TEKNOFEST, the Aviation, Space and Technology Festival, the largest showcase platform of Türkiye's National Technology Initiative, turned its attention this year to the sister nation, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Held at the old Ercan Airport in Lefkoşa between May 1-4, TEKNOFEST TRNC opened its doors to technology enthusiasts with great enthusiasm and intense interest. The festival's opening ceremony was attended by prominent figures such as Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman of the TEKNOFEST Board of Directors and the T3 Foundation Board of Trustees, Ersin Tatar, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, Head of the Turkish Presidency's Defence Industry Directorate, who delivered speeches emphasizing the vision of the National Technology Initiative. Organized under the auspices of the Presidency of the TRNC, and primarily managed by the Turkish Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation) and the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye, the festival came to life through the strong collaboration of 132 institutions, including leading Turkish technology companies, public institutions, universities, and media organizations.
Görgün: “This rising energy in Cyprus is a powerful response to our independence!”
Attending the opening ceremony of the festival, the President of the Turkish Presidency's Defence Industry Directorate, Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, emphasized the importance of holding TEKNOFEST in Cyprus in his speech. Stating that they opened the festival together with the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, Görgün said that they witnessed the enthusiasm of the youth, the determination of the nation, and a shared future at this event.
Prof. Dr. Görgün, stating, “Every flag waving in our Heavenly Homeland, every idea rising in these sacred lands; is the work of our young people, engineers, and entrepreneurs who are soldiers of the National Technology Initiative,” drew attention to the achievements of young people and Turkish engineers. He noted that this great energy rising in Cyprus is not only a technological breakthrough but also a powerful response to independence, unity, and high ideals. Görgün emphasized that every project and every achievement displayed at the stands is clear evidence of what the children of this land can accomplish, adding, “We have complete faith in all our young people walking this path, our support is endless! Our path is clear, our goal is great, our belief is unwavering!”.
Görgün, recalling that TEKNOFEST transformed from a dream that began 7 years ago into the world's largest aviation, space, and technology festival, stated that the platform combined patriotism with technological aspirations. He noted that the festival enabled the discovery of the country's most valuable resource – its youth – and unleashed their accumulated energy, saying, "With TEKNOFEST, the fault lines that crushed the hopes of our youth were broken, and the walls that limited their minds were demolished." Expressing that the youth of TEKNOFEST have become the new hope of the nation, the Muslim community, and humanity, Görgün underlined national will and determination with the words, "In defiance of those who told us for years that 'you have nothing to do,' we say, 'there is nothing we cannot do.'".
Demiroğlu: KAAN Excitement Reached Its Peak at TEKNOFEST TRNC! “It Makes Turkish Youth Say 'We Can Do It Too!'‘
Although not physically exhibited at TEKNOFEST in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Türkiye's National Combat Aircraft KAAN project was one of the most talked about and intriguing topics. Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu, General Manager of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), shared the latest developments in the KAAN project, its strategic significance, and the excitement it generated during his statements at the festival.
Demiroğlu emphasized that TEKNOFEST is a crucial platform for increasing young people's interest in technology and guiding them towards this field. He stated that holding this event in the TRNC is a great source of motivation for young people in both Cyprus and Türkiye. Demiroğlu explained that KAAN is not just a fighter jet, but also a technology platform equipped with domestically produced radar, software, and systems, adding, “KAAN demonstrates the level Türkiye has reached in the defense industry. This project makes our young people say, 'We can do it too,'‘ highlighting the inspiring aspect of the project and the national pride it creates. The information and latest developments shared about the KAAN project at the festival attracted great interest from visitors.
KAAN Project Update: New Prototypes on the Way, Delivery Target 2028
Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu also provided important information about the latest developments in the KAAN project at TEKNOFEST TRNC. Stating that two new prototypes are currently in the assembly phase, Demiroğlu announced that they aim to complete the first prototype by the end of this year and the second prototype at the beginning of next year, and begin flights. He stated that a very intensive flight test campaign will be undertaken with a total of three aircraft and one ground aircraft, adding, “We promised this by the end of 2028. We want to start deliveries to the Air Force. We are doing everything we can to keep this promise.”.
Demiroğlu stated that the prototype, designated P0, which completed its first flight, was largely used for ground tests to prove the assembly process, but would fly again. He added that the new prototypes (P1, P2, P3) would be structurally similar to P0, but would have some external changes, such as a more optimized air intake for supersonic flight. He further added that the most significant changes would be "under the skin," such as weight optimization and the installation of mission systems. The second group of prototypes, P4, P5, and P6, would be more advanced and capable than the first three. Demiroğlu also shared information that a Bombardier Global 6000 business jet, referred to as the "Flight Test Laboratory," was used for KAAN's subsystem and sensor tests, and that this jet played an active role in testing the AESA radar developed by ASELSAN.
