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This is the story of the old Turkic steppe empires, told from the ancient sources. Who the Göktürks were, where the house of Ashina came from, how a people of smiths in the Altai built an empire from Manchuria to the Volga within a single generation, and who ruled the steppe before and after them. Every episode follows one chapter of that history in three acts. The sources speak for themselves: Chinese annals in the original Chinese, Old Turkic inscriptions in their own words, each in its own voice, with the English translation over them. Nothing is invented: no dialogue, no number, no name that a source does not give. And every episode ends with Set in Stone, where we look at what holds, what is reconstructed, and where the historians still disagree. KHAN’s DEN Podcast is produced by Emre-E. Yavuz. It is the official podcast of his Turkic Atlas, an encyclopedia of the old Turkic steppe empires from the Xiongnu to the Kirghiz of the Yenisei, with the source behind every statement, maps of the empires as they rose and fell, and a chronology year by year. In English, Turkish, German, Spanish and Japanese.

https://turkicatlas.org

Khan's Den: Turkic and Steppe History episodes

How Turkey Became a Military Power Again: Drones, Wars & Arms Exports

November 7, 2026•30 minutes

How did Turkey go from buying weapons abroad to exporting drones, warships and fighter jets? This documentary explores Turkey’s rise as a military power since the 2016 coup attempt—and the economic and geopolitical costs behind its defense export boom.

Explore the night of July 15, Turkish military operations in Syria and northern Iraq, the "Blue Homeland" doctrine in the Mediterranean, and overseas bases from Qatar to Somalia. Learn how the S-400 and F-35 dispute shaped Turkey’s defense industry, alongside the development of the Bayraktar TB2, Akıncı, KAAN and TCG Anadolu.

The episode also examines Turkey’s role in the war in Ukraine and the 2026 Iran war, its economic crisis, and a central question: is Turkey a partner, a rival, or a power in its own right? This episode focuses on contemporary geopolitics rather than ancient and medieval history.

Sources and context: Headlines are recreated in their original wording, with outlet and date. Official sources include Turkey’s Official Gazette (Resmî Gazete), the Grand National Assembly (TBMM), the White House, the U.S. State Department, the United Nations and NATO. Figures draw on SIPRI, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (TCMB) and the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB). The full source list and photo credits appear in the end credits. Information current as of October 2026.

Produced and narrated by Emre-E. Yavuz.

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Timeline

00:00:A Song About a Drone

01:02:The Night of July 15

03:48:Across the Border

06:39:Blue Homeland

09:28:To the Gulf and Into Africa

12:04:The Embargo Problem

14:17:Drones, Ships, Fighter Jets

17:07:The War in Ukraine

19:23:The Export Boom

21:49:The Price

23:37:New Realities

27:58:Partner, Rival, Power Player

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How Turkey Became a Military Power Again: Drones, Wars & Arms Exports

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