The World Drone Cup took place over four days at Şanlıurfa GAP Airport as part of TEKNOFEST Güneydoğu, featuring high-speed drone racing competitions. Thirty-two pilots from 24 countries participated, with South Korea’s Choi WonKyun securing first place, followed by Minjae Kim of South Korea in second and Dimo Shterev of Bulgaria in third. Turkish pilots Kerem Yiğit and Ömer Yıldız, who had placed first and second in the TEKNOFEST Drone Championship, represented Turkey but were eliminated in the qualifying rounds.
Why it matters
- The event highlighted South Korea’s growing dominance in international drone sports.
- Turkey demonstrated strong national talent through its TEKNOFEST pipeline, with two pilots advancing to represent the country.
- Competitive drone racing is increasingly tied to defense-relevant skills such as precision control, situational awareness, and rapid decision-making.
- TEKNOFEST continues to serve as a critical platform for nurturing technical expertise in unmanned systems.
While Turkey did not secure a podium finish this year, the participation of its top national drone pilots underscores the country’s investment in building human capital for unmanned aerial systems. As Turkey advances its indigenous drone programs — including combat, reconnaissance, and logistics UAVs — cultivating skilled operators through competitions like TEKNOFEST remains vital for both civilian innovation and military readiness.
Source: Savunma Sanayi Org