency. “Clear for taxi.” He felt the surge of adrenaline as he pushed the throttle forward, the jet responding immediately. The F-16 rolled out of the hangar, the world outside becoming a blur as he maneuvered toward the runway.

“Taxiing to runway,” Emre said as he settled into the rhythm of the flight. As he reached the hold short line, he glanced at the instruments one last time. “All systems green. Let’s do this.”

With a final deep breath, he pushed the throttle forward, releasing the brakes. The F-16 leapt down the runway, the roar of the engines drowning out everything else as he climbed into the sky. He looked behind him as he saw the airbase disappear. Within the hour, he was already above his target deep inside Iraq. He looked over to his wingman, who was flying a cover mission with air-to-air missiles, and gave him a wave, letting him know he was going for the strike.

Captain Emre adjusted his headset. “Alright, let’s get this show on the road,” he muttered, flicking the battery switch and watching the avionics come alive with a reassuring hum.

“INS alignment,” he said to himself, activating the system and keeping an eye on the alignment indicator. As it stabilized, he switched the navigation system to GPS mode. “GPS locked. Time to load the ordnance.”

Emre accessed the DED. He pressed the DATA button, navigating through the menus until he reached the JDAM section. “Coordinates for the warehouse… let’s see.” He input the latitude and longitude, confirming that the target was set. “Targeting the designated house,” he said, making sure it matched the one given to him during the briefing.

“JDAM selected,” he announced as he cycled through the weapon options on the UFC, feeling a surge of confidence. He activated the targeting pod, the camera feed lighting up with a clear view of the terrain below. “Visual confirmation… TMS Up to designate.” The house appeared on his screen”

“Coordinates check… good,” he confirmed, glancing at his altimeter. “Altitude above 15,000 feet. Airspeed stable.” He adjusted his throttle slightly, fine-tuning his approach.

With a deep breath, he focused on the HUD, waiting for the moment the dot aligned, feeling the adrenaline build. He pressed the weapon release button, the jet shaking slightly as the bomb was released. “Come on, baby,” he urged, switching back to the targeting pod to track the JDAM’s flight.

The bomb descended, and Emre’s heart raced as he monitored its trajectory. “Looking good… just a little further,” he whispered, eyes locked on the screen. Then, with a bright flash, the JDAM struck the house, sending debris into the air. “Direct hit! Target destroyed,” he said over the radio. “Mission accomplished. Target hit. I repeat target hit.”

​

He then flew another pass to hit an adjecent factory that the TSK suspected the PKK was using to produce primer materials for its explosives. Once again he focused on the HUD, waiting for the moment the dot aligned. He pressed the weapon release button, the jet shaking slightly as the bomb was released. “Come on, baby,” he said once again as he watched the targeting pod track the JDAM. The two bombs glided one after the other.

As the bomb descended, Emre monitored its trajectory. “Looking good… just a little further,” he whispered, eyes locked on the screen. Then, with a bright flash, the two 500-pound bombs hit their targets on two ends of the factory. A bright secondary explosion rocked the facility next. “Direct on factory! Target destroyed,” he said over the radio. “Mission accomplished. Target hit. I repeat target hit.”