The Emergency Physical Security Project was initiated to set up a physical barrier and to prevent border crossing violations. Terrorist-illegal crossing and smuggling activities at the border between Turkey and Syria still progress. The 383-km long portion of the 825-kilometer-long modular concrete block wall constructed along the Syrian border, within the scope of the project, has been completed. Moreover, during the mine and grenade clearance conducted as part of the project in the region, an area of 41 thousand 197 square meters has been checked and 415 mines and grenades have been detected.

The activities for the “Border Security System” are continuing as well; composed of the cutting-edge electronic detectors which will be operating integrated with the Border Physical Security System Project, will enable 7/24 surveillance of the borderline.

The Boundary Security System will be established along the borderline of 122 km within the responsibility area of the 1st and 2nd Border Battalion Command in lieu with the 1st Border Regiment Command of the Syrian Border. The border will be uninterruptedly monitored night and day and minimal motions and changes at the border will be detected through this system. The initial delivery of the system to be manufactured through domestic facilities is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.

Airship Aerial Surveillance System at the Border

Meanwhile, Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) plans to utilize a ‘Blimp’ in order to provide border security.

The unmanned balloon surveillance system developed by Aselsan is aimed to be used for maintaining the border and patrol security. The system enables close range security surveillance and early warning capacities to the facilities such as small troops and stationary units. TAF is testing the 16 m long unmanned balloon surveillance system that is capable of reaching an altitude of thousand meters. Through this system, developed through domestic facilities, the capacity of surveillance through an aerial balloon will accomplish that gathering of intelligence, providing early warning and border security.

The system with two different models namely the “Water Drop” and “Global” is capable of transmitting real time images. The night and day vision cameras of the system are able to display a 360 degree angle the region.

The unmanned airship surveillance system, launched with the help of the ground support equipment and an anchorage station, is capable of reaching an altitude of a thousand meters. The control of the system, transmitting the images it records instantly to the ground control station, is also achieved through this point. The system capable of resisting high winds is also not affected by assault from small firearms.

The balloons of the system being developed, namely the “Water Drops”, are able to rise to an altitude of a thousand meters. The 16-meter-long balloon has a volume of 180 cubic meters. The “Global” balloon, with a volume of 35 cubic meters, is able to rise to an altitude of 500 meters.

The troop tests of the “Water Drop” have been launched by the Turkish Armed Forces. The system is still going through the development process and has performed a total of 400 hours, especially at the border region and the efforts for its completion are ongoing.