Kars 2023-Winter Exercise
Distinguished Observer Day of the Turkish Armed Forces' (TAF) Winter Exercise, which recently received the most wide participation in the history of the Republic of Türkiye, was held in Kars on February 2, 2023 with the participation of the Minister of National Defense Hulusi AKAR, Chief of the Staff General Yaşar GÜLER, Azerbaijan Minister of Defense of General Zakir HASANOV, Georgia Minister of Defense Juansher BURCHULADZE, and Force Commanders.
The 2023-Winter Exercise was conducted in three phases as Combined, Joint Corps-Brigade Command Post, Firing and Full Troop Battalion Task Force Field Exercise by the 14th Mechanized Infantry Brigade Command under the command and direction of the 9th Corps Command at the Şehit İstikam Astsubay Kıdemli Üstçavuş İlham HAMLI Firing and Exercise Area. The Planning and Preparation Phase of the exercise was held between September 21 and January 17, 2023, the Execution Phase between January 18 and February 3, 2023, and the third and final phase between February 4 and 23, 2023.
Based on a generic scenario, the 2023-Winter Exercise was attended by 54 Defense Attachés and military personnel from 17 countries (including Türkiye), such as Germany, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Italy, and the UK, as well as the troops from the Turkish General Staff, Land Forces Command, Naval Forces Command, and Air Force Command. Seven countries—Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Uzbekistan—participated with troops and staff, while Germany, Bahrain, Ethiopia, the UK, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, and Mongolia participated with Distinguished Observers.
A total of 2,113 personnel, 189 of whom were foreigners, took part in the 2023-Winter Exercise, in which 651 vehicles in 43 different configurations and 865 weapons of 23 different models and calibers were used. In the exercise, in which new weapons and systems were used effectively, the following tasks were carried out: passage of lines, assault while skiing, air assault, crossing tank ditches and minefields, fire support, aerial supply and casualty evacuation (airborne helicopter, ground armored ambulance, and snowmobile).
As part of the exercise, where the New Type Winter Suit and Assault Vest were tested in winter conditions for the first time, Laser Guided CİRİT Missile from the SİPAHİ Tactical Missile Weapon System was launched for the first time to measure the accuracy of the system in winter conditions, and KARGU Loitering Munition System (Kamikaze UAV) also conducted strikes. Many firsts were achieved during 2023-Winter Exercise: Inner container search with the Mini UGV ACROB and KOMODO during mission operation, tunnel detection test with PROTON ELIC Detector, first trials of STM's TOGAN Autonomous Multi-Rotor Reconnaissance UAV and ASELSAN’s SERÇE Multi-Rotor UAV in winter conditions, and first firing trials of ASELSAN's 81mm and 120mm Electronic Mortar Weapon System and HERİKKS-VI Air Defense Early Warning and Command Control System in winter conditions.
History and Purpose of Winter Exercises
Winter Exercises were held annually up until 1997 but they were not conducted between 1997 and 1999. Since 2000, the 8th and 9th Corps Commands have respectively held them every two years, in even years. The exercise was conducted in 2004 by the 8th Corps Command in the Ağrı region, in 2006 by the 9th Corps Command in the Kars region, in 2008 by the 8th Corps Command in the Patnos/Ağrı region, and in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021 by the 9th Corps Command in the Kars region.
The objective of the 2023-Winter Exercise is to ensure cooperation and coordination in the execution of Combined and Joint Operations, and to test the combat capabilities of the troops, including firing in deep snow and extreme cold, to improve the synchronization of fire and maneuver and increase survivability by simulating a full-dimension battlefield, to improve the level of training regarding settlement, shelter, food, supply, and maintenance in the field in winter conditions, and to ensure the operation of Command and Control Systems in winter conditions
