The daytime phase of the Distinguished Observer Day has begun as part of EFES-2026, one of the most comprehensive joint exercises conducted by the Turkish Armed Forces. The activities were carried out at the Doğanbey Live-Fire Exercise Area in Seferihisar, İzmir, once again demonstrating the Turkish Armed Forces’ ability to employ land, air and naval elements within the same operational plan.

The Distinguished Observer Day activities were followed by Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler, Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, the Turkish Armed Forces command echelon, and defence ministers and chiefs of general staff from friendly and allied countries. With the participation of more than 10,000 personnel from 50 countries, EFES-2026 became an important platform where Türkiye showcased its military readiness, joint operational experience and domestic defence industry products to international delegations.

The daytime phase began with the takeoff of Bayraktar TB3 UCAV from TCG ANADOLU. This activity drew attention as a clear demonstration of Türkiye’s growing capability to operate unmanned aerial vehicles from naval platforms. Following the TB3 takeoff, naval gunfire support, artillery and mortar fire, as well as follow-on activities from the night air assault operation, were carried out. These missions showed the integrated use of ship-to-shore fire support, air strike capability and land force maneuver within a single scenario.

EFES-2026 included elements from the Turkish Land Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces, Special Forces Command, Gendarmerie General Command and Coast Guard Command. Various ministries, public institutions, non-governmental organizations and participating country elements also took part in the exercise. The main objective was to improve the capabilities of headquarters and units assigned to combined and joint operations while maintaining combat readiness in line with assigned missions.

A large number of indigenous and national defence industry products were used during the exercise. Systems such as the GÖKBEY helicopter, M-60 T1 tank, Panter and BORAN howitzers, TRLG-230 and SUNGUR missiles, TAYFUN, HİSAR-A and HİSAR-O air defence missile systems, KORKUT air defence weapon systems, 35 mm modern towed gun, KALKAN Air Defence Radar, İHTAR Counter-UAV System, KARAOK anti-tank weapon and UMTAS anti-tank missile were among the notable assets in the field.

Other systems also took part, including the KARAYEL assault boat, MEMATT mechanical mine clearing equipment, Vehicle-Mounted Mine/IED Detection System, ALKAR 120 mm mortar weapon system, GEZGİN satellite terminal, TARAS-II radiolink system, electronic IED detection and neutralization system, ASLAN unmanned ground vehicle, Dragoneye-2 and DORUK-2 electro-optical sensor systems. Systems planned to enter the inventory, such as the MİLKAR-A Portable Electronic Attack System, ALKA Laser Weapon System, MAGAS-E, TOLGA Close Air Defence System, GÖKBERK Laser Weapon System and kamikaze swarm drones, were also demonstrated in the field for the first time.

The daytime phase of EFES-2026 showed that Türkiye has reached an important level not only in producing defence platforms but also in using them effectively within realistic joint operation scenarios. The combined use of air defence systems, missiles and rockets, unmanned land and aerial vehicles, electronic warfare assets, electro-optical systems, artillery systems and naval platforms reflected the Turkish Armed Forces’ multi-layered operational approach.

The activities conducted during Distinguished Observer Day strengthened the deterrence of the Turkish Armed Forces while also increasing the international visibility of Türkiye’s domestic and national defence systems. EFES-2026 stood out as a strategic demonstration bringing together Türkiye’s military power, technological capabilities and joint operational experience on the same field.