Free Fire-2026 Exercise Completed: Turkish Armed Forces' Fire Power Displayed

Exercise Free Fire-2026, where the Turkish Armed Forces demonstrated their firepower and joint operation capability, was completed in Polatlı district of Ankara.

Exercise Free to Fire-2026, which was organized to demonstrate the effect of the weapons and systems in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) on the target, to improve inter-force fire support and to evaluate the personnel's ability to use different systems in a coordinated manner, was completed.

The Distinguished Observer Day of the activity carried out in the General Nahit Şenoğul Firing and Exercise Zone in Ankara's Polatlı district was held on October 13. Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, Commander of the Land Forces General Metin Tokel, Commander of the Air Forces General Rafet Dalkıran, Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijan General Kerim Veliyev and Commander of the Qatar Land Forces Major General Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah attended the program.

In the exercise in which Land, Naval and Air Forces and General Staff Special Forces Command personnel took part, shots were made at designated targets with weapon systems with different ranges and areas of effect. In addition to live shooting, unmanned platforms, air defense systems and new generation defense technologies were also exhibited on the field.

Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler drew attention to the technical capabilities of the systems as well as the training, coordination and effectiveness of the personnel using them. The main objectives of the exercise include demonstrating the effect of firepower in the field and improving the joint operational capabilities of different units.

Precision Strikes with UAVs and Smart Munitions

One of the highlights of the exercise was the shootings carried out by unmanned aerial vehicles with different ammunition.

Bayraktar TB2 armed unmanned aerial vehicle fired at designated targets with Kemankeş ammunition. Bayraktar AKINCI attack unmanned aerial vehicle used TEBER and TOLUN ammunition in its shots from different altitudes. In these demonstrations, precision strike capabilities were demonstrated in different mission profiles.

AKINCI's shootings with different ammunition revealed the platform's weapon options that can be used against various target types. TB2's firing with Kemankeş demonstrated the use of UAVs with longer range and ammunition for different mission profiles.

Attack scenarios on targets with kamikaze mini UAV systems were also implemented in the exercise. According to the information shared by Baykar General Manager Haluk Bayraktar, 20 MOSQUITO Smart Loitering Ammunition flew in autonomous swarm mode. 10 ammunition separated from the herd hit the designated targets with full accuracy.

The swarm capability of the KARGU strike UAVs developed by STM was also among the notable topics of the exercise. In the shared scenario, 20 CARGU took off under the control of a single operator and headed towards the target area. After identifying and classifying the targets, the herd split into two groups and launched a simultaneous attack.

These demonstrations demonstrated the capabilities of using unmanned systems not only as single platforms but also in groups that can share common tasks.

Shots were made with Fırtına and BORAN Howitzers

Artillery systems used in fire support of ground troops also took part in Fire Free-2026. The designated targets were hit in the shootings with T-155 Storm howitzers and 105 mm BORAN light towed howitzers. Mortar units also fired within the scope of exercise scenarios.

The use of artillery elements in different missions enabled the fire support capabilities of the units and the coordination between different weapon systems to be demonstrated. At the end of the exercise, ammunition supply to BORAN howitzers by mounted elements was one of the demonstrations in the program.

Sniper teams also shot with domestically produced KNT-76, Bora-12 and KN-12 rifles. The teams hit small targets at distances of 600 meters and 1 kilometer. These shots highlighted precision at long range and the individual shooting capabilities of the personnel.

ATAK Helicopters and F-16s took part

Air elements served in support to ground troops and attack targets. T-129 ATAK attack helicopters were used in scenarios against unmanned aerial vehicle threats within the scope of the rear area operation.

Two F-16 warplanes belonging to the Air Force Command provided close air support to the troops on the ground and carried out reconnaissance flights. Thus, the coordination between land elements and air platforms was exhibited within the scope of the live activities of the exercise.

Landing commandos with CH-47 Chinook heavy transport helicopters to designated areas was also among the implemented scenarios. In the activities carried out with motorcycle commando teams and paramotor elements, the units' ability to operate in different deployment methods and terrain conditions was demonstrated.

Systems Against UAV and Electronic Warfare Threats

Defense systems developed against unmanned aerial vehicles were also used in the exercise. Neutralization scenarios against drone threats were carried out with systems such as TOLGA, GÖKBERK, ALKA and EJDERHA.

These systems represent solutions developed against the threat posed by small and low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles with different detection and neutralization methods. In this field, some systems work through electronic mixing, some through directed energy or different physical effects.

In the exercise, autonomous fogging activity was also carried out with four artificial intelligence-supported flying eye systems. In this scenario, the aim was to create a smoke screen to hide the troops and cover their movements. Additionally, capabilities regarding the use of flying eye systems in reconnaissance, surveillance and other support missions were demonstrated.

HAVELSAN also demonstrated its unmanned systems in the exercise. While BULUT unmanned aerial vehicle was used for reconnaissance, marking and surveillance missions, BARKAN fired at targets with the 12.7 mm remote-controlled weapon system integrated on the unmanned ground vehicle. BARKAN's capabilities that can be used in reconnaissance, load carrying and different field missions also came to the fore.

104 Weapons and Systems were Exhibited

In addition to the live firing activities, the systems in the Turkish Armed Forces inventory, developed with local and national resources, were also introduced in the exhibition area. It was reported that 104 different weapons and systems were exhibited within the scope of the exercise.

Among the systems introduced by TÜBİTAK BİLGEM were the EDPOD-K Electronic Support Pod, high-power laser system, OZAN-G metal mine detector, ÇAM hand-held mine detection system, optical device detection system and KORU drone detection radar. These solutions; It is being developed for different mission areas such as electronic support, mine detection, identification of optical threats and early detection against unmanned aerial vehicles.

TÜBİTAK SAGE exhibited the GÖKHAN, GÖKDOĞAN and BOZDOĞAN air-to-air missiles and the GÖKÇE guidance kit. KUZGUN ammunition family and BOZOK and KAYI series unmanned aerial vehicle ammunition were also among the introduced systems.

Technologies such as the TOLGA close air defense system, different unmanned platforms and military communication solutions were also presented to the visitors at the event.

53 Activities Were Held for the First Time This Year

One of the prominent features of Fire Free-2026 was that 53 different practices that were not included in previous activities were carried out for the first time this year. These included the use of the TOLGA system, fogging and CBRN cleaning activities with flying eyes, firing of AKINCI and TB2 with different ammunition, and commando landing scenarios via CH-47 Chinook.

The exercise aims not only to introduce the TSK's weapons and systems, but also to train the personnel using them in realistic scenarios and to improve the coordination of different units. In particular, the place of unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence-supported applications and drone defense solutions in the exercise showed the increasing importance of these capabilities in the modern battlefield.

Fire Free-2026 was completed after the Distinguished Observer Day activities on October 13. With the shootings and system demonstrations carried out throughout the exercise, the coordination between the land, air and special forces elements of the Turkish Armed Forces and the ability to use different weapon systems together were demonstrated.