The massive Efes-2022 military exercise was the perfect way to showcase the best of Turkey’s defence industry as well as its military might, writes Marco Dijkshoorn
Turkey’s military concluded its largest exercise of the year, with 11,000 troops from 37 countries participating on June 9. The Efes-2022 Combined Joint Live Fire Exercise took place for a month at the Doganbey live-firing exercise area in the Seferihisar district of Izmir.
A biennial exercise, named after the famous archeological site of Ephesus 40km south of Izmir, it has taken place since the 1980s and this year’s version saw the largest ever participation of foreign allies and Turkish units.
Efes is known for its large-scale amphibious warfare scenarios, where naval ships project ground and air power on to the exercise area. There are several landing beaches where troops are inserted, and with more than 50 helicopters and aircraft participating there is a large areal component to the exercise.
