Teknofest Southeast, featuring a full-scale mock-up of the KAAN fighter jet on public display for the first time, is welcoming thousands of visitors at Şanlıurfa GAP Airport. Organized with participation from the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the T3 Foundation and Turkish Aerospace and Technology Company, the five-day event runs through October 4, combining aviation demonstrations, defense technologies, educational activities and cultural programs.

The festival features technology competitions across 14 categories, exhibitions, scientific workshops, simulation experiences and air shows. Visitors can view ATAK helicopters, Hürkuş, Cezeri, ANKA, Bayraktar TB2, Bayraktar TB3 and Bayraktar Akıncı alongside Turkish land and maritime vehicles. Bayraktar Akıncı participated in flight demonstrations, with live camera feeds from the unmanned combat aircraft transmitted to large screens for ground-based spectators. The Turkish Air Force's aerobatic team, the Turkish Stars, performed spectacular displays on the festival's opening day.

From a Turkish defense industry perspective, the platforms displayed at Teknofest Southeast represent concrete evidence of the nation's indigenous and national technology development capacity. The public debut of the KAAN full-scale mock-up marks a significant milestone in introducing the fifth-generation stealth fighter program to the general public. The Bayraktar series of unmanned aerial vehicles, the ATAK helicopter and the ANKA platform demonstrate Turkey's current level of defense technology achievement. These platforms are in demand on international markets and have been exported; the festival plays a strategic role in introducing these accomplishments to the public and engaging younger generations.

Educational and interactive activities at the festival serve as a bridge between technology and public engagement. Visitors can explore advanced technology simulations, scientific workshops, a planetarium, science shows and the Teknofest Time Tunnel. Students participate in traffic safety education conducted by gendarmerie teams, learning about equipment including road barriers, radar devices and breathalyzers. Agriculture and environmental education programs include beekeeping demonstrations and live bee observation. The Turkey Beyazay Association showcases technologies and methods designed to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities in education, employment and social participation.

Şanlıurfa's cultural identity is presented alongside modern technology throughout the festival. At a stand operated by Haliliye Municipality, a local music group performs regionally adapted songs while preparing "çiğ köfte," a traditional Turkish dish, for visitors; a four-legged robotic dog is also displayed at the stand. Attendees move between local music, traditional food and clothing exhibits and displays of aviation, unmanned systems and robotic technologies. This approach creates a dialogue between technology and culture, transforming the festival beyond a technology showcase into an event that emphasizes regional identity.