Atiş Serbest 2026 –Turkish Land Forces test fire coordination

In mid-October the Turkish Land Forces Command organised the 2026 edition of Atiş Serbest, the annual fire coordination exercise, the first of the series dating back to 2014. The aim of Atiş Serbest, Free Fire in English, was to improve coordination between the various branches of the Land Forces providing direct and indirect fire support, a contribution being also provided by the Air Force. Once limited to guns, howitzers, and missiles, the latter launched by ground and flying assets, today one further type of effector appeared in the form of loitering munitions, while missiles are also delivered from unmanned platforms, all this making the scenario more complicated, the exercise also including defensive assets to cope with enemy drones’ attacks, not to mention cyber and AI assets

EDR On-Line was invited by the Turkish Ministry of Defence to attend Atiş Serbest, which followed the invite last May when we could witness EFES 2026; the latter was a joint and multinational exercise, while the October one saw the participation of only Turkish Land Forces personnel, except for a few close air support missions by the Air Force. The exercise main objective was to improve coordination among the various Land Forces branches, following the acquisition of the battlespace picture thanks to a multidomain intelligence operation.

It is to note that each exercise sees an increasing participation of unmanned systems, used not only in the ISR mission but also as defensive and offensive effectors. Some new capabilities were also shown by Land Forces Commando Brigades, that will be detailed further on. Of course, the exercise was also an opportunity to witness Turkish defence industry products in action, a static exhibition being also organised to allow visitors to see firsthand most of the systems employed during the exercise.

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The build up to the mobilisation and action saw the whole intelligence apparatus engaged in acquiring as many information as possible on the opponents moves. Signals intelligence was the one operating in depth, using Aselsan’s Milged-3A3, a mobile electronic support system which scans frequencies between 30 MHz and 3 GHZ, locating the signal source and determining the language used when voice comms is concerned. The same company Antidot 2-U/ES100 electronic warfare pods installed on drones also provided valuable SIGINT. Airspace surveillance was provided by mobile medium-altitude 3D radar, Murad-100A airborne radar installed on Turkish Air Force platforms, both developed by Aselsan. These assets were provided by several commands including Artillery and Missile, Air Defence, Army Aviation and Electronic Warfare. The Land Forces Aviation Command provided image intelligence using UAVs; the deep zone was the responsibility of Baykar’s twin-turboprop Akinci, while in the near zone two UAVs were used, Havelsan’s Bulut and Baykar’s Kalkan VTOL airframes. Finally, the General Staff Cyber Defence Command exploited an AI-based tool to gather imagery intelligence discovered on internet-based cameras. All information obtained were filed into the Aselsan’s Kocatepe tactical area command, control, and information system. AI-based target planning was also used for the first time by Turkish Land Forces in a live fire exercise.

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Once tension escalated and weapons were called into action, the Turkish Land Forces started shaping the battlespace hitting strategic targets in depth and operational targets at shorter distances. Two targets were destroyed respectively by one Şimşek and one Super Şimşek, with their 17 and 35 kg warheads, both produced by Tusaş, while a Baykar’s Kemankeş mini-cruise missile was dropped from a TB-2 UCAV from the same company, a first for the Turkish Land Forces. An enemy air defence asset was attacked and destroyed by a swarm of 20 Baykar’s Sivrisinek intelligent loitering munitions, carrying a 20 kg warhead each, other drones acting as relay to allow them exploiting their full range. Finally, a Tusaş’ Ayaz jet-powered delta-wing kamikaze UAV destroyed a command centre. All these assets were deployed by the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems (UAVS) Brigade which falls under the Land Forces Aviation Command.

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At shorter ranges destroying enemy weapons in the rear was the task of artillery; the 57th Artillery Brigade deployed four M110A2 203 mm and four 155/52 mm New Generation Firtina self-propelled howitzers, while the Artillery and Missile School Command provided four Firtina and four M-52T SP howitzers, the latter equipped with a 155/39 mm barrel. Towed 105 mm Boran howitzers, from MKE, were deployed by the 11th Commando Brigade, while the Infantry School Command deployed three M30 107 mm mortars of US origin. The aim being to involve as many players as possible from different Land Forces entities to spread the experience acquired during the exercise explains the deployment of such a high number of different assets. In front of the observation point we could see some T-155 TTA Panther 155/52 mm truck-mounted howitzers on the move to another location, this weapon system being a development carried out by ASFAT, based on the Panther towed howitzer, however these were not mentioned among the effectors used during Atiş Serbest 2026.

