Türkiye’s ASELSAN backs Azerbaijan’s space ambitions with tech transfer deal

Türkiye’s leading defence and technology corporation, ASELSAN, has declared its readiness to share its advanced space technology know-how with Azerbaijan, marking a new phase in bilateral cooperation in the high-tech and aerospace sectors.

According to Turkish media, the announcement comes on the heels of the successful one-year operation of TÜRKSAT-6A, Türkiye’s first fully indigenous communications satellite, which entered orbit on July 9, 2024. 

Equipped with ASELSAN’s domestically designed Ku- and X-band communication payloads, the satellite has demonstrated the country’s ability to independently develop critical space systems. With this milestone, Türkiye joined an exclusive group of just 11 countries worldwide capable of producing their own geostationary communications satellites.

ASELSAN now plans to participate in the procurement process for Azerbaijan’s Azerspace-3, a next-generation national communications satellite. In line with its strategic vision, ASELSAN is offering not only state-of-the-art systems but also a technology transfer model that envisions the joint development and localised production of satellite payloads in collaboration with Azerbaijani engineers.

This cooperative framework would enable Azerbaijan to evolve from a consumer to a co-developer of satellite systems, helping the country build a robust and autonomous space industry. The partnership is expected to significantly boost Azerbaijan’s domestic engineering capacity and technical infrastructure.

Founded in 1975 under the initiative of the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation, ASELSAN has grown into one of the region’s most prominent defence electronics and technology companies. It specialises in radar, electronic warfare, communication systems, electro-optics, avionics, and space technologies, serving both military and civilian markets.

The company is known for its commitment to innovation, technological self-sufficiency, and strategic partnerships with allied nations.

The forthcoming cooperation — under ASELSAN’s leadership  —is viewed as a historic opportunity to establish a high-tech bridge between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, two nations united by strong political, cultural, and economic ties.

By Tamilla Hasanova