Turkish company ASELSAN opens new Skopje Office to deepen Balkan partnerships.

On September 2, 2024, the Turkish company ASELSAN opened a new regional office in Skopje, the capital city of North Macedonia, as part of its strategy to expand its global operations. The new office aims to enhance ASELSAN’s engagement with partners in the Balkans, further extending its presence in a region where it has been active since 2014. The opening ceremony, held on September 2, 2024, was attended by key figures, including Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, Secretary of Defence Industries for Türkiye, and Ahmet Akyol, CEO and President of ASELSAN.
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The office will focus on marketing, business development, customer satisfaction, and post-sales support for countries that use ASELSAN's products and systems. (Picture source: ASELSAN)

The establishment of a regional office in Skopje reflects ASELSAN’s goal of improving access to both Western and Eastern European markets. Skopje's strategic location is expected to facilitate the company's reach across the Balkan region and foster additional collaboration with regional partners. The office will focus on marketing, business development, customer satisfaction, and post-sales support for countries that use ASELSAN's products and systems. With sales already made to nearly all Balkan countries, ASELSAN intends to expand its user base and strengthen relationships with customers through its range of military and civilian solutions.

The new office is anticipated to play a significant role in both the military and civilian sectors, particularly in areas such as highway toll collection systems and smart transportation systems. ASELSAN's leadership views this expansion into the Balkans as consistent with the company’s broader objectives of increasing its global presence and strengthening cooperation with local partners. The new office in Skopje is seen as a strategic hub for ASELSAN's operations in the Balkans, aimed at enhancing collaboration with regional countries and local entities.

The Secretary of Defence Industries, Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, also highlighted the strategic importance of the new office, aligning it with Türkiye’s vision for a more independent defense industry. The opening of this office in North Macedonia is considered an extension of Türkiye's commitment to developing its global engineering capabilities and deepening strategic partnerships. It is expected to further strengthen the relationship between Türkiye and North Macedonia and facilitate technological, knowledge, and cultural exchanges that could benefit both countries. The new office is also expected to contribute to future developments in the defense industry, fostering technological, knowledge-based, and friendly relations between the two nations.

The company’s diverse portfolio includes communication systems, radar and electronic warfare systems, electro-optic systems, and weapon systems such as the Korkut air defense system. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

ASELSAN (Askeri Elektronik Sanayi) was founded in 1975 in Ankara, Turkey, by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation (TAFF) to reduce the country's reliance on foreign defense suppliers. The company initially focused on military communication systems but expanded in the 1980s and 1990s to cover a broad range of defense electronics, including radar systems, electronic warfare, and command-and-control systems. ASELSAN has developed into a significant player in Türkiye’s defense sector, meeting military needs and contributing to national security.

As Türkiye’s leading defense company, ASELSAN has gained recognition over nearly five decades of experience and a growing international footprint. It ranks as the 42nd largest defense company globally in terms of defense turnover, according to Defense News. Employing over 11,000 people, ASELSAN provides a wide range of products, services, and system solutions for both military and industrial customers. The company operates in areas such as radar, electronic warfare systems, microelectronics, electro-optics, information and communication technology, and defense system technologies. Additionally, ASELSAN is active in civilian industries, offering solutions in transportation, security, energy, automation, and healthcare.

In recent decades, ASELSAN has significantly expanded its international presence, exporting its products and services to over 70 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The company has formed strategic partnerships and joint ventures with various international firms to enhance its technological capabilities and expand its market reach. Notable collaborations include projects with Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine, where ASELSAN provides advanced communication systems, electro-optics, and radar technologies. ASELSAN also participates in NATO projects, reflecting its involvement in international defense cooperation.

The company’s diverse portfolio includes communication systems, radar and electronic warfare systems, electro-optic systems, and weapon systems. Among its products are the "Volkan-M" fire control system, designed to modernize tanks such as the M60T Sabra and Leopard 2, and the "Hisar" family of air defense systems, developed for low and medium-altitude defense. Additionally, ASELSAN has created the "Koral" mobile electronic warfare system, capable of detecting, intercepting, and jamming enemy radar signals. These examples demonstrate ASELSAN’s capabilities in providing a wide range of technological solutions in both military and civilian sectors.