Aselsan, Turkey's leading defense company, has seen its foreign orders double, driven by growing European and allied interest in the Turkish defense industry. Ahmet Akyol, Aselsan's CEO, stated that he anticipates a substantial increase in exports to NATO-linked nations. This surge in demand reinforces Turkey's position as a crucial player in the global defense sector, bolstered by its geographical advantage, military strength, and industrial capabilities.
The company's CEO, Akyol, highlighted that Aselsan has played a pivotal role in strengthening Turkey's armed forces, which now primarily utilize domestically produced defense equipment. Aselsan's products, including components of its Steel Dome air defense system, radar systems, high-altitude, medium-altitude, and low-altitude air defense systems, and low Earth orbit satellites for surveillance, are being recognized as significant capability enhancements for NATO's security architecture. More than 50% of Aselsan's exports last year were directed to NATO-linked countries, a figure expected to climb further.
Aselsan is also heavily investing in cutting-edge technologies, with a focus on artificial intelligence-based, network-centric, and autonomous systems. The company boasts Turkey's largest data center, employing over 2,000 engineers dedicated to AI development. Aselsan is developing specialized AI models trained with sensitive military data and has begun integrating AI into its products. Additionally, the firm is working on superconducting quantum processor units and designing quantum chips, with plans for a production facility in Ankara. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged Aselsan's innovation, scalability, and rapid delivery capabilities during a recent visit.
