Türkiye's top maritime showcase Teknofest Blue Homeland kicks off
The Turkish Navy personnel and visitors are walking in front of the TCG Sancaktar (L-403) vessel during the Teknofest Blue Homeland event, Gölcük, Kocaeli, northwestern Türkiye, Aug. 20, 2026. (AA Photo)


The maritime edition of Türkiye's premier technology and aerospace event –Teknofest – called "Teknofest Blue Homeland," commenced on Thursday in the northwestern province of Kocaeli to showcase the country's diverse naval capabilities, underwater technology and defense industry products and achievements.

The maritime event, set to run through Aug. 23, is taking place at Gölcük Shipyard Command.

A wide range of products and technologies will be on display over four days, ranging from various classes of Turkish Navy platforms to unmanned systems and from aircraft to air defense and missile systems.

The event's competition section will feature competitions in unmanned underwater systems, unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and underwater rockets.

Some 37 different naval assets and platforms were expected to be showcased at the event, including vessels from the Turkish Navy's active inventory.

Alongside modern active-duty ships, the event is featuring Türkiye's largest military ship, the TCG Anadolu, as well as the historic TCG Savarona, the museum ship Yavuz and various active submarine platforms.

A major highlight at the event will be the national submarine (MILDEN) test block, marking a critical milestone in Türkiye's homegrown submarine development.

Cutting-edge USVs will also be on display, specifically Ares Shipyard and Meteksan's Ulaq, Havelsan's Sancar, Aselsan's Marlin and Dearsan Shipyard's Salvo platforms.

The event's aerial section will feature an array of aircraft, including Baykar's Bayraktar TB2 and TB3 drones, with the latter showcased alongside Aselsan's Aselbuoy and Aselbuoy Pod systems.

People are posing next to the Bayraktar TB3 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed by Turkish defense giant Baykar, Gölcük, Kocaeli, northwestern Türkiye, Aug. 20, 2026. (DHA Photo)

Turkish Navy's Sikorsky SH-70 Seahawk helicopter and the Turkish Armed Forces' Bell AH-1W platform will also be displayed at the event.

The defense industry's modular and remote systems will also be represented at the event, with MKE's Pirana, Havelsan's Barkan 2, Baha and Bulut systems, Roketsan's Levent, Aselsan's Tufan and the Turkish Navy's Submarine Modular Armored Control Boat on display.

Türkiye's multi-layered air defense system, the "Steel Dome" air defense network, was expected to take center stage at the event.

The Steel Dome exhibition will feature Aselsan's Gurz, Korkut and Göksungur systems alongside the Siper and Hisar networks jointly developed by Aselsan and Roketsan.

The event will also present Roketsan's K+, Tayfun, KMC and Pusu missile and weapon systems.

The four-day gathering will also involve daily flight demonstrations and tactical shows by the elite SAT and SAS naval units.

The festival will also integrate maritime culture and science into the schedule, hosting the Blue Homeland Sailing Parade, dragon boat and swimming races, as well as a Da Vinci Robot operation demonstration and more.