The Turkish Stars (Türk Yıldızları), the Turkish Air Force’s aerobatic team, flew at the second El Alamein International Airshow in Egypt on 8–10 September 2026. They shared the sky with the Saudi Hawks, the UAE’s Fursan Al Emarat and a Russian Su-57, according to Defense Türkiye. The display was a visible piece of military diplomacy in a year of growing Türkiye–Egypt defence ties.
The 2026 display
The show was held at El Alamein International Airport (El Dabaa). Defense Türkiye reported more than 250 exhibitors from about 50 countries, citing Egyptian defence ministry figures. Turkish industry was represented by TUSAŞ, ASELSAN and MKE (Al-Monitor). The Turkish Stars fly NF-5 jets.
- Who flew: Turkish Stars, Saudi Hawks, Fursan Al Emarat and a Russian Su-57.
- Turkish companies: TUSAŞ, ASELSAN and MKE.
- Deals at the show: HAVELSAN and AOI signed the Hamza-1 sales agreement (Anadolu Agency), and MKE announced its Cairo company Zafer.
Why aerobatic teams matter in diplomacy
A national team abroad is a public signal that two air forces are comfortable working together. In Egypt, the Turkish Stars’ appearance followed a string of military contacts. In 2025 the two navies held their first joint drill in 13 years. In July 2026 the Egyptian Air Force took part in Türkiye’s Anatolian Eagle exercise, and Turkish fighter jets flew over Cairo during joint exercises with the Egyptian Air Force, the first in more than a decade, The New Arab reported.
2024 versus 2026
| 2024 (first edition) | 2026 (second edition) | |
|---|---|---|
| Turkish flying presence | HÜRJET demonstration flights; HAVELSAN BAHA flew | Turkish Stars aerobatic display |
| Signed or announced | None in cited reporting | Hamza-1 sales deal; MKE’s Zafer |
The 2024 details come from Anadolu Agency. For background, see our TUSAŞ company profile and our report on the Hamza-1 deal.
What is not known
- Whether the Turkish Stars will return to future Egyptian airshows has not been announced.
- No joint aerobatic or training programme between the two air forces’ display teams has been reported.
FAQ
Did the Turkish Stars perform in Egypt?
Yes, at the second El Alamein International Airshow on 8–10 September 2026.
What aircraft do the Turkish Stars fly?
NF-5 jets.
Which other teams flew at El Alamein 2026?
The Saudi Hawks and the UAE’s Fursan Al Emarat; a Russian Su-57 also flew.
Sources
- Defense Türkiye — El Alamein Airshow 2026, 10 Sep 2026
- Al-Monitor — Turkish defence firms at El Alamein, Sep 2026
- The New Arab — Egypt and Türkiye deepen defence ties
- Anadolu Agency — Turkish firms at Egypt airshow, 5 Sep 2024
- Anadolu Agency — Hamza-1 sales deal, 10 Sep 2026
Featured image: FaceMePLS from The Hague, The Netherlands via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Illustrative photo.