'Bayraktar Kızılelma' unmanned aircraft makes debut at TEKNOFEST Karadeniz

Teknofest, Türkiye's premier aerospace and technology festival, kicked off in the country's Black Sea city of Samsun on Tuesday. Organized at the Samsun Çarsamba Airport by the Turkish Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation) and Türkiye's Industry and Technology Ministry, the six-day event showcases activities such as air shows with warplanes, drones and helicopters, as well as seminars, summits, and competitions. Bayraktar Kızılelma, the unmanned combat aircraft designed and developed by Baykar Technologies, is being displayed at TEKNOFEST Karadeniz event. The locally made aircraft started to be displayed at the Turkish major tech event that started accepting visitors from the early hours of August 30. People have shown a great interest in Bayraktar Kızılelma. The 2022 festival will hold technology competitions in more than 40 different categories including semiconductors, UAVs, satellites, rockets, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Selçuk Bayraktar, the chairman of T3 Foundation, told the opening ceremony that stronger countries often oppress the weak, adding that his objective is to bring justice and peace to the world for which developing advanced technology is a must. Bayraktar also spoke of the destruction of Iraq and Afghanistan in order to 'bring democracy.' Mustafa Varank, the Turkish industry and technology minister, said nearly 600,000 people applied to be a part of the event's contests, and 5,252 teams advanced to final phases. The winners will be awarded with 10 million Turkish liras ($550,000) in total, he added. Varank said their efforts are important for Türkiye's technologic development and future. Ismail Demir, the head of Türkiye's Defense Industries' Presidency, said countries cannot be powerful in the defense field without advancements in technology. The attendees are transferred to the event from the city center by domestically-manufactured electric buses. Last year, the event was held at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, while its first international version was held in Baku, Azerbaijan this May.

'Bayraktar Kızılelma' unmanned aircraft makes debut at TEKNOFEST Karadeniz

The locally made aircraft Bayraktar Kızılelma started to be displayed at the Turkish major tech event that started accepting visitors from the early hours of August 30.