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Covered by a smoke screen deployed by four AI-powered drones and with a path opened by engineers, the tank force, represented by two Leopard 2A4 and two M60 T advanced towards the enemy, opening fire against targets located at 800 metres distance. The contact established, two tracked antitank vehicles, one armed with Roketsan’s OMTAS missiles and the second with L-UMTAS and Cirit effectors, suppress enemy armoured units at respectively 3 and 4 km range, while artillery assets receive the task to deploy a smoke screen at over 5 km range, exploiting again the automated functions of the BAİKS battery fire direction and TAİKS tactical fire direction command control systems, part of the ADOP fire support automation system, developed by Aselsan.

It was again the turn of unmanned assets: two Baykar’s Akinci UAVs came into play; one was flying at 22,000 ft and released a Mk80-series bomb fitted with a Roketsan’s Teber guidance kit, while the second fired two Aselsan’s Tolun munitions from 25,000 altitude, ordnances disrupting a seven vehicles enemy resupply convoy, this marking a first in a public exercise.

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The tank force resumed movement and started hitting targets at 1,000 metres distance, however one of the M60s hit a mine; a Tekatron’s Palem tracked Class II unmanned ground vehicle was sent forward to evacuate the casualty protected by a smoke screen generated by fellow tanks.

Artillery was called to destroy an enemy strongpoint with a massive fire of 203 and 155 mm shells. Wheeled and tracked infantry personnel carriers were called to provide suppressive fire; one BMC Vuran 4×4 and two FNSS’ ZMAs (Zırhlı Muharebe Aracı, tracked infantry fighting vehicle) fitted respectively with a SARP RCWS and Nefer 25 turrets, both types from Aselsan, engaged the enemy at 500-700 metres distance. The Turkish Land Forces have for the time being received 115 ZMA in the configuration seen at the exercise.

A Cengaver jet-powered target drone produced by UAVERA, playing the enemy role, was neutralised at 1,500 metres distance by a Korkut section which deployed three twin-35 mm vehicles and one command and control vehicle. The enemy reiterated its attack, its artillery opening fire on friendly forces; an Akinci UAV loitering over the area fired in sequence a Roketsan’s MAM-T (IIR) and a MAM-L (TV) missiles, destroying two enemy tanks, while a swarm of STM Kargu loitering munitions neutralised enemy infantry.

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203 mm and 155 mm artillery assets were given a fire mission to destroy a further enemy convoy, while another swarm, this time made of 20 Beyond Technologies Bazna wire-guided VTOL FPVs, destroyed another target. Enemy armour continued threatening friendly lines, and it was the turn of two Tusaş’ ATAK helicopters to fire Roketsan’s Cirit guided rockets and L-UMTAS missiles against the four-tank platoon.

Indirect fire was again called to deal with targets at shorter distances; this time the task fell on the 81, 107 and 120 mm mortars provided by the Infantry School Command, the 1st Amphibious Marine Infantry Brigade Command and the 59th Brigade Command, a point target being destroyed by an STM’s Boyga quadcopter carrying an 81 mm mortar ammunition.

Snipers armed with rifles ranging from 5.56 mm to .338 LM calibres kept enemy at bay while operators from the 1st Commando Brigade flew over the front line equipped with paramotors, to infiltrate targets identified by an Akinci UAV with its optronic suite.

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The Turkish Land Force started studying the capabilities of paramotors following October 7th, 2023, events in Israel from two standpoints; the defensive one, verifying which sensors were capable to detect them and eventually how these could be modified to better respond to the new threat, and the offensive one, proving which capabilities such systems could add to Commando formations. Atiş Serbest 2026 marked the first use of those assets in a major exercise.

The snipers that covered the infiltration were running out of ammunition, resupply task being given to a Dasal’s PUHU-C75, the number indicating the maximum payload in kilograms of the VTOL airframe which features four couples of counter-rotating rotors powered by electric motors, and which was used on an exercise for the first time. At the other extreme of VTOL platforms, these one manned, two CH-47F Chinook helicopters deployed motorcycle-mounted Commandos which mission was to join up with the paramotor Commando teams, withdrawing with them under the cover of long-range sniper fire, provided by elements from the Special Forces command armed with 12.7 mm and .375 CheyTac calibre rifles, engaging targets at around 1,000 metres.

