151st Squadron "Bronzes" is a fighter squadron of the Turkish Air Force under the 5th Main Jet Base Command. It is the only squadron in the Air Force with SEAD capabilities and is the northernmost combatant NATO unit in Turkey.[1]
As the only AGM-88 HARM operator, the squadron is often deployed to Incirlik Air Base. Following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, the squadron's preparedness level was increased.[2]
History
Azerbaijan
Shortly after the beginning of the July 2020 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes, Turkey declared diplomatic support to Azerbaijan, and stated that is ready to provide any kind of assistance, including weapons and military.[3]
On 31 July 2020, Turkish Air Force elements, including aircraft from the 151st Squadron flown to Azerbaijan for the TurAz Eagle 2020 exercise, an annual cooperation between Turkish and Azerbaijani air forces since at least 2015.[3]
A 29 September statement from the Ministry of Defence of Armenia claimed that their Sukhoi Su-25 was shot by a Turkish F-16, killing its pilot.[6]Allegations also included that the Turkish Air Force provided close air support on Armenian military installations, which both were rejected by Turkey the same day.
