Türkiye Concludes EFES 2026 With Armed Forces From 50 Countries
Türkiye concluded EFES 2026 on May 21, ending a drill that brought armed forces from 50 countries into exercises at sea, on land and in the airspace. The multinational turnout made this edition one of Türkiye's most comprehensive joint military drills, with more than 10,000 personnel and 1,305 troops from allied and partner nations.
Yaşar Güler followed the exercise with the Turkish Armed Forces command and guest ministers, while Syria’s Army Chief of Staff traveled to Türkiye to watch the drills. The event also put several newly displayed systems into the same operational frame, from naval platforms to air-defense architecture.
May 16 to May 21 in Türkiye
EFES 2026 started on May 16 and ran for five days. During that window, Türkiye used the exercise to show naval, air and air-defense capabilities in a setting that drew participation from countries well beyond its usual military partners.
The Syrian Army took part for the first time since the fall of the Baathist regime, sending a core unit for air assault, armoured manoeuvre, and sniper training. That participation placed Syria's military in the same exercise as countries that were not previously training in that format together.
Libya and Syria at EFES
Two rival military forces from Libya's west and east took part together for the first time, adding a rare layer of interaction to the drill. The exercise therefore brought together forces that remain divided at home, even as they trained in the same multinational environment in Türkiye.
The most visible hardware came from Türkiye. The host showed off the TCG Anadolu, and Baykar's Bayraktar TB3 unmanned combat aerial vehicle operated directly from the ship. The Bayraktar Akinci supported joint operations, and Türkiye deployed the locally produced Karayel patrol boat for the first time during the exercise, carrying out tasks off the coast of Izmir.
Steel Dome and Turkish systems
On the sidelines of EFES 2026, Türkiye used the exercise to present the Alpay-II minefield breaching system and a live demonstration of the Steel Dome integrated air and missile defence architecture. Aselsan developed Steel Dome, which integrates Siper, Hisar-A, Hisar-O and Sungur air defence systems and is designed to respond to cruise missiles and commercial-grade drones.
The air phase included manoeuvres by F-16 fighter jets, while Turkish Aerospace Industries displayed the Kaan fifth-generation fighter jet, Hurjet advanced jet trainer and Anka-3 stealth unmanned combat aircraft. Aselsan presented Toygun and Karat electro-optical targeting systems, developed domestically in response to foreign embargoes affecting previously imported optics technology, and STM demonstrated the KARGU loitering munition.
EFES 2026 ended with a clear scale marker: 50 countries, more than 10,000 personnel and 1,305 troops from allied and partner nations in one exercise. For readers watching Türkiye's defense industry and regional military alignment, the telling detail is not just the size of the drill but the mix of participants who trained together in the same sea, land and airspace environment.
