Turkish Boeing 737 AEW&C MESA Peace Eagle in Seattle, September 6, 2007. By Wikimedia user Seattle Aviator
The Turkish military is using E-7T Peace Eagle airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to support its ongoing operations in Libya, the 218 TV revealed on March 29.
Citing an unmanned source, the Libyan channel said E-7T aircraft are commanding Turkish unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating in the country.
The E-7T AEW&C is based on the Boeing 737. The aircraft is equipped with Northrop Grumman’s Electronic Systems Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar, which has a range of up to 600 km and can perform electronic intelligence (ELINT) tasks. The Turkish Air Force (TAF) operates four aircraft of this type.
Turkish E-7Ts have not been seen over Libya, so far. However, on March 27 a Peace Eagle was spotted flying off the western coast of Cyprus.
Turkish Air Force
E-7T Peace EagleISR flight over the Med Sea, off the west coast of Cyprus pic.twitter.com/LvOZISO7Ej
— Zaes (@ZaesADSB) March 27, 2020
Last year, the Turkish military began deploying UAVs in Libya to support the Government of National Accord (GNA). Turkish UAVs are not only conducting surveillance sorties over the country, but also providing close fire support for government forces fighting the Libyan National Army (LNA).
Turkey’s support for pro-GNA forces increased in the last few months. However, Ankara’s allies are yet to make any achievement on the ground.
