Turkey deploys electronic warfare system in Syria
A Turkish Koral electronic warfare system (EWS) was spotted in the border regions close to the city of Afrin in the north of the Aleppo province. The photograph showing the EWS was published by Telegram channel 338 on Friday, January 19.
The EWS will most likely be activated during the Turkish military’s offensive on the YPG, an armed group of Syrian Kurds, affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which is banned in Turkey.
Development of the Koral EWS was begun by the Turkish company Aselsan in 2009. Testing of the system has been underway since 2013. The first model was transferred to the Turkish Air Force in February 2016. The system can create noise and impulse interference on a wide range of frequencies. Notably, Aselsan claims that the Koral EWS is able to neutralize long and intermediate ranged ground-based anti-air missile systems, including the Russian S-400 “Triumph”, at a distance of up to 100-150 km.
Currently the second division of Russian S-400 anti-air defense systems is deployed in Syria’s Hama province, 13 km from the north-western city of Masyaf. These systems provide cover for the Russian aircraft stationed in Syria.
Earlier on January 19, the Turkish military began artillery fire on the Kurdish regiments in Afrin. Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli emphasized that the decision to begin a ground operation against the Syrian Kurds will not be changed.
On January 15, in response to information on the US’s decision to form an armed militia group on Syria’s north-eastern border, the Turkish government sent a military convoy with combat equipment to the south-east of the country. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the situation is a misunderstanding.