Turkish Armed Forces Use New Systems in EFES-2024

EFES-2024 exercise to be conducted in İzmir, Turkiye, will house new defence products for different military branches of the Turkish Armed Forces. Turkish Land Forces will use a range of new weapons and sensors for the first time. These include the FIRTINA-2 155 mm SPG, BORAN 105 mm Lightweight Howitzer, PARS 4x4 STA ATGM Vehicle, AMMTS 8x8 Mine Clearing Vehicle, MİLKAR-series electronic attack systems, SURALP Weapon Location Radar, ASELSAN SERHAT Mortar Detection Radar, İHTAR Soft-Kill C-UAS System, ACAR UAV Detection Radar, and inflatable tank decoys. FIRTINA-2 and BORAN are the new Turkish Land Forces’ artillery arsenal additions. FIRTINA-2 is an evolution of T-155 FIRTINA SPG featuring an enhanced fire control system, mast-mounted SARP RCWS, and improved air conditioning for the crew. MKE’s BORAN is a towed/air-transportable 105 mm howitzer that can be carried via S-70/T-70 general-purpose helicopters. MİLKAR series of electronic attack systems include 2A2 Radar Electronic Attack, 3A3 Upper/Lower Band Electronic Attack, and the lightweight 5S variants. SURALP has been in service for roughly three years and was recently spotted in Şırnak. The radar can detect and track the RAM (Rocket-Artillery-Mortar) group of threats to provide situational awareness of up to a range of 250 km. SERHAT fulfils a similar role but can be carried by the smaller 4x4 vehicles. SERHAT has been recently updated to detect UAV threats as well. The increased density of C-UAS systems and weapon location radars points to an effort to increase readiness against the increasing threat of UAVs and RAMs. The Turkish Navy will use its new platforms: TCG ANADOLU LHD (L-400), TCG İstanbul frigate (F-515), TCG Derya logistic support ship (A-1590), and TCG Piri Reis submarine (S-330). Bayraktar TB3 UCAV, set to perform its ski-jump tests from the ground, might also take part in the exercise if it is ready for use. However, it will likely take off from the ground if it participates in the exercise. TCG İstanbul has made considerable progress with its onboard weapon and sensor systems, particularly indigenous ones integrated in place of foreign systems such as CENK-S AESA radar, MİDLAS VLS, and HİSAR-D air defence missile. The exercise might be a next-stage proving ground for the systems mentioned above. TCG ANADOLU has participated in a few exercises before its deployment. FNSS’s ZAHA armoured amphibious vehicles, CH-47 Chinook cargo helicopters, and AH-1W attack helicopters took off from the LHD during Denizkurdu 2024/2 naval exercise. ZAHA will also be used for the first time in the exercise. Sefine Shipyards’ TCG Derya is currently the second largest platform in service of the Turkish Navy. In addition to logistics support functions, the ship can act as a command ship upon need, and the possibility of using the ship as a USV mothership for MARLIN/MİR USVs is on the table. MARLIN and MİR USVs have been developed jointly by Sefine and ASELSAN. Piri Reis, the first of Reis-class (Type-214TN) AIP-equipped submarines, is a similar case with TCG İstanbul (F-515) regarding systems localisation. Some important components include MÜREN CMS (HAVELSAN) and AKYA torpedoes (ROKETSAN). Piri Reis Submarine has not been delivered to the Turkish Navy. Turkish Special Forces draw most of the attention with their new UAV systems to be used for the first time in the exercise. First of these is the MİKON micro kamikaze UAV, considerably smaller than KARGU. Due to the need of the operators to move swiftly, MİKON might have been preferred due to its small size. Due to its small warhead and profile, it is understood that MİKON is intended as an anti-personnel weapon. Special Forces will also make use of STM’s BOYGA munition-dropping UAV. The UAV can carry one 81 mm mortar round or TÜBİTAK SAGE’s TOGAN lightweight munition. UAVs like BOYGA have proven themselves to be dangerous against infantry and light-armoured vehicles with the advantage of being reusable, unlike kamikaze UAVs.