The Border is Honor ``Border Eagles Stand Vigilant on the Edirne Border``
The primary duty of Arda Border Company, affiliated with the 54th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, is to ensure the security of the borderline under its responsibility (12 km area along the Greek border) with patrols and surveillance teams on a 24-hour basis according to a predetermined plan.
With the special permission of the Ministry of National Defense, we had the opportunity to visit the Arda Border Company to witness the reconnaissance and surveillance activities of the border unit and obtain firsthand information about the national systems and technologies used on the border.
The Armored Mobile Border Security Vehicle ATEŞ conducts reconnaissance and surveillance activities on the borderline and is effectively operated by trained expert personnel. ATEŞ was specially developed as part of a project supported by the European Union Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) to enhance surveillance capabilities on the Turkish-Greek border.
The project is implemented with ASELSAN as the main contractor, the General Directorate of Provincial Administration of the Ministry of Interior is the primary beneficiary, and the Turkish Land Forces Command is the end-user. The procurement activities are managed by the Central Finance and Contracts Unit of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance. Within the scope of the project aimed at border security, ASELSAN's high-tech reconnaissance and surveillance systems have been integrated into the HIZIR 4x4 Tactical Wheeled Armored Vehicles manufactured by Katmerciler.
Alongside its advanced technological features, the vehicle stands out with high ballistic and mine protection and is equipped with ASELSAN products such as the ACAR Ground Surveillance Radar, ŞAHİNGÖZÜ-OD Electro-Optical Sensor System, 9661 V/UHF radio communication system, and SEDA Gunshot Detection System. Additionally, the SECANS Security Management Software, also designed by ASELSAN, enables the control and interoperability of all sensors.
Thanks to the sensors mounted on the vehicle, it can conduct reconnaissance and surveillance for individuals and/or vehicles at short, medium, and long ranges (up to 40 km) in adverse weather conditions, both day and night. In case of a target detected by the ACAR Radar or an enemy sniper location identified by the SEDA Gunshot Detection System, the coordinates can be shared with nearby friendly units on a digital map and can be observed/tracked with a thermal camera. Furthermore, all these visuals are continuously recorded. The Armored Mobile Border Security Vehicle ATEŞ contributes to securing the Turkey-EU border line by detecting illegal immigrants and smugglers.
The Armored Mobile Border Security Vehicle ATEŞ features a 400-horsepower engine and a monocoque V-Hull, providing high-level mine protection. The vehicle can carry a total of six personnel. Equipped with blast-mitigating seats, it can reach a maximum speed of 120 km/h and has a range of 700 km. The vehicle can traverse terrain with a 30% side slope and climb 60% gradients. Capable of fording depths of up to 1 meter, it can overcome 45 cm vertical obstacles and 100 cm trenches. With a ground clearance of 41 cm, the vehicle has a turning radius of 9 meters and a maximum weight capacity of 16 tons. ATEŞ is equipped with a CBRN air filtration system, a hydraulic recovery winch, automatic fire and explosion suppression systems, independent suspension, and differential locks. Additionally, it features hydraulic steering, and its tires have run-flat capabilities.
In addition to reconnaissance and surveillance activities conducted with the Armored Mobile Border Security Vehicle ATEŞ along the border, canine patrol units also effectively perform their duties. With intensive and effective measures in place, border unit personnel work tirelessly day and night, 24/7, to patrol and conduct surveillance activities to prevent illegal crossings along the heavily protected borderline. BMC product VURAN 4x4 Multi-Purpose Armored Vehicles are also used in patrol activities.
The VURAN 4x4, a member of the Multi-Purpose Armored Vehicle family developed by BMC, stands out with its 9-person carrying capacity, high protection, and mobility. Featuring a monocoque armored cabin and windows, blast-mitigating seats, and an emergency exit, it provides protection against mine and ballistic threats (STANAG 4569). The VURAN is equipped with front and rear cameras, an automatic fire suppression system (for personnel compartment, engine compartment, external parts, and tires), a CBRN protection system, fog lamps, cable-cutting arms, and A/C climate control (heating and cooling). Additionally, the VURAN 4x4's mobility is enhanced with a central tire inflation system and has a "Run-Flat" capability thanks to its solid disc system within the tires. It reaches a maximum speed of 110 km/h on asphalt and has a range of 600 km. The VURAN 4x4 features a fully automatic transmission, 40 cm ground clearance, an independent suspension system, and ABS-supported hydraulic disc brakes, enabling it to operate in various challenging terrains. Capable of climbing 60% gradients, holding onto 30% side slopes, and fording depths of up to 80 cm, the VURAN 4x4 ensures maneuverability across diverse landscapes.
