ATAK attack helicopters carried out a notable live-fire activity during the EFES-2026 Combined Joint Live-Fire Field Exercise, one of the Turkish Armed Forces’ major training events. The Ministry of National Defence shared footage showing ATAK helicopters belonging to the Land Aviation Command engaging designated targets as part of the exercise.

In its post, the ministry used the phrase “Wings of courage: ATAK” and stated that the helicopters fired on targets simultaneously and in coordination during EFES-2026. The footage included moments from the ammunition loading process as well as the helicopters’ engagement of the targets. This activity demonstrated the fire support, target engagement and joint operation capabilities of Turkish Land Aviation elements.

ATAK attack helicopters play a critical role in providing close air support to land forces, neutralizing armored and unarmored targets, suppressing threats and increasing the security of units operating on the front line. The successful engagement of targets during EFES-2026 showed the platform’s high firepower and precision strike capability in the field.

The exercise activity also demonstrated not only the firepower of the helicopters but also the successful execution of ammunition preparation, mission planning, coordination and targeting processes. The participation of Land Aviation Command assets in scenarios close to real operational conditions contributed to the training level of pilots and technical teams while strengthening the Turkish Armed Forces’ joint operational experience.

In large-scale exercises such as EFES-2026, the coordinated operation of air assets with land units is one of the most critical elements of modern warfare. ATAK helicopters are considered important force multipliers that increase the effectiveness of land forces through their mobility, low-altitude mission capability and high fire support capacity. The simultaneous and coordinated engagement of targets showed that different platforms can operate effectively within the same mission plan.

The successful firing activity of ATAK helicopters during EFES-2026 once again demonstrated Türkiye’s attack helicopter capabilities and the operational readiness of the Land Aviation Command. The performance displayed during the exercise strengthened the deterrence of the Turkish Armed Forces and highlighted the battlefield impact of Türkiye’s domestic and national capabilities in air-supported land operations.