The Turkish Armed Forces Successfully Completed EFES-2024 Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise
The EFES-2024 Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise, one of the largest planned exercises of the Turkish Armed Forces, was conducted between April 25 and May 30 in the Gulf of İzmir and Doğanbey Live-Fire Exercise Area.
The EFES-2024 Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise was conducted with the participation of the Ministry of National Defence, the General Staff, the Turkish Land, Naval, and Air Forces, the Gendarmerie General Command, the Coast Guard Command, the Special Forces Command, various ministries, public institutions, and organizations. Additionally, 11,000 personnel, including a total of 1745 guest personnel from the USA, Germany, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, France, Gambia, Guinea, Georgia, Italy, Cameroon, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Korea, Congo, Kosovo, Kuwait, North Macedonia, Latvia, Libya, Hungary, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Niger, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Rwanda, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe participated in the exercise.
Unlike the previous EFES exercises, EFES 2024 incorporated lessons learned from operations such as Operation Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, Peace Spring, Spring Shield, Eagle-Claw, Tiger-Claw, Thunder-Claw, and Lightning-Claw. EFES 2024 Exercise emphasized a hybrid operational environment and urban warfare, focusing on Special Forces operations, night-time sea and air infiltrations, and the rescue of critical personnel, showcasing distinct differences from the exercises conducted in previous years.
The Distinguished Observer Day of the exercise was conducted with the participation of President Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN, Minister of National Defence Yaşar GÜLER, and Chief of the General Staff General Metin GÜRAK. Distinguished Observer Day was also attended by several high-ranking officials, including Azerbaijani Minister of Defence General Zakir HASANOV, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zukan HELEZ, Minister of Defence of Guinea-Bissau Nicalou DOS SANTOS, Minister of Defence of Congo Charles Richard MONDJO, Somali Minister of Defence Abdulkadir Muhammed NUR, Tanzanian Minister of Defence and National Service Stergomena Lawrence TAX, Ugandan Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Jakob Marksons OBOTH, and Gambian Minister of Defence Sering Modou NJIE. In addition, Chiefs of General Staff from friendly and allied countries were also present to observe the exercise.
The exercise, which was conducted in two phases, began with the first phase taking place from April 25 to May 8 as a Computer-Aided Command Post Exercise, followed by the second phase from May 9 to 30 as the Live-Fire Field Exercise. The exercise was held in the Western Anatolia, Central Aegean, Gulf of İzmir, and Doğanbey Live-Fire Exercise Area. The objectives of the exercise included several critical components, such as enhancing the combat readiness of the land, naval, and air forces in joint operations, raising cyber defence awareness, and improving capabilities to counter asymmetric threats.
Many indigenous solutions provided by the Turkish defence industry to the security forces were used for the first time in this exercise. These included the Next Generation 155mm FIRTINA-2 Howitzer, 105mm BORAN Howitzer, KARGU Rotary Wing Loitering Munition System, BAHA Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, PARS 4X4 OMTAS Anti-Tank Vehicle, TOGAN Autonomous Rotary Wing Reconnaissance UAV, MİLKAR-2A2 Radar Electronic Attack System, MİLKAR-3A3 High/Low-Band Electronic Attack System, and MİLKAR-5A5 Electronic Attack System. Additionally, Inflatable Decoy Targets, the İHTAR Anti-Drone System, STR Weapon Location Radar, the SERHAT Counter Mortar Radar, and the ACAR Surveillance Radar were among the new technologies and weapon systems deployed during the exercise.
The Night Phase of EFES-2024 Exercise
The night phase of the EFES-2022 Combined, Joint Live-Fire Field Exercise began with the Special Forces Teams conducting infiltration operations from the sea and air. As per the generic scenario, the Combined Special Forces Teams - para dropped from a CN-235 and infiltrated the island by boat - suppressed the air and coast surveillance radars of the hostile elements to delay the detection of Allied amphibious forces. After the radars were suppressed, the enemy targets detected by the Combined Special Forces Sharpshooter units were neutralized.
