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Turkish defense giant Aselsan's integrated defense vision is driving rapid global growth, its CEO stated, highlighting the company's evolution into a multi-domain defense flagship with expanding exports and advanced defense system capabilities.
Ahmet Akyol, the president and CEO of Aselsan, stated that the company remains focused on strengthening national resilience through advanced defense technologies while expanding international partnerships.
"Nearly five decades later, our core mission remains the same, strengthening national resilience through reliable, high-value, and innovative defense technologies," Akyol said in an interview with Business Focus Magazine.
Aselsan, founded in 1975, has grown from a radio manufacturer into Türkiye's largest defense company, operating across air and missile defense, radar, electronic warfare (EW), and space technologies.
The Turkish defense company has 26 affiliates across 24 countries and exports to more than 90 nations, combining global reach with localized engagement.
Akyol noted that the company's portfolio is distinguished by its ability to integrate multiple capabilities into "network-centric, system-of-systems architectures suited to modern multidomain operations."
Aselsan reported $4.5 billion in revenue in 2025, representing 15% growth over the previous year.
International deliveries rose 89% to $958 million, while the company secured more than $2 billion in new export contracts, signifying a 104% year-on-year increase.
"Last year, we exported 16 products for the first time, while our export unit value rose to $2,200 per kilogram," Akyol said.
The total new-order intake reached $9.6 billion, up 46%, with the order book hitting a record $20.4 billion.
"These figures underline both strong demand for our solutions and the trust placed in Aselsan as a long-term strategic partner," he said.
Akyol said Aselsan's system integration capability is a key differentiator, enabling the delivery of integrated defense architectures rather than standalone systems.
A central example is the Steel Dome, a multilayered air and missile defense system designed to counter modern threats such as swarm drones and hybrid aerial attacks.
"The Steel Dome integrates radars, electro-optical sensors, electronic warfare systems, command-and-control networks, and layered effectors within a secure and resilient ecosystem," Akyol said.
He added that the system is operational and expanding, with deployments strengthening air defense capabilities.
At the core of the Steel Dome is HAKIM, an artificial intelligence-enabled command-and-control system that processes data, prioritizes threats, and assigns responses in real time.
Aselsan employs about 14,000 people with an average age of 33, reflecting its focus on a young, engineering-driven workforce.
"Our workforce is one of our greatest strategic assets," Akyol said, adding that the company invests heavily in professional development through advanced R&D infrastructure, continuous training programs, AI-enabled engineering tools, and internal mobility opportunities.
The company is also expanding its capabilities across domains, including naval systems, unmanned Aerial vehicles (UAV) payloads, and space technologies.
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Akyol said Aselsan's priorities include expanding export revenues, strengthening partnerships, and advancing next-generation defense systems.
"We aim to expand export revenues while deepening our presence in strategic markets through partnerships based on localization, joint development, and lifecycle support," he said.
He added that the company is extending its capabilities "from the seabed to space," including investments in satellite communications and space-based sensing.
"Ultimately, our goal is to position Aselsan as a global reference point for integrated, sovereign, and future-ready defense technologies," Akyol concluded.
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