2025 marks the celebration of Aselsan’s 50th anniversary, and EDR On-Line met its CEO during the 17th edition of IDEF, the International Defence Industry Fair that this year moved into new premises
There are various ways to see the evolution of a company, and one is to measure its participation in major events, such as the IDEF exhibition. Meeting Ahmet Akyol, the company CEO, in his office in the huge stand that occupies most of Hall 8 of the Istanbul Expo Center, we could not refrain asking him to replay the history of the group. “I may start referring to our history at IDEF; when 32 years ago this exhibition was established, Aselsan had a 76m2 booth and was exhibiting seven or eight products. Today we are here, in a 7,000 m2 stand, with over 300 products on show,” he explained, underlining the dynamism of the company, which is the Turkish technological giant, but is well on the way to become a regional technological power, and not only. “We are trying to increase the international collaborations, especially in the Gulf region, in the Middle East, in Asia, and in the Eastern Europe. We have established very close connections, and we have international activities, offices, facilities, and design offices in 24 countries all around the world. In the past Aselsan was only present in Türkiye, now it has become one of the key players in Europe and is among the 10 biggest European defence companies in terms of revenues.”
Of course, Turkish government and armed forces vision for new types of systems has an influence on the company, however sometime things go the other way round, when it is Aselsan that proposes new approaches, new doctrines to its national and international customers, including NATO allies.
Talking doctrine, the shift led by the United States towards multi-domain operation is influencing the defence industry. “In terms of military approach, governments and military leaders define five domains, land, naval, maritime, airborne, space and electromagnetic cyber. We are active in all five, especially in electronic warfare and in integrating cyber systems with electronic warfare. The biggest electronic warfare radar facility of Europe is in Ankara, which allows commanders to underline how the Turkish armed forces are among the in UAV and electronic warfare,” Ahmet Akyol explained.
Aselsan is pursuing new developments in the electronic warfare domain, increasing power, sensitivity and range. “We are also adding a cognitive approach. As for space, we are a payload provider, both for GEO[1] and LEO[2], including communication and synthetic aperture radars, as well as some surveillance and intelligence systems, although we are not of course the main provider.”
Aselsan future vision looks at a multi-domain hybrid warfare based on three layers. “The first is the physical one, and we are fully involved in this one with systems such as guided munitions, air defence and so on. Aselsan is working on new technologies, new approach, new tactics, new features. The second layer is the electromagnetic one, the invisible side of the warfare. And here too we are active, with electronic warfare systems as well as with high power microwave and lasers. The third and last layer is what we define the cognitive layer, the command and communications layer, and this is considered in all our products, and is now supported by artificial intelligence,” the CEO said.
AI, as artificial intelligence is better known, is a key issue. “Aselsan is implementing AI and developing domain-based models with domain-based big data. We have a roadmap and procedures to add domain-based AI models and AI features to our products,” Ahmet Akyol underlined. As an example, the CEO underlined how AI allowed to considerably decrease the false alarm rate in PIRI 100 and 200 Infrared Search and Track (IRST) developed for the naval domain. “Related to this type of activity, we are working on quantum technologies for the future” he added, “not only for quantum encryption, but also to support quantum-based power computers for potential AI implementations, including quantum chip design and quantum computing-based algorithms.
Aselsan is also implementing AI within company processes, such as human resources, business development, procurement, and so on, to increase agility and speed. “Inside Aselsan there is an AI authority that is managing this internal transformation to make Aselsan more agile,” adding that this allowed saving considerable amount of working hours, boosting productivity,” AI-based internal applications generating a $25 million saving in a single year.
Savings can be invested in R&D, in company growth, and eventually in the acquisition of new assets. “The normal internal growth rate is satisfying in Aselsan. We have continuous R&D and investment activities for infrastructures, which in two years allowed us to increase our production capability by 40%, helping to increase deliveries and revenues.” Aselsan is increasing its production capacity in Türkiye, “we have internal Turkish-based subsidiary policies to make production more feasible and to enlarge the supply chain inside the country. We have 6-7 production-based facilities, and we are diversifying the supply chain. We also have international operations in 24 countries, as well as 3-4 joint ventures around the world. We recently signed some agreement with the PSG group, and we are open to have joint ventures with all European companies,” Ahmet Akyol stated. However, JVs are not the only way to increase Aselsan’s footprint; “we are looking for potential acquisitions. If we find a company aligned with Aselsan’s roadmap and we consider it can fill a gap in our portfolio, acquiring it is a possible option.”
In 2024 company results growth by international metrics was 18%; “in the first quarter this year we declared again over two digits growth, and the second quarter could be the same. From the beginning of our aselsaneXt transformation and development project, we have been growing two digits and backlogs are satisfying, deliveries are satisfying, and the number of new products is also very satisfying,” the company having unveiled over 10 new products at IDEF 2025.
During IDEF it was announced that an MoU was signed between the United Kingdom and Türkiye for the acquisition by the Turkish Air Force of the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft. How much this will have an impact on Aselsan is probably too early to know. “This kind of decisions are taken at top governmental level, so I don’t know them yet. If the government asks us to contribute, we will. Today our task is to supply Turkish Kizilelma, Kaan, Hürjet, Anka and Akinci; it is almost done and we are very happy about the level. Aselsan has been working on UAV, helicopter, and aircraft payloads for legacy generations and now we shifted to the fifth-generation including low visibility aircraft features as well as optics, radars, electronic warfare, ammunition guidance kits and avionics. So, if the government tasks us, we are ready to discuss it,” Ahmet Akyol concluded.
Looking to the next 50 years of activity!
Photos courtesy Aselsan and P. Valpolini