Türkiye celebrates Çanakkale victory with special ANKA III drone flight VIDEO

CEO of Turkish aerospace company TUSAŞ Mehmet Demiroğlu has announced that a special tandem flight of the ANKA III drones, manufactured by TUSAŞ, was observed in Türkiye to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Çanakkale victory.

Demiroğlu announced the milestone on X, sharing the significance of the event, Caliber.Az reports.

ANKA III’lerden Çanakkale Zaferi’nin 110. yıldönümüne özel uçuş! 🇹🇷

Kahraman ecdadımızın destansı mücadelesini anmak ve onların aziz hatıraları için 2 ANKA III gökyüzüne havalandı.

Bu özel selam, onların emanetine sahip çıkma kararlılığımızın en güçlü göstergelerinden biri… pic.twitter.com/nAenfAjA08

— Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu (@dr_mdemiroglu) March 18, 2025

“To honour the memory of our heroic ancestors and their precious legacy, two ANKA III drones took to the skies. This unique salute stands as one of the most vivid demonstrations of our determination to protect their heritage,” Demiroğlu wrote. 

The flight served as a tribute to the brave soldiers, and Demiroğlu further expressed his respect and gratitude: “We once again pay our respects and express our gratitude to all our heroes who engraved the words ‘Çanakkale is impassable’ in history.”

On March 18, Türkiye commemorates the anniversary of the Çanakkale Victory and Martyrs' Day, marking a defining moment in the nation's history. On this day in 1915, the Gallipoli Campaign came to an end with a decisive victory for the Ottoman forces, who had bravely defended Turkish shores against the invading Allied forces during World War I.

The Gallipoli Campaign was launched by the Allies with the aim of capturing the Gallipoli Peninsula, which serves as the entrance to the Istanbul Strait. The capture of Gallipoli was seen as a crucial step towards advancing to Istanbul, the former capital of the Ottoman Empire. However, despite their initial belief that they could easily cross the Gallipoli Strait with battleships, the Allied forces were met with fierce resistance from the Ottoman troops.

After a failed naval assault on March 18, 1915, the Allies began a military operation on April 2, landing troops at key locations, including Ariburnu, Seddulbahir, and Kumkale. However, the Ottoman forces, led by commanders such as Mustafa Kemal (who would later become the founder of the Turkish Republic), successfully repelled these invasions. Mustafa Kemal's famous words, “I am not ordering you to attack. I am ordering you to die,” became emblematic of the bravery shown by the Ottoman soldiers.

The Gallipoli Campaign ultimately ended with the complete withdrawal of the Allied forces in January 1916, marking a pivotal victory for the Turkish people. This victory not only halted the Allied advance but also served as a major morale boost for the Turkish nation, which would later go on to win its War of Independence and establish the Republic of Türkiye in 1923.

Each year, March 18 is observed as a day of remembrance, where Turks honour the fallen soldiers and war veterans who made this victory possible. It is considered one of the most significant moments in Turkish history, symbolising the nation's resilience and determination to defend its sovereignty.

By Naila Huseynova