TEKNOFEST Southeast bridges 12,000 years of history with Türkiye’s technological future

Children encounter advanced aircraft for a first as Gobeklitepe experience, aerial displays and defense technologies draw visitors in Sanliurfa

From the 12,000-year-old story of Gobeklitepe to Türkiye’s latest unmanned aircraft, TEKNOFEST Southeast continued Thursday in Sanliurfa, offering visitors a journey through the past, present and future of technology. The world’s largest aviation, space and technology festival entered its second day at Sanliurfa GAP Airport with aerial demonstrations, scientific workshops, immersive exhibitions and activities designed especially to inspire young visitors. Anadolu is serving as the event’s global communications partner. The festival is organized under the leadership of Türkiye’s Industry and Technology Ministry and the Turkish Technology Team Foundation, or T3 Foundation, with the involvement of defense company STM. Among the most distinctive attractions is the Gobeklitepe Experience Area, where visitors get to travel across roughly 12 millennia in just three minutes. Using 360-degree screens and a replica standing stone, the installation explores the question “Where did everything begin?” while connecting technologies developed by ancient civilizations with Türkiye’s contemporary advancement. The experience presents Gobeklitepe, often described as the “zero point of history,” not merely as an archaeological site but as the starting point of a continuing story of human invention. “We have a screen extending from the past into the future, with one of the TEKNOFEST aircraft at its center,” coordinator Alper Aslan said. “We begin in the past and explain the development of defense technologies up to the present.” Visitor Elanur Yasar said the presentation allowed her to see the ancient site from a different perspective. “At Gobeklitepe itself, we experience history in its original setting. Here, we saw Gobeklitepe combined with technology and civilization,” she said. Beyond the installation, children from Sanliurfa and surrounding provinces crowded around domestically produced aircraft, including the KIZILELMA unmanned fighter jet, KAAN combat aircraft and AKINCI drone. For some, it was their first opportunity to see such aircraft at close range. “I was very excited. This is my first time coming to a place like this, and I was very happy to see an aircraft up close,” said young visitor Amine Abdulvahab. “Hopefully, when I grow up, I can work in something like this.” Ebubekir Selale said seeing aircraft both on the ground and in the sky deepened his interest in aviation, while Elif Yıldırım thanked those who brought the festival to the city. Japanese Ambassador to Türkiye Masami Tamura, who toured the festival grounds, praised both Türkiye’s defense technology drive and TEKNOFEST’s educational role. “I find Türkiye’s advances in defense technologies very impressive. I am also greatly surprised by such an excellent event,” Tamura told Anadolu, adding that Japan does not host a comparable event on the same scale. He said introducing children to science and defense technology through entertaining activities was particularly valuable and predicted deeper Turkish-Japanese cooperation. “Türkiye and Japan’s cooperation is also important for world peace,” he said. “Japanese people love Türkiye, and I particularly want to emphasize that here.” Thursday’s program also includes another performance by the Turkish Stars aerobatic team, alongside displays featuring ATAK helicopters, HURKUS, CEZERI, ANKA, Bayraktar TB2 and TB3 drones and AKINCI. Visitors can also explore simulators, a planetarium, science shows, educational workshops and national air, land and maritime vehicles. The day will conclude with a concert by Turkish singer Semicenk. TEKNOFEST Southeast will remain open through Oct. 4.