Turkish testers

摘要

As one of the final operators of the Phantom, the Turk Hava Kuvvetleri (THK, Turkish Air Force) has embarked on successive programmes to extend the jets' service life and increase capability. As long ago as August 24, 1995 an agreement was signed with the then Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) covering structural and avionics work on 54 F-4Es. Of these aircraft, 26 were upgraded at IAI facilities and the rest at the 1. Hava ikmal Bakim Merkezi (1. HiBM, 1st Air Supply Maintenance Centre), in Eskisehir. After modernisation, the Phantom was redesignated as the F-4E 2020 Terminator. The project also established a system integration laboratory and an avionics testing and integration centre at the 1. HiBM. Today, these facilities the basis of 401 Test Filo - the THK's dedicated test and evaluation squadron.