“Gazap”: Six Centuries After Constantinople, Türkiye Rekindles Fear Through Fire

By Kadir Duran – Brussels / Istanbul

A New Display of Power

More than 600 years after the thunder of Ottoman cannons shook the walls of Constantinople, Türkiye is once again asserting itself on the global military stage with a weapon of unprecedented conventional power. Its name? Gazap — meaning “wrath” in Turkish. A title that says it all.

Unveiled at the 17th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) in Istanbul at the end of July, this new-generation bomb has immediately drawn the attention of military analysts worldwide.

The Most Powerful Non-Nuclear Bomb Yet

Weighing over 900 kilograms, Gazap detonates at an extreme temperature of 3,000 degrees Celsius, capable of melting steel, concrete, and even bone. It also contains 10,000 metal fragments capable of reaching a 1 km² radius. According to Nilufer Kuzulu, who led the design team, this makes Gazap three times more powerful than the standard MK-series bombs.

Developed by Türkiye’s Defense Research and Development Center (TÜBİTAK SAGE), this thermobaric weapon works by using ambient oxygen to create a high-temperature explosion, causing devastating pressure waves and fire. It is now ranked among the deadliest conventional weapons ever produced.

🔥 Gazap is reportedly already operational, according to Turkish outlets Anadolu Agency and TRT Global. Tests are underway to make it compatible with Bayraktar drones, the very same unmanned aerial vehicles that earned Türkiye international attention in the war in Ukraine.

A Historical Echo: Back to Ottoman Firepower

The symbolic resonance is not accidental. Gazap echoes a legendary military milestone: the Siege of Constantinople in 1453. Back then, young Sultan Mehmed II revolutionized siege warfare by deploying giant cannons to breach the Byzantine capital’s walls.

The most famous of these was the “Şahi” (or Basilica), designed by a Hungarian engineer named Urban, hired by the Ottomans. This massive cannon measured over 8 meters in length, firing 500-kg stone balls, and required 400 men and 60 oxen just to transport.

🔊 The roar of Ottoman cannons during the siege was said to be heard from more than 20 kilometers away, striking fear into the hearts of both enemies and allies.

Ottoman cannons were not just tools of destruction — they were also ornately decorated with Islamic calligraphy, Qur’anic verses, and imperial symbols, blending power and ideology.

From Buyer to Exporter: Türkiye’s Strategic Shift

For decades, Türkiye relied heavily on U.S. and Türkiye weaponry, purchasing arms for its military modernization. But times have changed. Now, Türkiye is working to achieve strategic autonomy, developing its own drones, tanks, fighter jets, and now, high-intensity thermobaric bombs.

With Gazap, Türkiye is no longer just catching up — it is setting new standards in warfare technology.

Conclusion: A Nation Forged in Fire and Ambition

As modern conflicts — from Ukraine to the Middle East — reshape the global military balance, Ankara is clearly positioning itself as a major arms producer and geopolitical force.

From the fall of Constantinople to the factories of Istanbul, from Mehmed the Conqueror to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the message is clear: the legacy continues — only now, with a thermobaric fire that could redraw the rules of engagement.

📰 Written by Kadir Duran, geopolitical analyst

Other articles: Kazakhstan and Critical Minerals – https://eureflect.com

MAIN SOURCE; BK:

« Gazap » : Six siècles après Constantinople, la Turquie relance la peur par le feu

🔥 Sur la bombe « Gazap » et les annonces officielles
1. Interesting Engineering – Article sur la bombe thermobarique « Gazap » :
🔗 https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/turkey-unveils-most-powerful-non-nuclear-bomb
➤ Détaille les caractéristiques techniques (température, éclats métalliques, portée) et les déclarations de Nilufer Kuzulu.
2. Anadolu Agency (AA) – Agence de presse officielle turque :
🔗 https://www.aa.com.tr/en
➤ Chercher « Gazap » ou « TUBITAK SAGE » pour les communiqués liés à la défense turque.
3. TRT World / TRT Haber – Chaîne d’information publique turque :
🔗 https://www.trtworld.com/ ou https://www.trthaber.com/
➤ Couvre les annonces militaires, les salons comme IDEF et les innovations turques.
4. TÜBİTAK SAGE (l’institut turc de recherche en armement) :
🔗 https://www.sage.tubitak.gov.tr/
➤ Centre de développement de la bombe « Gazap » – communiqués techniques disponibles.

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⚔️ Sur l’histoire des canons ottomans
5. British Museum / Ottoman Artillery
➤ Articles sur le canon « Şahi » ou « Basilic » utilisé au siège de Constantinople.
🔗 https://www.britishmuseum.org/ ou archives académiques en ligne.
6. “The Ottoman Artillery” – Osprey Publishing / Military Series
➤ Livre ou revue détaillant l’évolution de l’artillerie ottomane au XVe siècle.
🔗 https://ospreypublishing.com/
7. Encyclopædia Britannica – Siege of Constantinople (1453)
🔗 https://www.britannica.com/event/Fall-of-Constantinople-1453
➤ Contexte historique et rôle de l’artillerie dans la chute de Byzance.
8. Paul Hammer – Historien militaire
➤ Travaux sur l’évolution des armes à feu dans le monde islamique à la Renaissance.

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💣 Sur les bombes thermobariques et le droit international
9. ICRC (Comité international de la Croix-Rouge)
🔗 https://www.icrc.org/en/document/thermobaric-weapons
➤ Analyse juridique et humanitaire de l’usage des bombes thermobariques.
10. United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)
🔗 https://www.un.org/disarmament/
➤ Rapport général sur les armes conventionnelles et leur réglementation.