As part of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Republic of Türkiye, the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Major General Sashko Lafchiski, participated in a panel discussion organized by the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence entitled “Navigating the Cognitive Warfare: What Are We Missing About Cognitive Warfare, Artificial Intelligence, and NATO’s Next Frontier?” During the discussion, he shared his views on countering disinformation. General Lafchiski also visited ASELSAN, one of the world’s leading defense industry companies.
During the panel discussion, “Navigating the Cognitive Warfare: What Are We Missing About Cognitive Warfare, Artificial Intelligence, and NATO’s Next Frontier?”, senior NATO officials and experts from various fields discussed cognitive warfare as a serious and growing threat. They emphasized that, with the support of artificial intelligence and synthetic media, cognitive warfare seeks to undermine the “cognitive infrastructure” of democratic societies, including shared reality, institutional trust, and the capacity for independent judgment.
During his visit to ASELSAN, General Lafchiski attended a presentation showcasing the company’s comprehensive portfolio, followed by a tour of the Radar and Electronic Warfare Systems Sector (REHIS). He then continued the visit in the Defense System Technologies (SST) exhibition hall, where he received a detailed briefing on the company’s advanced command-and-control systems and precision-guided weapons technologies. The visit also highlighted the successful cooperation with ASELSAN, whose modern fire support command-and-control systems are integrated into the 105 mm BORAN howitzers, which have been part of the Army’s inventory since last year.
The visit also included a demonstration at the Çelik Kubbe (“Steel Dome”) Air Defense Laboratory, where the latest technological solutions in command and information systems, electronic defense technologies, and integrated airspace protection systems were presented.
General Lafchiski’s participation in the panel discussion and his visit to ASELSAN reaffirm the Army’s commitment to keeping pace with the latest technological developments, strengthening resilience against contemporary security challenges, and enhancing interoperability with NATO Allies.
