ASELSAN will showcase its Türksat 6A, Türksat 7A and Göktürk-3 satellite programs, as well as Astralink, which demonstrates its competencies in different orbits and missions, at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026).
The congress, organized every year by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), will be held on 5-9 October this year at Antalya NEST Congress Center, under the coordination of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, co-hosted by the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) and SAHA Istanbul and AA's "Global Communication Partnership".
ASELSAN will exhibit its satellite and space technologies portfolio that it has developed since the early 2000s, at the congress of which it is the main sponsor.
Initially focusing on the satellite ground segment and user SATCOM solutions, over the years the company has expanded its competencies in the space field to include satellite systems, platforms and payloads, satellite ground control centers and supporting technologies.
Türkiye's space-based domestic communications competence will be strengthened
ASELSAN has an integrated portfolio that allows it to develop end-to-end solutions specific to mission needs.
In line with its "Chip to Set Satellite" vision, the company will build on its experience in the field of defense electronics and demonstrate its competencies ranging from electronics in compliance with chip and space standards to satellite systems and payloads, from ground infrastructure to user terminals.
One of these, Astralink, is being developed within the scope of the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Communication Satellite, Low Earth Orbit Satellites and Military 5G/6G Communication System Project.
Astralink is designed to provide secure, uninterrupted, reliable, low-latency and high-capacity communication between network centers and users beyond the line of sight of terrestrial networks. The project also aims to create a scalable mass production capability with the target of producing up to 4 satellites per month and to strengthen Türkiye's space-based domestic communications capabilities.
Türksat 6A's experience is transferred to 7A
Türksat 6A, one of the projects that will be highlighted at IAC 2026, reveals Turkey's domestic competencies in geostationary orbit with communication payloads and satellite technologies developed by ASELSAN.
ASELSAN continues its work for Türkiye's new generation GEO communication satellite, Türksat 7A, based on the experience and competencies gained within the scope of Türksat 6A.
Another issue that will come to the fore at IAC 2026 will be Türkiye's SAR satellite program Göktürk-3. This program will expand the nation's space-based imaging capabilities by providing day and night imaging in all weather conditions. Within the scope of the multi-stakeholder program, ASELSAN is developing the SAR imaging radar, secure communication equipment for transferring large amounts of data to ground stations, and the satellite's main security unit.
"It creates new opportunities"
ASELSAN General Manager Ahmet Akyol made an evaluation about IAC 2026 to the AA correspondent.
Giving information about his company's projects, Akyol said:
"Our experience as a defense electronics company has laid a strong foundation for us to develop technologies for the space field. Today, ASELSAN has competencies in the entire space ecosystem, from chip technologies and space-qualified electronics to ground infrastructure with satellite systems and payloads. IAC 2026 offers an important platform to showcase these competencies and our growing targets in the space field. Our 'Chip to Set Satellite' vision enables us to develop complete, safe and competitive space architectures by combining these competencies, while also creating new products in international markets." It creates opportunities.”
