Aselsan Showcases Innovations at Adex 2024: Exclusive Interview with CEO Ahmet Akyol.

During the Adex 2024 exhibition in Baku, Turkish company Aselsan attracted attention by presenting several advanced systems designed for modern armed forces. The company’s CEO, Ahmet Akyol, granted us an exclusive interview to highlight Aselsan’s flagship products, including the ASELSAN ANTIDOT EX pod family for drones, the Steel Dome air defense system, and the ASELFLIR 400 and ASELFLIR 500 cameras. This opportunity allows us to delve into the company's technological expertise and explore the prospects these systems offer in the global arms market.
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The partnerships signed during Adex, notably with Azerbaijan, reflect Aselsan's intent to expand its international collaborations, while offering technology transfers and joint production opportunities (Picture source: ArmyRecognition)

ANTIDOT EX Pod Family: Advanced Solutions for Armed Drones

The first technology Aselsan presented is the ANTIDOT EX pod family, specifically designed for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These systems are intended for drones such as the Bayraktar TB2, ANKA, and AKINCI. One innovative aspect of this range is its modularity: two attack pods and one intelligence pod are available, each specialized in key functions, ranging from electronic attack to electronic intelligence (ELINT), and the localization of enemy defenses (SIGINT).

The ASOJ-234U attack pod, designed for the AKINCI UAV, stands out for its ability to perform large-scale jamming. It can simultaneously disrupt multiple threats, including enemy radars and communication systems, while rapidly detecting adversarial signals. In contrast, the smaller model, designed for the Bayraktar TB2, serves a protective role by intercepting and jamming enemy signals to prevent the drone's detection.

These systems were showcased at Adex in a configuration optimized for intelligence and electronic warfare missions. They are particularly attractive to countries looking to enhance their drone capabilities in asymmetric warfare contexts, where unmanned systems offer greater tactical flexibility. The increasing use of drones in conflict zones, particularly in Ukraine, presents promising prospects for Aselsan in the arms market, where the demand for electronic warfare systems continues to grow.

Steel Dome System: An Innovative Multi-Layer Air Defense

Another major product from Aselsan, the Steel Dome air defense system, generated significant interest at Adex 2024. This ambitious project integrates short-, medium-, and long-range defense capabilities into a multi-layer network to effectively protect airspaces against various threats, including drones, missiles, and aircraft.

Steel Dome combines a range of sensors, an advanced command and control system, and interception units to respond to different types of threats. Aselsan’s CEO highlighted the system’s ability to interact with other defense equipment developed in Turkey, particularly in collaboration with Roketsan and Tubitak Sage. It represents a major evolution compared to previous defense systems, offering broader coverage and improved interception capabilities.

This project is already operational in Turkey and is now targeting international markets, particularly allied countries, with ongoing negotiations for potential foreign sales. Steel Dome could become a reference in integrated air defense, especially in geopolitically tense regions like the Middle East and the Caucasus.

ASELFLIR 400 and ASELFLIR 500 Cameras: Advanced Optical Solutions for Aerial Platforms

Finally, Aselsan introduced two advanced camera systems, ASELFLIR 400 and ASELFLIR 500, designed for drones and aircraft. These systems offer exceptional capabilities for reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting.

The ASELFLIR 400, already integrated into the Turkish Coast Guard’s helicopters, stands out for its compact and lightweight design, as well as its ability to provide real-time high-definition images, even in adverse weather conditions. This system, equipped with multiple sensors, including infrared and thermal cameras, is suitable for use on land, naval, and aerial platforms. Its application for border surveillance and coastal security makes it particularly attractive for countries seeking to modernize their detection and reconnaissance capabilities.

The ASELFLIR 500, on the other hand, represents a significant technological advancement, developed to replace the CATS system mounted on Bayraktar TB2 drones. With a high-resolution 4096x2880 pixel sensor and a laser rangefinder capable of designating targets up to 35 km away, the ASELFLIR 500 is designed for long-duration, high-altitude missions. Its image processing capabilities, based on artificial intelligence, and advanced optical stabilization make it a powerful tool for reconnaissance and targeting missions, even in complex environments.

International Market Prospects

The range of products presented by Aselsan at this exhibition clearly demonstrates the company’s ambition to strengthen its presence in the global market. In particular, the electronic warfare systems for drones and the Steel Dome project offer attractive solutions for countries seeking to enhance their defense capabilities in an increasingly complex threat environment. Turkey, as a rising power in the defense industry, positions Aselsan as a key player capable of competing with Western and Russian defense companies.

The partnerships signed during Adex, notably with Azerbaijan, reflect Aselsan's intent to expand its international collaborations, while offering technology transfers and joint production opportunities. These agreements pave the way for strategic opportunities not only in the region but also beyond, with a particular focus on exporting critical technologies such as the ASELFLIR 500 and electronic warfare systems.