The Combined Underwater Assault (SAT) and Underwater Defence (SAS) Teams arrived with fast boats and conducted reconnaissance operations across the shore to clear the landing corridors that will be used in the amphibious assault operation. Underwater mines detected by SAT and SAS teams were destroyed as per the scenario. In this context, the SAT and SAS teams silenced the engines of the boats at a certain distance from the shore and cleared the beachhead from possible barriers within 5 to 10-meter depth and shallow water mines. Then, amphibious deception and reconnaissance operations were launched.
At the beginning of the Prelanding Operation, ATAK Helicopters destroyed enemy armored vehicles with the CİRİT missiles. In the meantime, a merchant ship, which was reported to be carrying weapons and supplies to the hostile units, was boarded by an S-70B SeaHawk Helicopter that took off from the TCG Burgazada Corvette. The Combined Navy SOF Team onboard the helicopter landed on the ship by fast roping.
As part of the preparatory fires, the communication system of the coastal defence unit of the opposing force in the landing area was taken under fire by artillery and mortar batteries using 155mm FIRTINA-2, 105mm and 203mm Howitzers, and 81mm Mortars, while the ammunition depot of the opposing force was destroyed by two Turkish Air Force (TurAF) F-16s.
A reconnaissance operation was conducted by the Amphibious Marine Brigade Reconnaissance Unit, with night vision capability, towards the target shore. After that, the marine infantry elements successfully landed on the shore with the armored vehicles. Meanwhile, the opposing force units in the landing zone were detected by the Combined Special Forces Team and were taken under fire by 4 ATAK Helicopters using 20mm guns and 2,75" rockets as well as PARS 4x4 Anti-Tank Vehicles armed with OMTAS missiles.
As part of the night operations, an air assault operation was also conducted. A total of 8 helicopters, including 2 CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters and 4 AS-532 Cougar medium-weight utility helicopters, were deployed for the air assault ops escorted by two T-129 ATAK Helicopters. After the successful completion of the air assault operation by landing the special forces unit in the designated area, Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions were carried out by the Special Forces Command.
The night activities during the Distinguished Observer Day were completed with the firing of the air defence system. In accordance with the scenario, the elements conducting amphibious loading on the mainland were exposed to air attack. The hostile air targets were destroyed by the Korkut 35 mm Air Defence System and the Oerlikon 35 mm Twin Cannon Anti-Aircraft System.
EFES-2024 Distinguished Observer Day - Daytime Phase of the Exercise
Following the scenario on the night of May 29th, the daytime phase of the exercise continued on May 30th with air assault operations and amphibious operations. In the amphibious operation supported by artillery and mortar fire, targets of the hostile elements in the landing zone were destroyed with 76mm OTO Melara naval guns of the Turkish Navy ADA-Class Corvettes. Afterward, as per the scenario, the symbolic command post of the enemy was taken under fire by Turkish artillery batteries using several 155mm, 105mm, and 203mm howitzers as well as 81mm mortars. Following the artillery fire, the Turkish Air Force F-16s and Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) EF-2000 Eurofighters destroyed enemy targets using the 2,000-pound INS/GPS guided HGK-84 munitions (QEAF Fighters only conducted simulated dives and didn't use live munitions). TurAF F-16s carried out these strikes using ASELPOD Electro Optical Targeting System developed by Aselsan. ASELPOD can designate targets from long distances and precisely determine the target's location, allowing GPS-guided munitions to hit the target high accuracy. Additionally, AKINCI UCAV also fired MAM-T munition in the exercise. AKINCI UCAV guided the MAM-T smart bomb using the Aselsan product ASELFLIR-500 E/O Targeting System.
