Turkey plans drone-heavy roadshow in display of future warfare

From Indonesia to Azerbaijan, Ankara eyes new power projection

20210928NY Erdogan speech at TEKNOFEST overlooking indigenous drone

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses participants at TEKNOFEST, overlooking the new Akinci armed drone, developed by Baykar on Sept. 25. (Anadolu Agency)

SINAN TAVSAN, Nikkei staff writer

September 29, 2021 02:26 JST

ISTANBUL -- A modern remix of Ottoman military music blared as the Turkish Air Force's locally produced F-16 fighter flew in formation with a newly developed indigenous drone -- giving a glimpse of the future warfare that Turkey envisions.

Next, supersonic light fighters drew a crescent and star -- symbols of the national flag -- in the blue skies.