Six F-15C Eagles arrived at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Nov. 6, 2015 to conduct combat air patrols, according to a U.S. Air Forces in Europe/Air Forces Africa public affairs release.
The aircraft were deployed upon the request of the government of Turkey to help secure the sovereignty of Turkish airspace, according to the release, and are a demonstration of U.S. support of Turkish sovereignty and the collective security of the region.
U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles depart RAF Lakenheath to support the combat air patrol mission in Turkey, Nov. 6, 2015. As an air-to-air fighter aircraft, the F-15C specializes in gaining and maintaining air superiority. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nigel Sandridge
The F-15C Eagles are from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom. F-15Cs are optimized as air superiority fighters rather than as strike or ground attack aircraft such as the A-10s currently deployed to Incirlik, and will conduct combat air patrols in Turkish airspace. Russian aircraft deployed to Syria have committed several violations of Turkish airspace since their arrival in the region. The U.S. and Turkey, as NATO allies, share a commitment to peace and stability in the region, the release concluded.