As the continuation of the air assault operations, 4x AS-532 COUGAR, 5x S-70, and 3x CH-47 Chinook helicopters carried 105mm BORAN Howitzer and ammunition boxes. TurAF 132nd Squadron F-16s also provided close-air support with 20mm M61 Vulcan Cannons for the Amphibious Assault Operations. The supplies and equipment needed by the personnel on the ground were airdropped from the A400M aircraft. After an enemy submarine was detected in the Amphibious Landing Area, 3 S-70B SeaHawk ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) Helicopters took off from the TCG ANADOLU LHD and used dipping sonars to determine its exact location. A P-72 maritime patrol aircraft fired training torpedoes to neutralize the submarine. In support of the Amphibious Operations, after the enemy targets were hit by 155mm Howitzers, the minefields and wire obstacles on the landing zone were cleared by using MAGAS-A and MAGAS-Y Mine-Clearing Line Charge Systems to create a breaching path for the amphibious landing elements.
Developed by FNSS and delivered to the Turkish Naval Forces, ZAHA Marine Assault Vehicles also took part in the EFES 2024 exercise for the first time. ZAHA Marine Assault Vehicle is designed to ensure rapid ship-to-shore transfer of marines during the landing phase of the amphibious operation and to provide fire support to the marines from the moment they land on the shore. Before the main landing force arrives, ZAHA MAVs carried amphibious infantry squads from the TCG ANADOLU to the shore and provided fire support to the dismounted assault elements with their 12.7mm Machine Guns and 40mm Grenade Launcher. The ZAHA Marine Assault Vehicle represents a significant step forward in Türkiye's defence capabilities. Its introduction into the Turkish Naval Forces Command's inventory marks a milestone in achieving self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on foreign defence technologies. The ZAHA Marine Assault Vehicle is a force multiplier for the Turkish Navy Amphibious Marine Brigade, offering unmatched operational capabilities and strategic advantages.
In the EFES-2024 Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise, Turkey's first jet-powered supersonic training aircraft, HÜRJET, and the Turkish Air Force's air demonstration squadron, Turkish Stars, also performed an aerobatic flight. HÜRJET Project has started to fulfill international and Turkish Air Force requirements by replacing aging T-38s as Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT) and F-5s as Acrobatic Team Aircraft with modern high-performance multirole aircraft.
President Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN also attended the afternoon session and made a speech at the EFES-2024 Exercise. ERDOĞAN said: "Since 2002, we have mobilized all kinds of means to maximize the level of indigenous production in the defence industry. Thanks to the progress it has made in the defence industry, Türkiye has become one of the indispensable actors in its region."
Stating that nearly two thousand friendly military staff from 45 different countries have joined the EFES-2024 along with the Turkish soldiers, President ERDOĞAN voiced his pleasure over the increasing interest in the exercise in every area and added: "I thank all who have contributed to the exercise that has been carried out in two stages with the participation of 11 thousand military personnel since April 15."
Underscoring that the EFES-2024 does not target any country, President ERDOĞAN noted: "Our exercise has been carried out with a generic scenario based on an exercise promoting peace. I believe that the exercise will increase our military's capabilities for the planning, coordination, and execution of united and joint exercises."
Stressing that having a strong military, technology, human resources, and high deterrence is obligatory for Türkiye given the fact that its near environment is surrounded by a circle of fire, President ERDOĞAN said: "We consider it to be an essential necessity to equip the Turkish Armed Forces with the most advanced equipment and systems on the ground. Since 2002, we have mobilized all kinds of means to maximize the level of indigenous production in the defence industry. Thanks to this progress, Türkiye has become one of the indispensable actors in its region." President ERDOĞAN continued as follows: "While there were only 62 active defence projects in 2002, today this number has exceeded a thousand. While the budget of the active defence projects in 2002 was some $5.5 billion, the volume of the ongoing projects today has surpassed $96 billion. We are among the 10 countries capable of designing, building, and operating their own warships. And we are one of the 3-4 leading countries in UAV and UCAV production."
The EFES-2024 Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise ended with the passage of 50 vessels that attended the drill and the salute of President ERDOĞAN and military officials
