The Efes-2026 military exercise — held between April 20 and May 21 in the Gulf of İzmir and the Doğanbey Live-Fire Training Area — marks a landmark moment for Turkey’s defense industry. For the first time in a live field exercise, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) deployed an extensive array of domestically produced systems, ranging from laser weapon systems to kamikaze swarm drones, while also conducting joint training with international partners from Libya and Syria.
Efes-2026 was conducted in two phases. The first, the Computer-Assisted Command Post Phase, took place between April 11 and 17. The second, the Live-Fire Field Phase, ran from April 20 to May 21.
Domestic Weapons and Systems on Display
The exercise served as a major showcase for Turkey’s domestically produced defense hardware. Systems actively deployed included:
- Aircraft & Vehicles: GÖKBEY helicopter, M60T1 tank
- Artillery: Panter and Boran howitzers
- Missiles & Munitions: TRLG-230 and Sungur missiles
- Air Defense: Tayfun, Hisar-A, and Hisar-O missile systems; KORKUT Air Defense Weapon System; Kalkan Air Defense Radar
Field Debuts at Efes-2026
Several systems were fielded in a live exercise environment for the very first time:
- MİLKAR-A — portable electronic attack system
- ALKA and GÖKBERK — laser weapon systems
- TOLGA — Close-In Air Defense System
- Kamikaze swarm drone technology
- TEBER and MAM-T — armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) munitions
AI and Network-Centric Warfare Integration
Efes-2026 also distinguished itself from previous iterations through the integration of advanced command-and-control technology. The Network-Land KOCATEPE Operations Management System was deployed for the first time in an Efes exercise. Artificial intelligence-assisted analysis was also incorporated into military decision-making processes, signaling a shift toward data-driven operations.
Defense Industry Exhibition and University Competition
A defense industry exhibition opened on May 16 at the Doğanbey Firing Range, featuring 55 companies. Alongside it, the Efes-2026 inter-university competition — themed “Defense Science and Technologies” — showcased the top 10 projects selected from 292 submissions representing 69 universities. The Turkish Stars aerobatics team performed a demonstration flight on May 21 to close the exercise.
Historic Regional Participation: Libya and Syria
Efes-2026 set a precedent for international military cooperation in the region.
Libya: A total of 502 personnel from the Libyan National Army — 331 from the eastern region and 171 from the western region — participated in joint training with the TSK. Initiated through the Flintlock-2026 exercise, this marks the first time the Libyan Army has trained outside its own territory. Training areas included boat operations, mine and IED countermeasures, special forces operations, SAT/SAS, amphibious operations, and combat search and rescue. The TSK continues to support activities aligned with the “One Libya, One Army” objective.
Syria: The Syrian Army, currently undergoing a comprehensive restructuring process, also participated in Efes-2026 — the first time a Syrian military unit has taken part in an exercise outside Syrian territory. TSK’s training support for the Syrian Army is set to continue.
