18.12.2025 12:11
The Ministry of National Defense made a statement regarding the unidentified UAV that was shot down in the skies over Ankara on December 15. The statement indicated that the UAV was downed in the most appropriate location. It was also mentioned that warnings were issued to Russia and Ukraine regarding the UAV.
The Ministry of National Defense (MSB) made a statement regarding the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that entered the airspace from the Black Sea and was shot down over Ankara on December 15.
In the statement made by the MSB regarding the UAV shot down between Elmadağ and Çankırı, it was stated, "As a result of the evaluations made, in order to maintain the safety of the airspace and to protect the lives and property of our citizens, the UAV, which was understood to have gone out of control, was tracked by our F-16 aircraft and was shot down with a controlled intervention at the most appropriate location after the completion of the procedures."
In the MSB statement made during the weekly press briefing, it was noted that warnings were issued to Russia and Ukraine regarding the downed UAV:
"Due to the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, our interlocutors have been warned to be more careful regarding such negative incidents affecting the security of the Black Sea."
No information was provided in the statement regarding which country the UAV belonged to and what it was carrying.
The MSB also made evaluations regarding the PKK's umbrella organization, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in its statement. It was stated, "Turkey is determined to continue its close cooperation with the Syrian government and to support the principle of 'One State, One Army.'
"FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS..."
The MSB statement is as follows:
"On December 15, 2025, upon detecting a UAV approaching our airspace from the Black Sea, a detection, identification, and tracking process was immediately initiated by all our relevant units within the framework of the applicable legislation and standard operational procedures.
The process was carried out based on the mutual verification of multiple data obtained from radar, electro-optical, electronic warfare, and early warning systems, without relying on a single sensor's data, due to the difficulty in detecting the UAV's altitude, speed, and size, as well as its low radar cross-section.
As a result of the evaluations made, in order to maintain the safety of the airspace and to protect the lives and property of our citizens, the UAV, which was understood to have gone out of control, was tracked by our F-16 aircraft and was shot down with a controlled intervention at the most appropriate location after the completion of the procedures.
All decisions regarding the airspace are made with high precision based on the principles of protecting the safety of the airspace, including civil air traffic, preventing risks to populated areas, and holistic evaluation of the data obtained. The method applied in this context has been executed as the most cautious and safe approach that eliminates risks to populated areas while prioritizing the safety of civil aviation activities.
"COMPLICATES DEBRIS DETECTION"
The UAV, which was destroyed in the air, is believed to have broken into very small pieces and scattered over a wide area. This situation complicates the detection of debris that is in one piece or has integrity on the ground.
In this context, search and rescue and technical examination activities are being carried out meticulously by the relevant units, and it is important not to give credence to speculative assessments and disinformation claims made about the incident before the verification processes are completed.
The control of our airspace is ensured on a 24/7 basis with a layered and integrated architecture that includes radar, early warning, electronic warfare, and prevention elements. The expected function of the air defense systems is the detection, identification, tracking, and destruction of elements entering the airspace.
The process related to the mentioned UAV has been successfully managed and concluded. Claims that our air defense system is in a state of vulnerability do not reflect the truth.
In light of the experiences gained, the detection, identification, and reaction processes are regularly reviewed, and operational procedures and technical capabilities are continuously improved.
In addition to all this, our interlocutors have been warned to be more careful regarding such negative incidents affecting the security of the Black Sea due to the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.
SDF INTEGRATION: WE ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THE PROCESS
The Syrian government continues its diligent efforts for restructuring with all its institutions and units to establish stability and security in the country. The stability and security of Syria are of critical importance for the peace of the region. Turkey is determined to continue its close cooperation with the Syrian government and to support the principle of 'One State, One Army.'
In this regard, we are coordinating with our interlocutors and closely monitoring the process."