The maintenance / repair activities of air vehicles of different types and characteristics in the Naval Air Command`s inventory are executed at the highest level by the Naval Maintenance Command located at Topel Naval Air Main Base Command. During our visit to Topel Naval Air Main Base Command, the center where "Operations, Training, Logistics and Maintenance" activities are carried out in an integrated manner, we had a brief interview with the Maintenance Commander Cdr. Erkan AKDERELİ on the history of the Command, the maintenance / repair services provided for the air vehicles in the inventory within the framework of the Base Level Maintenance Concept, and the activities carried out to further improve the existing maintenance, repair and maintenance infrastructure.

Navy`s Seeing Eye, Hearing Ear, Long Arm and Strong Fist NAVAL AIR COMMAND With a deep-rooted history, the Naval Air Command, which will celebrate its 107th anniversary in the 25th June, currently performs its tasks successfully with 64 aircraft consisting of 24 SH-70 SeaHawk DSH/SUH Helicopters, 9 AB212 Helicopters, 6 P-235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, 2 P-72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, 3 C-72 Maritime Utility Aircraft, 4 TB-20 Trainer Aircraft and 16 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (10 BAYRAKTAR TB-2 UCAVs and 4 ANKA-B and 2 ANKA-B (THS) UCAVs).

The developments in electronic, electro-optic, and communication systems in the last decade have provided the fixed and rotary wing maritime aircraft with precise and secure navigation and stand-off target detection, identification, tracking, as well as uninterrupted communication and real-time data transmission capabilities. Additionally, arming these aircraft with long-range guided missiles and torpedo systems enabled them to deal with modern surface and underwater threats.

Sailed from her homeport of Portsmouth on May 1, 2021 HMS Defender (D36), one of 6 Type 45 Daring Class Air Defense Destroyers in the Royal Navy (RN), arrived in Istanbul on June 9th for a port visit. She berthed at Sarayburnu Port together with her Dutch consort De Zeven Provincien Class Air-Defense Frigate HNLMS Evertsen (F805), both part of the UK led Carrier Strike Group 2021 (CSG21) deployment to the Indo-Pacific region.