Turkey’s leading defense electronics company ASELSAN is not only developing cutting-edge military technologies but also attracting Turkish talent back from abroad. CEO Ahmet Akyol revealed that more than 1,000 Turkish engineers have applied to return home and work on ASELSAN’s high-technology projects, marking a 400% increase compared to the previous year. “Many of them said, ‘I want to return to my homeland and be part of these exciting, high-tech projects,’” Akyol stated.

Akyol emphasized that 2024 was a record-breaking year for ASELSAN, both in domestic achievements and global reach. The company signed export contracts with seven new countries, adding 30 new products to its international portfolio and introducing 29 new systems into the Turkish Armed Forces inventory. ASELSAN now employs around 12,000 people, more than 7,000 of whom are engineers, reflecting the company’s strong focus on R&D and innovation.

The CEO highlighted ASELSAN’s key role in the “Steel Dome” project, Turkey’s layered air defense architecture. The ALP 300-G Early Warning Radar, with a range exceeding 650 km, and the long-range air defense system SİPER were both added to the inventory in 2024. Additionally, the new hybrid air defense system GÜRZ entered the early production phase. In the maritime domain, ASELSAN delivered MARLİN, Turkey’s first unmanned surface vessel, to the navy. The company also completed the DÜFAS sonar system, which quadruples underwater detection range and significantly enhances submarine defense capability.

ASELSAN’s achievements extend into space as well. The company developed and produced the military and civilian payloads aboard TÜRKSAT 6A, Turkey’s first domestically produced communication satellite, which recently began its operational mission in orbit. This milestone positions ASELSAN as a comprehensive technology leader — from the depths of the sea to the expanse of space.

Akyol noted that ASELSAN has launched new investments exceeding $400 million, strengthening production and R&D infrastructure in radar, electro-optics, air defense, and microelectronics. “We are building the foundation of our nation’s Steel Dome step by step,” he said, adding that ASELSAN’s projects not only enhance national security but also contribute significantly to employment, exports, and economic growth. With its world-class R&D environment and advanced engineering ecosystem, ASELSAN has become a powerful magnet for Turkish engineers abroad, fueling the country’s technological independence and global competitiveness.