Turkish F-16 Fighter Jets Use Locally-Made EDPOD Electronic Warfare Pod to Detect Threats in Real Time
TSM-According to information published by Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır via his official account X on June 22, 2025, the Electronic Support Pod (EDPOD), a domestically developed electronic warfare system manufactured by TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, has officially entered the Turkish Air Force inventory after successful flight tests of the live radar system. EDPOD is now integrated into Turkey's F-16 fighter jets, significantly enhancing the country's airborne electronic warfare capabilities and marking a major step towards technological independence in the defense sector.
Developed entirely using Turkey's national resources, EDPOD underlines Turkey's determination to reduce dependence on foreign defense technologies and expand the autonomy and depth of its military industrial base. Its operation in service is a testament to the maturity of Turkey's defense R&D ecosystem and the increasing sophistication of its electronic warfare doctrine. The system's ability to detect, analyze, and geolocate various enemy radar emissions including those used for missile surveillance, targeting, and guidance provides a significant advantage to Turkish pilots in contested airspace.
For pilots operating the F-16, EDPOD serves as a real-time threat intelligence tool. It supports both wideband and narrowband detection channels, allowing for the simultaneous identification of multiple radar signals across a wide frequency range. This allows the system to immediately recognize and categorize hostile transmitters, offering situational awareness far beyond line of sight. It can rapidly generate threat libraries, log and archive raw signal data for mission briefings, and help pinpoint radar locations with high precision.
In addition, EDPOD’s integration with the Link-16 data link enhances its operational value by enabling seamless sharing of electronic warfare data with allied aircraft and ground stations. This linkage enables coordinated threat response, joint mission planning, and real-time adaptation to a dynamic threat environment. It is a key enabler in building network-centric warfare capabilities for the Turkish Armed Forces.
The successful implementation of EDPOD represents not only a tactical advancement but also a strategic leap in domestic defense production. As Turkey continues to invest in and expand its domestic defense infrastructure, systems such as EDPOD play a critical role in ensuring technological sovereignty, reducing import dependence, and strengthening its role as a regional power with modern and self-sufficient military capabilities. (red)
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