Military of Turkey
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| Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri | |
| Military manpower | |
| Military age | 20 years of age |
| Availability | males age 15-49: 19,828,702 (2004 est.) |
| Fit for military service | males age 15-49: 11,965,262 (2004 est.) |
| Reaching military age annually | males: 680,673 (2004 est.) |
| Active troops | 514,850 (Ranked 9th) |
| Military expenditures | |
| Dollar figure | $12.155 billion (2003) |
| Percent of GDP | 5.3% (2003) |
Turkish Armed Forces (Turkish: Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri TSK) consists of Army, Navy (includes Naval Air and Naval Infantry) and Air Force. The Gendarmerie and Coast Guard operate as the parts of internal security forces in peacetime and are subordinate to the Army and Navy Commands respectively. In wartime, both has so law enforcement and military functions.
The Commander-in-Chief is Chief General Staff General Hilmi Özkök.
After becoming a member of the NATO Alliance on February 18, 1952, the Turkish Republic initiated a comprehensive modernisation programme for its Armed Forces. The Turkish Armed Forces, whose power of deterrence continuously increased, proved its power and capabilities once more during the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation. Towards the end of the 1980s, a restructuring process has been initiated in the Turkish Armed Forces.
The Turkish Armed forces, with a combined troop strength of 514,850 people, is the second largest standing force in NATO after the United States. Currently, 36,000 troops are stationed in the Turkish-recognized Northern Cyprus.
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Army
Main Article: Turkish Army
Branch of Turkish Military. At a short notice, the Turkish Army can deploy 90,000 to 100,000 men to conduct joint operations. The total number of troops is around 1,000,000. The Turkish Army can conduct air assault operations with lift capability of 5 or 6 battalions at a time day and night.
Air Force
Main Article: Turkish Air Force
Branch of Turkish Military, Turkish Air Force, aside from US Air Force, has the highest number of F-16 aircraft in the world. Turkish Air Force can participate in exercises conducted overseas. With in-flight refueling capability, Turkish aircraft can join live exercises in central Europe and return to home bases in Turkey, and fly directly from Turkey to USA crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
Navy
Main Article: Turkish Navy
Branch of Turkish Military, Turkish Navy can participate in international operations and exercises beyond Mediterranean Sea. Submarines can individually navigate up to 15.000 nautical miles and return to home bases. The Turkish Navy is second strongest in Europe, after the British Royal Navy.
Gendarmerie (Military Police)
Main Article: Turkish Gendarmerie
Branch of Turkish Millitary, Turkish Gendarmerie maintains order in rural areas where police coverage is not avalible.
Humanitarian relief
Turkish Armed Forces can perform "Disaster Relief Operations" as was in 1999 Izmit, Turkey Earthquakes in Marmara Region of Turkey. Turkish Armed Forces can conduct peace support operations anywhere in the world with four separate battalion task force.
Considering that Turkish Armed Forces might increasingly participate in peace support operations during the first quarter of the 21st century, in order to increase contribution to global and regional peace and stability, the special importance to develop its current capabilities in this field is attributed.
In 2003 Turkey requested the Netherlands to help protect the southeast of Turkey against possible missile attacks from Iraq, using MIM-104 Patriot anti-ballistic missiles.
Apart from contributing to NATO, the Turkish Navy is also available for the Black Sea Naval Co-operation Task Group (BLACKSEAFOR) , which was created in early 2004 by Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia and Ukraine for search and rescue and other humanitarian operations in the Black Sea.
Source
This article contains information that originally came from a Turkish Armed Forces website (http://www.tsk.mil.tr/eng/index.htm), in the public domain.
See also
External links
- Template:CIA WFB 2004
- Turkish Armed Forces Website (http://www.tsk.mil.tr/eng/index.htm)
- Turkish Army Website in Turkish (http://www.kkk.tsk.mil.tr/)
- Turkish Air Force Website (http://www.tuaf.mil.tr/default.asp)
- Turkish Navy Website (http://www.dzkk.tsk.mil.tr/English/AnaSayfa.asp)
- Turkish Gendarmerie Website in Turkish (http://www.jandarma.tsk.mil.tr/)
- Unofficial Turkish Navy Website (http://www.turkishnavy.net/)
- Unofficial Turkish Armed Forces Website in English (http://warriorsoul.4t.com/)
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