Syria Joins Turkey’s Efes 2026 Among Nine New Participants

IZMIR, Turkey — The largest-ever edition of Turkey’s Efes military exercise highlighted advanced technology, demonstrated innovative maneuvers, and featured the participation of nine nations for the first time, including Syria.

The exercise ran from April 11 to May 22, integrating land, sea, and air assets to conduct drills day and night at the Doğanbey Training Area in Seferihisar, Izmir. Media were invited to attend the final week.

A Turkish military official reported that nine countries participated for the first time: Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, Egypt, Poland, Vietnam, Portugal, and Syria. Although Breaking Defense did not observe the Syrian contingent, the official noted that a 20‑person unit took part, conducting an air assault and employing weapons on a Turkish utility helicopter.

Serhat Süha Çubukçuoğlu, an analyst at TRENDS Research & Advisory in Abu Dhabi, described the participation as “a sign of deepening cooperation” between the two countries. Following the collapse of the Assad regime in late 2024, experts anticipated a greater Turkish role in enhancing Syria’s defense capabilities, including rebuilding its armed forces and supplying armored vehicles, drones, and air‑defense systems.

50 New Homegrown Systems

These systems were employed during a series of media‑viewed events. The article was produced with travel and accommodation support from the Turkish Ministry of Defense and defense contractors Havelsan, Aselsan, Roketsan, MKE, and Asfat.

A night operation included live‑fire missions that targeted enemy positions, with only the roar of munitions and explosions breaking the cold night air during a two‑hour drill. In a dramatic moment, Turkish helicopters released flares that illuminated Izmir’s night sky moments before a 2,000‑pound Mk‑84 general‑purpose bomb detonated, shaking the ground beneath reporters.

During the night exercise, a series of drills incorporated search‑and‑rescue operations, simulating missions behind enemy lines as attacks were launched from frigates, F‑16 fighters, and helicopters. Although darkness prevailed, the relentless explosions created a vivid scene. The phase concluded with the Korkut system engaging and shooting down a drone using red and white lights.

The day phase remained equally active, featuring a substantial naval presence. Fast attack craft raced near the shore, providing fire support for larger vessels that delivered amphibious armored vehicles and tanks onto land.

Demining operations were carried out in one sector, using colored smoke to highlight the number of mines neutralized. Tanks delivered heavy fire on enemy positions, after which paratroopers were rapidly deployed. Turkish armed forces helicopters—including Ataks, AH‑1W SuperCobras, and CH‑47 Chinooks—flew multiple sorties overhead, while the navy’s S‑70 Sea Hawks hovered over the water, employing dipping sonar to search for submarines.

During the day, the sails of two Reis‑class and Preveze‑class submarines were visible, and live‑fire submarine operations were executed. The TCG Anadolu operated alongside numerous vessels, such as 151‑class landing craft, a Bey‑class landing ship, an Ada‑class corvette, a Kilic fast‑attack craft, and unmanned surface vessels Sancar and Marlin.

Efes 2026 serves as “a showcase of Turkey’s burgeoning defense industrial base to attract new customers, develop new systems and weapons concepts across air defense, army, and naval units,” Çubukçuoğlu told Breaking Defense. He concluded that the exercise demonstrates Turkey “positioning itself as a uniquely capable NATO ally with a multitude of capabilities for its allies and partners throughout the region.”

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