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Fifty countries have gathered in western Türkiye as EFES 2026, the country’s largest combined joint live-fire military exercise, moves into its final days in Izmir’s Seferihisar district.
The exercise, held in the Doganbey area since April 20, is set to conclude today after the Distinguished Observer Day, when defense ministers and military chiefs from participating countries will follow the final live-fire maneuvers.
EFES 2026 brings together 10,388 personnel, including 1,305 troops from allied and partner nations, making it one of the most internationally diverse editions of the exercise.
NATO members such as the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom are taking part alongside Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, Sweden, Somalia and Rwanda.
Two participants have drawn particular attention during the exercise. The Syrian army joined EFES for the first time since the fall of the decades-long Baathist regime.
The exercise also brought together rival military forces from Libya’s west and east for the first time, adding a notable diplomatic layer to the military gathering.
At sea, Türkiye has used EFES 2026 to show off its expanding naval capabilities through platforms such as TCG Anadolu, the country’s a multi-purpose amphibious assault ship.
Baykar’s Bayraktar TB3 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) carried out sorties directly from TCG Anadolu, a step officials described as a milestone for Türkiye’s naval aviation program.
The locally produced Karayel patrol boat was used for the first time during the exercise off the coast of Izmir, underlining Türkiye’s focus on domestically built naval systems.
The patrol boat’s appearance added to the maritime phase of EFES 2026, where amphibious and sea-based operations were among the key displays.
Türkiye’s unmanned systems were among the central elements of the exercise, with the Bayraktar TB3 operating from TCG Anadolu and the heavy-payload Bayraktar Akinci supporting joint operations.
The exercise also included a live demonstration of Türkiye’s Steel Dome, known in Turkish as Celik Kubbe, an integrated air and missile defense architecture.
Developed by Aselsan, the system links together Siper, Hisar-A, Hisar-O and Sungur in a layered structure designed to respond to threats from cruise missiles to commercial-grade drones.
The Steel Dome concept reflects Türkiye’s effort to build up different ranges of protection rather than rely on a single system.
Long-range and short-range elements are brought together so that threats can be detected, tracked and intercepted at different stages.
Defense Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc., known as STM, demonstrated the KARGU loitering munition swarm capability during EFES 2026.
The system was operated by a single operator controlling 20 units at the same time, following a live-fire test in January 2026 that STM described as a world first.
A Defense Industry Exhibition is being held alongside the live-fire phases, bringing procurement officials and military delegations together with more than 50 Turkish defense companies.
The exhibition gives visiting delegations a closer look at platforms and systems developed by Türkiye’s defense industry.
Turkish Aerospace Industries is displaying the Kaan fifth-generation fighter jet, Hurjet advanced jet trainer and Anka-3 stealth unmanned combat aircraft at the exhibition.
Aselsan is presenting Toygun and Karat electro-optical and infrared targeting systems at the exhibition.
The systems were developed domestically after foreign embargoes affected previously imported optics technology.
The Alpay-II minefield breaching system is also among the platforms shown on the sidelines of EFES 2026.
Such systems are designed to help military units clear routes through mined areas during complex ground operations.
Other systems, including the Uran vehicle-mounted weapon system and the Tolga weapon system, are also featured at the defense industry exhibition.
Turkish F-16 fighter jets also took part in the exercise over Canakkale, northwestern Türkiye, during the air phase of EFES 2026.
The aircraft were shown carrying out maneuvers and releasing flares during the drills.
Amphibious and air capabilities linked to TCG Anadolu were demonstrated off the coast of Izmir as part of the exercise.
EFES 2026 also included night-time live-fire scenes, with flares and illumination rounds lighting up the training area.
For the governments represented at EFES 2026, the exercise offers a direct view of a Turkish defense industry that has expanded its domestic production capacity over the past decade.
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