ASELSAN Fields 30+ Indigenous Systems at EFES-2026: KOCATEPE’s Combat Debut and the Steel Dome Layer
According to Defence Industry Europe and Turkish defence media, ASELSAN displayed over 30 systems under real operational conditions at this year’s EFES exercise. The event served as one of the company’s broadest demonstrations to date, spanning air defence, electronic warfare, command-and-control and electro-optics — all observed by foreign military delegations and industry representatives.
At a Glance
- Who: ASELSAN — Turkiye’s largest defence electronics company
- What: 30+ indigenous systems demonstrated in a live exercise
- Where: EFES-2026 exercise (Izmir region)
- First use: KOCATEPE Battlefield Management System
- Highlights: KORKUT-35, IHTAR, ACAR, MILKED, SERHAT, KALKAN, ASELPOD
- Steel Dome layer: SIPER and HISAR air-defence missiles
Background: The EFES Exercise and ASELSAN’s Role
EFES is one of the largest joint and multinational exercises staged by the Turkish Armed Forces. We covered the broader 2026 edition separately; this report focuses specifically on the systems ASELSAN fielded. For the company, EFES is less a static display than a venue where products are run in integrated fashion across realistic combat scenarios.
The Systems on Display
According to open-source defence analyses, ASELSAN’s KOCATEPE Battlefield Management System was used for the first time to give commanders an integrated operational picture at every level. The electronic-warfare-resistant ARTSoft MAESTRO messaging and live-video software was also kept in the loop throughout the scenarios. The table below summarises the headline systems and their roles.
| System | Role |
|---|---|
| KOCATEPE | Battlefield management system (first use) |
| KORKUT-35 | 35 mm short-range air-defence gun (airburst munitions) |
| IHTAR | Counter-UAS (anti-drone) system |
| ACAR / SERHAT | UAV-detection radar / mortar-detection radar |
| MILKED | Land-based electronic support system |
| ASELPOD | Electro-optical targeting pod |
| SIPER / HISAR | Long- and medium-range air-defence missiles |
Steel Dome: A Layered Architecture in the Field
A large share of the systems shown at EFES are components of the layered air- and missile-defence architecture Turkiye calls the “Steel Dome.” In that scheme SIPER provides the long-range tier, the HISAR family the medium and short range, and KORKUT and KALKAN the gun-based close-in layer. Systems such as IHTAR and ACAR handle the detection and neutralisation of unmanned aircraft, which have become one of the most pressing battlefield threats in recent years.
Why It Matters for Turkey
ASELSAN’s EFES demonstration underlines how much of Turkiye’s air-defence and electronic-warfare capability is now developed and produced domestically. Having the radar, fire-control, command-and-control and effector elements emerge from a single supply chain eases operational integration and reduces dependence on foreign suppliers. Showing the systems to foreign delegations under live conditions is also viewed as a factor supporting export prospects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is KOCATEPE? An ASELSAN battlefield management system that provides commanders with an integrated operational picture; it was used for the first time at EFES-2026.
What does KORKUT-35 do? A 35 mm gun-based short-range air-defence system that can fire airburst munitions, used against drones and aerial threats.
What is the Steel Dome? The name for Turkiye’s layered air- and missile-defence architecture that integrates SIPER, HISAR, KORKUT and counter-drone systems.
Bottom Line
EFES-2026 let ASELSAN exercise its broad product range under one roof and in realistic conditions. The first use of KOCATEPE and the appearance of layered air-defence elements side by side illustrate how far Turkiye’s integrated defence approach has come.
