CTech, one of Türkiye’s leading companies in satellite and beyond-line-of-sight communication technologies, delivered a remarkable live demonstration at World Defense Show (WDS) 2026 in Riyadh. From its exhibition stand, the company successfully controlled an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) operating in Istanbul—approximately 1,400 kilometers away—via satellite connection in real time. The demonstration highlighted the operational maturity of secure and uninterrupted satellite communications in real-world mission scenarios.

The live operation utilized CTech’s AquaARX satellite communication terminal. Through a secure SATCOM link, uninterrupted data flow was established between Riyadh and Istanbul, enabling real-time command and control of the USV. The demonstration clearly illustrated how satellite-based communication systems eliminate geographical constraints, ensuring long-range operational control of unmanned platforms without reliance on line-of-sight connectivity.

Unmanned surface vehicles are increasingly deployed in missions such as reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence gathering, and maritime security operations. In scenarios where traditional line-of-sight communication becomes insufficient, satellite-enabled connectivity becomes a strategic necessity. CTech’s 1,400-kilometer live control demonstration provided tangible proof of the critical importance of resilient SATCOM infrastructure for modern unmanned naval platforms.

CTech General Manager Dr. Cüneyd Fırat emphasized that the company’s extensive satellite communication expertise—built upon more than 400,000 flight hours on ANKA and AKSUNGUR unmanned aerial vehicle platforms—has now been successfully transferred to naval systems. He noted that a significant portion of Türkiye’s unmanned surface vehicle projects benefit from CTech’s satellite communication capabilities, underlining the company’s strong collaboration with platform manufacturers and system developers.

This demonstration not only showcased CTech’s technological competence but also reinforced Türkiye’s growing position in the global defense industry. The successful live satellite control from Riyadh to Istanbul sent a powerful message about the global reach and operational flexibility of next-generation unmanned systems powered by advanced SATCOM solutions.