Türkiye successfully tests F-16 EDPOD radar signal detection system

Türkiye has successfully completed testing of its domestically developed radar signal detection pod, the F-16 EDPOD, against real radar systems.

The tactical electronic support system is designed for use on F-16 fighter jets.

Domestically developed system passes tests against real radar systems

According to the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the system’s critical components were developed by the country’s Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBITAK), specifically its Informatics and Information Security Research Center (BILGEM).

Writing on social media, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir said,
“The radar signal detection tactical electronic support pod F-16 EDPOD, developed with national and domestic resources by TUBITAK BILGEM, has successfully completed all tests conducted against real radar systems.”

“In line with the goals of our National Technology Initiative, we continue to develop critical infrastructure and unique technologies needed by our country, working toward a ‘Fully Independent and Great Türkiye,'” he added.

What is the F-16 EDPOD?

The EDPOD is a tactical electronic support system designed to detect and analyze enemy radar threats. The EDPOD system is a tactical electronic warfare pod designed for use on F-16 aircraft. It shares a similar external shell with the 300-gallon external fuel tank typically carried beneath the aircraft’s fuselage.

First displayed at the IDEF’19 defense exhibition at TUBITAK’s booth, the EDPOD is designed to detect and classify threat radars and determine their geographic location.

The system supports the formation of the Electronic Order of Battle (EOB), a crucial element in electronic warfare.

According to TUBITAK-BILGEM, the F-16 Tactical Electronic Support Pod (EDPOD) was developed to detect and identify threat radars and contribute to the Electronic Order of Battle (EOB) by using radar position data.

Key features of the EDPOD system

• Wideband operation
• Simultaneous detection of multiple threats
• High receiver sensitivity
• High-accuracy threat direction finding and geo-location
• Narrowband and wideband receivers
• Large data recording capacity
• Link-16 data transmission to the Ground Support System and field EDPODs
• Utilizes a Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) developed by TUBITAK
• Supports in-mission and post-mission analysis with dedicated software

These features contribute to the formation of an Electronic Order of Battle (EOB), which is critical in electronic warfare planning. By gathering high-resolution data on potential threats — including surface, subsurface, air, and land-based platforms — the system enhances situational awareness and supports pre-mission strategy development.

The EDPOD system detects threat radars using its wideband and narrowband receivers. Once detected, it extracts signal parameters such as direction of arrival, frequency, pulse width, pulse amplitude, pulse repetition interval, antenna scan pattern, and intra-pulse modulation characteristics. It calculates the radar’s geographic location using direction of arrival data.

Once the EOB is established, response strategies can be implemented more effectively, allowing friendly units to secure dominance in contested zones.

Additionally, the system records radar signal parameters, geographic information, Pulse Descriptor Words (PDW), and Intermediate Frequency (IF) data for post-mission analysis.

It transmits threat data via Link-16 to the Ground Support System and other EDPODs in the mission field.

EDPOD enables recorded data to be analyzed using software in the Ground Support System, contributing to the update of the Electronic Warfare (EW) information database.