The VURAN 4x4 vehicles are also equipped with the ASELSAN SARP Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS). Combining precise reconnaissance capabilities with effective firepower to meet battlefield needs and protect critical facilities, the SARP RCWS can be employed against aerial and ground threats by tactical armored vehicles and used against asymmetric threats in fixed installations. Depending on operational requirements, the system can be fitted with a 12.7 mm machine gun, 40 mm grenade launcher, or 7.62 mm machine gun. The SARP System, offering day/night observation capability, ensures precise shooting against moving targets even when the vehicle is in motion, thanks to its laser rangefinder and stabilization features. With computer-based firing control functions and automatic target tracking, the system enhances the situational awareness of the operators and elevates their safety to the highest level. Through its advanced interface, the SARP RCWS can fully integrate with external sensors and command control systems.
The patrol teams stationed along the border also utilize cutting-edge equipment produced through national and local capabilities, such as the MPT-76 and PARS Thermal Weapon Sight. Developed by MKEK to meet the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces, the MPT-76 can fire 7.62x51 mm NATO standard ammunition. Operating in semi-automatic and automatic modes with a gas piston-driven rotating bolt lock mechanism, the rifle has an effective range of 600 meters. The MPT-76 has an accuracy of 4 MOA and is fed from a 20-round magazine. With a barrel length of 406 mm, the weapon measures 1000 mm when the 12-stage adjustable stock is fully extended and weighs 4.2 kg. The indigenous 40 mm caliber AK-40GL under-barrel grenade launcher is developed by Akdaş Silah A.Ş. for use in the Turkish Armed Forces' next-generation infantry rifles and other infantry rifles with Picatinny rails. AK-40GL ensures ease of use and carrying with its lightweight and ergonomic design and is suitable for both right and left-handed users (safety latch and double-sided loading). It features a double-sided indicator that shows whether the grenade launcher is loaded or unloaded and a mechanical sight system with night firing capability. The PARS Thermal Weapon Sight, a product of 3E EOS (Electro Optic Systems), is designed for all combat, weather, and terrain conditions. With its clip-on feature, the PARS Thermal Weapon Sight can be easily mounted on rifles and used for both weapon-mounted and handheld surveillance purposes. The clip-on PARS, featuring two different usage modes, provides the user with unparalleled thermal imaging capabilities thanks to its 17-micron LWIR sensor technology with a resolution of 640x512. The PARS also includes advanced features such as wireless image transmission to different platforms, wireless remote control, picture-in-picture (PiP) mode, and internal video and photo recording, all facilitated by its user-friendly interface. Additionally, its MIL-STD-1913 mount allows for easy and swift attachment to Picatinny rails.
Protected by physical security measures and augmented with a multi-layered safety system, the borderline utilizes the latest technological advancements for effective surveillance. The automated electro/optical observation towers on the border are equipped with ŞAHİNGÖZÜ-OD Electro-optical sensors and ACAR Ground Surveillance Radar Systems that are supported by MİRSAD software. MİRSAD is a software capable of addressing physical security management needs through a unified interface. With MİRSAD, various security requirements such as security camera management, access control, fire and alarm systems, vehicle plate recognition, intrusion detection, personnel tracking, and many other sensors needed in buildings, facilities, and regions with diverse security needs can be consolidated and managed within a single interface. Thanks to MİRSAD's flexible structure, any security product tailored to specific needs can be integrated into the MİRSAD interface. The system can provide instant textual alerts through proactive operator notifications in situations requiring extra attention, alarms, or part replacements. Integrated with mass notification and alarm infrastructure, it possesses the capability to switch to primary alerts and alarm states through various emergency systems. MİRSAD enables the integration of an unlimited number of sensor families, such as electro-optical systems, radar systems, acoustic sensors, gunshot detection systems, and wireless seismic sensors.
ŞAHİNGÖZÜ-OD can detect and identify targets within a wide range, featuring a high-resolution thermal camera, a color daytime vision camera, an eye-safe laser rangefinder, a GPS-based location finder, and a digital magnetic compass. The system's cooled thermal camera operates in the infrared 3-5 μm (micron) band with a resolution of 640×512. The thermal camera, capable of electronic 2x zoom, captures images in all weather conditions, day or night. The thermal camera offers 16.8˚ x 13.5˚ degrees wide FOV (field of view), 6.0˚ x 4.8˚ degrees medium FOV, and 2.0˚ x 1.6˚ degrees narrow FOV. The daytime camera, on the other hand, provides a 12x electronic zoom capability. The daytime camera has 10.0˚ x 7.5˚ degrees wide FOV, 6.0˚ x 4.5˚ degrees medium FOV, and 2.0˚ x 1.5˚ degrees narrow FOV. ŞAHİNGÖZÜ-OD incorporates automatic image optimization, image freezing, automatic focusing, remote access, and control features to facilitate the operator's tasks.
ŞAHİNGÖZÜ-OD's fundamental capability lies in its ability to determine positions and measure distances with its laser. The system can both identify its own location with its highly precise Global Positioning System (GPS) and accurately determine the threat's location using its laser distance measurement capability when any threat is detected. The laser rangefinder can determine the distance to a target within a range of 20 km with an error margin of ±5 meters. The system performs all these calculation processes autonomously, utilizing its advanced software without requiring operator intervention