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The exercise marked a first in the use of CH-47 and motorbike-mounted Commandos. On the retreat Commandos from the 11th Brigade engaged targets while on the move fired against simulated aerial targets and against land targets with shotguns as well as with motorcycle-mounted machine guns, apparently MMT-76 produced by MKE, these engaging targets at 300 metres range. Here too,

Four targets in depth are neutralised by a Close Air Support mission carried out by two F-16C from the Turkish Air Force, each dropping two Mk-84 bombs fitted with Tübitak SAGE HGK-84 GPS/INS guidance kits, a Firtina battery redeploying to engage two targets.

Sixteen Bazna drones were this time employed in the reconnaissance role, and were led by voice, being fitted with DataBoss’ GökKAAN AI-based autonomous swarm drone management system that allows controlling drones by voice, with no training needed for the operator. A convoy was spotted, and light artillery from 11th Commando Brigade neutralised it with two Boran howitzers firing three 105 mm rounds each. Air Force F-16s were called back, engaging once again two main targets with their HGK-84 bombs.

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At short range, three different UGVs were called to neutralise targets at around 300 metres: Havelsan’s Barkan, Aselsan’s Aslan and Tekatron’s Palem, respectively from 2nd Army Command, 51st Commando Brigade Command, and Infantry School Command, laid down suppressive fire using their medium- and heavy-calibre machine guns mounted on RCWS, a Karaok missile being launched against an armoured combat vehicle at over 2,000 metres range by an infantry antitank team. Atiş Serbest 2026 marked the first official appearance of Barkan and Palem UGVs in a Land Forces exercise.

More enemy drones appeared in the sky. Two of them were downed by Roketsan’s Alka directed energy weapon system, the next four being treated by MKE Tolga SHORAD system, one with the laser effector and the remaining with the 20 mm automatic cannon. Two more enemy UAVs were destroyed by Aselsan’s Gökberk laser system, while the same company Ejderha high power microwave system dealt with the final two attackers.

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The two F-16s carried out a last reconnaissance over the battlespace, while an M60T that remained hidden along the whole action in a shed moved from its hide to be targeted by some enemy FPVs, which were neutralised by the Ilter Tank, the jamming system developed by Boğaziçi Savunma, which 12 antennas, each covering a frequency band, were clearly visible on top of the tank turret.

Electronic warfare systems were key assets during Atiş Serbest 2026; Milkar 3T2, Milked 3A3, and Milkar 3T4, operated during the whole exercise, coordinated by the Mobile Command System. For the first time Turkish Land Forces deployed Aselsan’s Milkar-6A MİLKAR 6A mobile phone tampering system, ensuring the spoofing of participants’ mobile phone location data.

Along the whole exercise Turkish Armed Forces Cyber ​​Defence Command cyber ​​teams generated confusion in enemy systems regarding the locations of friendly units, delaying operational decision-making, inserting malicious software within the enemy’s command and control information system. They also inserted malicious software into the servers of the enemy’s fire support automation system, which allowed manipulating target coordinates, causing deviations in range which allowed avoiding friendly assets from being hit.

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From XXI century assets to something that remembers the past: a section of horse-mounted soldiers from the Land Forces Equestrian Sport Command carried out a final reconnaissance and damage assessment on the battlefield. Officially those cavalry assets have a ceremonial role, however seen at Atiş Serbest in full combat gear, and considering a booklet titled “The use of mounted units on the modern battlefield” recently published by the Army, it is quite possible that soon horses might be back in operational service, albeit for very special missions.

EDR On-Line usually does not describe in such details an exercise, however Atiş Serbest 2026 was a clear demonstration of how the Turkish Land Forces are exploiting new technologies, and we considered worth bringing as much as possible to our readers. Coordinating such activities in peacetime, with a “cooperative enemy”, targets being quite passive, is certainly different from doing it against an active enemy, however packing all those activities in two and a half hours is a challenge in itself, also considering that the demonstration was anticipated by two days due to bad weather forecast on the planned date.

Photos courtesy Turkish MoD and P. Valpolini