Demiroğlu also stated that there have been partnership requests from some countries regarding the production process of KAAN, and that advanced negotiations are ongoing. He added that TUSAŞ is open to participation at different levels. Emphasizing that KAAN will not operate alone, but together with unmanned platforms such as ANKA-III and KIZILELMA, he said, “We do not want to send KAAN to the front lines. It will be there when needed, but it will be accompanied by ANKA-III and KIZILELMA.”.
At the National Pride Parade: HÜRJET, ANKA-III and Others Met with Visitors
TEKNOFEST TRNC transformed into a veritable technology festival, showcasing other flagship projects of the Turkish defense and aerospace industry. While information was provided about the KAAN project, the TUSAŞ stand featured a mockup of the HÜRJET Jet Training and Light Attack Aircraft, the ANKA-III Unmanned Combat Aircraft, the AKSUNGUR UAV, and the GÖKBEY General Purpose Helicopter, all national sources of pride, allowing visitors to see them in person.
Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu announced that serial production has begun for both the ANKA-III and HÜRJET projects. He stated that testing for the ANKA-III is ongoing and deliveries are planned for next year. Regarding the HÜRJET, he noted that two prototypes have completed over 200 sorties, serial production has effectively commenced, and deliveries are expected by the end of next year. Demiroğlu emphasized that the successful launch of the SUPER LIGHTNING target aircraft from the ANKA-III demonstrates Türkiye's ambition in the 6th generation fighter jet concept. He explained this vision, saying, "We also want to define 6th generation in aviation. The most important stage of this is the collaboration of manned and unmanned platforms." He also stressed that the HÜRJET will definitely land on the TCG ANADOLU ship.
At the festival, other giants of the defense industry such as ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, and BAYKAR also showcased their latest products and capabilities. Visitors had the opportunity to see world-renowned unmanned aerial vehicles such as the Bayraktar TB2 and AKINCI TİHA, various missile and ammunition systems, and radar and electronic warfare solutions up close. Throughout the festival, in addition to domestically produced platforms such as Bayraktar TB2, ANKA, AKINCI, HÜRJET, and HÜRKUŞ, the Turkish Stars and SOLOTÜRK aerobatic teams also performed breathtaking demonstration flights.
Investing in the Future Through Youth and Innovation Competitions
The technology competitions that form the spirit of TEKNOFEST were held with great enthusiasm in the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus). Within the scope of the festival, competitions were organized in 7 main categories and 14 subcategories, including Social Innovation, Flying Car Simulation, Research Projects (agriculture, environment, energy), Robolig Blue Homeland, Tourism Technologies, Drone Championship, and HackMasters Blue Homeland. Through these competitions, young people competed with their ideas and had the opportunity to develop their projects across a wide range of fields, from projects that benefit society to future transportation systems, from sustainable development to robotic coding, from tourism technologies to cybersecurity. The successful teams among the 268 finalist teams received their awards on the TEKNOFEST main stage. A total of 3 million TL in financial support was provided to the teams that passed the preliminary stage, while 2.5 million TL in prizes were awarded to the winning teams.
The festival grounds also featured numerous activities, including workshops for 6-14 year olds in the Science Street, an aircraft exhibition, a planetarium, a Cyprus Peace Operation Experience Area, a Turkish Resistance Organization National Struggle Exhibition Area, a space exhibition, XR and simulation experience areas, and first flight events for students. Technology-themed events were held at a total of 116 stands, including 81 stakeholder institutions, 11 sponsors, 4 participating companies, and 20 food areas. Companies like Yente AŞ also showcased their local projects in fields such as artificial intelligence, educational technologies, and drones to young people.
Strategic Message: Unity and Strength
The organization of TEKNOFEST in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is more than just a technological showcase; it carries a powerful message symbolizing the unwavering ties and shared future between Turkey and the TRNC. As Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün emphasized, this event underlines the support given to the Turkish Cypriots' struggle for independence and existence, and the fact that the National Technology Initiative serves as a source of hope and motivation for young people on the island. The excitement generated by visionary projects such as the National Combat Aircraft KAAN, and other domestically produced technology products on display, showcase Türkiye's capabilities in the defense industry and technology, while simultaneously reinforcing its deterrent power in the region. Most importantly, by guiding young generations towards science and technology, it represents an investment in the bright future of both Türkiye and the TRNC.
Keywords: TEKNOFEST, TEKNOFEST TRNC, Cyprus, TRNC, Nicosia, National Technology Initiative, Haluk Görgün, Presidency of Defence Industries, Mehmet Demiroğlu, TUSAŞ, KAAN, National Combat Aircraft, HÜRJET, ANKA-III, GÖKBEY, AKSUNGUR, Bayraktar TB2, AKINCI TİHA, Domestic Defence Industry, Turkish Aerospace Industries, Technology Festival, Aviation, Space, Technology Competitions, Turkish Stars, SOLOTÜRK, Domestic Products
