EFES-2022: One of Turkey’s Largest Exercises Begins
The EFES 2022 Exercise, one of the largest planned exercises of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), began in the Doğanbey Exercise Area with the participation of friendly and allied country elements under the direction and administration of the Aegean Army Command, according to the Turkish Ministry of National Defense.
In the statement made by the Ministry of Defense, it was stated that the purpose of the exercise was to develop the military capabilities and skills of the joint force and troops formed together with troops from the countries that were invited, to cover all tasks that could be assigned, and to maintain combat readiness.
This year’s EFES exercise gathered almost 10,000 personnel from 37 nations, including Libya, Italy, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Albania, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the United States, and France, increasing from 8 countries in 2016 and 20 in 2018. In addition, an Italian frigate, the Libyan Navy gunboat LNS SHAFAKH, and many elements will participate in the exercise, including the USS Arlington (LPD-24) Amphibious Landing Platform of the US Navy, LCACs (Landing Craft Air Cushion), Ch-53 helicopters, howitzers, and various armored vehicles.
According to the Turkish General Staff’s statement, among the military activities to be carried out within the scope of the exercise will be an amphibious operation supported by artillery fire, and the targets will be hit with ground fire support vehicles, fighter aircraft, and attack helicopters. In EFES 2022, where Special Forces Operations will also be conducted, troops’ maneuvering from ship to target, airlift, combat search and rescue, and close quarters combat capabilities will also be demonstrated.
Some weapons and vehicles developed domestically by Turkey have been deployed for the first time during the exercise. One of the most interesting of these is the Navigation Electronic Warfare System SEYMEN, which is being developed by Meteksan Defense. This project, the technical details of which have not been disclosed, is aimed at the application of Electronic Attack (EA) to targets such as UAVs, helicopters, aircraft, weapons, guided missiles, missiles, command and control systems and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) used in ground, air and naval platforms. Others include the Roketsan-developed Tactical Missile Weapon System, which was recently added to the Turkish Armed Forces’ inventory and the New Kargı kamikaze drone from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBITAK).