Germany confirms deployment of AWACS planes to Turkey

German officials have confirmed reports that Berlin will deploy early-warning aircraft surveillance planes to Turkey as part of a package of reassurance measures recently approved by NATO.

Germany’s Defence Ministry deputy spokesman Boris Nannt said several AWACS planes stationed in the NATO Air Base in Geilenkirchen, in western Germany, will be sent to Konya Air Base in the coming days, as part of NATO’s recently agreed package of additional aid for Turkey.

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AWACS is the abbreviation of “Airborne Warning and Control System”, which refers to special military aircraft equipped with long-range radar capable of detecting air and surface contacts.

Nannt stressed Monday that the deployment will be a “purely defensive measure” and said military planning is currently underway. Officials didn’t give details on how many planes or crew will be deployed, or when, to the Turkish city of Konya.

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