
Turkey’s electronic warfare (EW) systems have played an important role in the civil war in Syria, and have made a significant contribution to neutralizing the Assad regime’s military telecommunications. Opposition groups in Syria, especially HTS (Harakat-i Tahrir al-Sham) and other groups, have used Turkey’s electronic warfare systems in their attacks aimed at overthrowing the regime, and the regime army’s communications have been largely paralyzed by the effects of these systems.
Jamming Operations and the Role of France
Since the beginning of the conflict in Syria, the French Directorate of Military Intelligence (DRM) has observed Turkey’s major jamming operations in the Idlib region. These operations aimed to disable the Assad regime’s military communications by targeting the regime’s main command centers. It is thought that there is an interaction between France’s jamming systems in Cyprus and Jordan and Turkey’s operations. According to reports by France-based intelligence groups, the contribution of Turkish electronic warfare systems to these operations has led to the complete disruption of the Assad regime’s communications infrastructure.
Turkish Electronic Warfare Systems and ASELSAN's Role
One of Turkey’s most powerful tools in this process is advanced technology electronic warfare systems such as the MILKAR-4A2 High Frequency (HF) Jamming System and the ILGAR Mobile V/UHF Electronic Attack System produced by ASELSAN. While the MILKAR-4A2 provides powerful jamming for communication systems operating in the HF band, the ILGAR System applies electronic attacks to targets in the V/UHF frequency band. These systems have provided a great advantage to groups supported by Turkey in the field by blocking targeted communication networks or transmitting false information.
The Weakening of the Regime Army and the Inadequacy of Counter-Attacks
Due to the effects of Turkish electronic warfare systems, the regime army's communication was cut off and it was difficult to learn what was happening on the field. This situation greatly weakened the regime army's ability to launch a counter-attack. These operations carried out with electronic warfare not only disrupted communication but also disrupted the enemy's strategic decisions.
Conclusion and Strategic Assessment
Turkey’s electronic warfare systems have emerged as an important strategic tool in the war in Syria. The MILKAR and ILGAR systems produced by ASELSAN have played a role in disrupting the Assad regime’s military communications to a great extent and providing the opposition with a great advantage on the field. Such operations once again demonstrate Turkey’s competence in the field of electronic warfare and its regional strategic power.