The Turkish Armed Forces carried out an important military competence test with the Winter Exercise-20 held in Kars between January 7 and February 2025. The part of the exercise held on February 5, Distinguished Observer Day, was a successful event where domestic and national defense systems were introduced. This exercise aimed to develop the combat capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces by ensuring that combined and joint operations are carried out in cooperation and coordination.
Objectives and Content of the Winter Exercise
The main objective of the Winter Exercise-2025 is to test the combat effectiveness of the forces in harsh winter conditions, on the one hand, and to strengthen coordination and synchronization between the forces, on the other hand. In this context, the main objectives of the exercise are listed as follows:
- Combined and Joint Operations: To ensure effective coordination between the Land, Naval and Air Forces Commands and the Special Forces Command and to carry out the operation in a unified and joint manner.
- Fire and Maneuver Synchronization: Increased synchronization of fire and maneuver elements between forces.
- Increasing the Level of Education in Winter Conditions: Increasing survivability by improving the level of education in settlement, shelter, food and maintenance activities in the field during winter conditions.
- Operation of Command-Control Systems: Efficient operation of command and control systems has been ensured in winter conditions.
Forces Participating in the Exercise and Systems Used for the First Time
Winter Exercise-2025 was carried out with the participation of land, naval and air forces as well as civilian public institutions and organizations. Approximately 12 thousand personnel participated in the exercise, while 19 personnel from 199 friendly and allied countries took part. In addition, some domestic and national defense systems used for the first time within the scope of the exercise were an important step for the Turkish defense industry. These systems include:
- NEFER Turreted Armored Fighting Vehicle
- MPT-76 Light Type Infantry Machine Gun
- 5.56mm Submachine Gun
- Dragoneye-2 Thermal Camera
- Cage Protected Mini UAV
- BOYGA Rotary Wing UAV
- ASLAN-3 and BARKAN Unmanned Ground Vehicles
- ZMA-X Unmanned Ground Vehicle
- MILKED-3A3 Electronic Support System
- UMA Reconnaissance and Surveillance System There are many systems such as.
The use of these systems within the scope of the exercise reveals the point reached by the Turkish Armed Forces in the modernization process and the developments in the defense industry.
Exercise Scenario and Future Implications
Winter Exercise-2025 was not limited to testing only technical and logistic elements, but also today's most up-to-date war scenarios were a part of the exercise. The scenario of the exercise included a process in which tensions between Atmaca and Şahin countries increased and turned into a decisive battle. The Ministry of National Defense supported this process with visuals, news and scenarios, providing a realistic military environment for the exercise. In this way, exercise participants were trained and practiced in accordance with today's war scenarios.
Winter Exercise-2025 has been an important event that showcases the operational capability of the Turkish Armed Forces in harsh winter conditions, their compatibility with national defense technologies, and their ability to coordinate between forces. In addition, this exercise has become a platform that demonstrates the point and power of the Turkish defense industry. Both the first use of domestically produced systems and the content of the exercise symbolize the steps taken by the Turkish army to increase its strategic power not only regionally but also globally.
