By Bosphorus News Defense Desk
At the Turkish Defense Ministry's weekly briefing in Ankara on October 15, 2026, spokesman Rear Adm. Zeki Aktürk outlined the armed forces' activities as officials confirmed continuing talks with Washington over six F-35 fighters built for Türkiye. Ankara also renewed its call for the lifting of US defense sanctions.
The ministry targeted December for delivery of the first two of 12 C-130J transport aircraft acquired from Britain and specified the parliamentary approvals required before Turkish forces could deploy to Saudi Arabia under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement. The briefing also covered North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) naval operations, exercises in Cyprus and the Black Sea, contacts with Greece, border security and new weapons deliveries.
F-35 Talks and CAATSA Sanctions
Talks with US authorities over the six aircraft continue. Ankara is seeking the removal of restrictions imposed under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), along with other direct and indirect limits on its defense industry. The ministry gave no delivery date or indication that the sanctions had changed.
Mecca Pact: Parliamentary Approval Before Deployment
A Turkish deployment to Saudi Arabia under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement would require two steps: parliament must approve the agreement and separately authorize sending troops abroad, the ministry said in response to reporters' questions.
Any contribution would be agreed with Riyadh based on Saudi requests, conditions on the ground and operational needs. The clarification follows the October 5 Riyadh discussions on military forces and capabilities for Saudi Arabia, when Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also advanced the alliance's secretariat arrangements. Ankara identified no units, force numbers or deployment sites.
C-130J: First Two Aircraft Expected in December
The first two of 12 C-130J transport aircraft procured from Britain are expected in December 2026. The manufacturer is carrying out maintenance and modification work in the United Kingdom, with authorized Turkish Air Force personnel overseeing the process.
Training for pilots, aircrew, engineers and maintenance staff is due to finish by year-end. Once the aircraft enter service, the Air Force intends to handle operations, maintenance and repairs itself. Delivery dates for the remaining ten were not provided.
NATO Operations and Multinational Exercises
Türkiye's Anadolu Task Group, comprising TCG Anadolu, frigate TCG Gaziantep and submarine TCG Gür, was scheduled to take part in NATO's Neptune Strike 26-4 from October 16 to 21. The activity covers the North Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Sea. A media and distinguished visitors event is planned aboard TCG Anadolu in the Gulf of Taranto on October 19.
The Türkiye–Bulgaria–Romania Mine Countermeasures Task Group is on its 12th activation in the Black Sea. Turkish minehunter TCG Akçay, Bulgarian vessels Struma and Captain Dimitar Dobrev, and Romania's Dumitrescu are due to visit Karadeniz Ereğli on October 17–18.
NUSRET-2026, held in İzmir Bay and off Karadeniz Ereğli, was due to end on October 16. The associated port visits include Greece's Heracles, Germany's Rhein and Fulda, Spain's Turia and Italy's Numana, with the ships scheduled in İzmir from October 14 to 18.
Steadfast Duel in Italy, Britain and Norway and the On Guard command-post exercise in Istanbul were due to finish on October 15. Carpathian Arc in Romania, multinational mine warfare training in South Korea and the Şehit Yüzbaşı Cengiz Topel Akdeniz Fırtınası exercise in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) were scheduled to end on October 16. Mare Aperto-2026 runs in Italy until October 25, with TCG Burgazada due for a port visit on October 17–18. Turkish combat and support aircraft were also scheduled to train over the Black Sea on October 16.
Live Fire and Upcoming Training
Ateş Serbest 2026 took place at Polatlı from October 8 to 13. The program covered joint fire-support coordination and scenarios involving drones, loitering munitions, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, electronic warfare and cyber capabilities. Defense Minister Yaşar Güler attended the distinguished visitors day on October 13.
The October 19 schedule includes Türkiye–Azerbaijan underwater assault and defense training in Muğla, a National Unmanned Maritime Systems exercise in Antalya, Türkiye–Uzbekistan computer-assisted command-post training and the Sarmis commando exercise in Romania. Mobilization training was scheduled to begin in Mardin on October 15, with another exercise at the amphibious marine brigade in İzmir starting October 21.
Ankara is to host the International Best Military Drone Team Competition from October 19 to 25. The ministry expects 31 countries: 21 competing and ten attending as observers.
Greece, Kosovo and Other Military Contacts
A Greek Navy delegation was in Türkiye from October 13 to 15 for a visit to the Turkish Naval Forces Command under the bilateral confidence-building measures plan. On October 14, Türkiye handed command of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) to Italy, a year after taking charge. The handover was a change of command, not an announcement of a Turkish withdrawal.
Türkiye's naval commander met his Syrian counterpart in Istanbul on October 12. The chief of general staff spoke with his Syrian counterpart on October 10 and Pakistan's military leadership on October 13. Other engagements included air force talks with Bangladesh in Ankara, October 12–16; defense consultations in Mongolia, October 15–17; and naval talks scheduled with Pakistan, October 17–21. A counterterrorism conference in Ankara on October 15–16 brought together 114 participants from 35 countries.
Border Security and Counterterrorism
Turkish forces apprehended 477 people attempting unauthorized border crossings in the preceding week, taking the total since January 1 to 13,843, according to the ministry. Border personnel separately prevented 981 people from crossing, bringing that annual figure to 54,851.
Two PKK members surrendered during the week. Troops also seized approximately 60 kilograms of narcotics along the border in Van.
Weapons Deliveries and Gölcük Shipyard
The Land Forces completed inspection and acceptance procedures for SUNGUR air-defense missiles and firing mechanisms, as well as OMTAS medium-range anti-tank missiles. The Air Force added SOM-B1T and SOM-AT munitions to its inventory. State-owned Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi (MKE) made deliveries of the electric armored personnel carrier (E-ZPT) to the Land Forces and 155 mm long-range howitzer ammunition to defense industry partners. The ministry did not specify quantities for the missile and ammunition deliveries.
At Gölcük Naval Shipyard's centenary on October 14, work on offshore patrol vessel Pınarhisar reached its first weld. The shipyard completed modernization of the pressure-hull construction line for Türkiye's national submarine program (MİLDEN), opened workshops for life rafts and retractable masts, and launched the Taş Havuz dock project.
Sources: Republic of Türkiye Ministry of National Defense, Bosphorus News review and reporting.