ASELSAN CEO Ahmet Akyol made striking statements about two flagship projects of the Turkish defense industry. Akyol stated that the ASELFLIR-600, which made headlines with its test footage, will function like a "Flying Telescope," while he announced that the National Combat Aircraft KAAN will transform into a "Supercomputer" with its electronic warfare and radar systems.
As Türkiye's most valuable company, ASELSAN, celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is being talked about not only for its financial successes but also for its technologies that are changing the balance in the field. Making important assessments within the scope of SAHA Istanbul, ASELSAN General Manager Ahmet Akyol stated that the testing processes have been successfully completed and the images that have generated excitement in the public are related to the technologies being developed. ASELFLIR-600 with the new ruler of the skies KAAN’He shared the technical details of it.
ASELFLIR-600: The “Flying Telescope” in the Sky is Ready for Duty.
Following the ASELFLIR-500, developed in record time in response to Canadian sanctions and proven in the field, ASELSAN has taken the game to the next level. General Manager Ahmet Akyol stated that the test footage has generated excitement in defense circles. ASELFLIR-600’'due to its enormous optical capabilities “"A telescope flying in the sky"” as described.
The Eye That "Sees" 150 Kilometers and Beyond: Strategic Depth
According to the technical data shared by Akyol, ASELFLIR-600 is not just a camera system, but a strategic force multiplier for UAVs.
- Stand-Off Capability: The system enables heavy-class platforms such as AKINCI and AKSUNGUR to operate without entering the range of enemy air defense systems., From distances exceeding 150 kilometers It provides the capability to detect and identify targets. This allows Turkish UAVs to "see without being seen" and manage operations from a safe zone.
- Huge Optical Aperture: With a much larger lens aperture and optical magnification capability compared to the ASELFLIR-500, the system can select targets from kilometers away in the finest detail (plates, faces, equipment, etc.) without losing resolution.
Ahmet Akyol: “We Did Better, Now It’s Time to Leave You Behind”
In the interview, Akyol stated that the embargo process turned into a source of motivation for Turkish engineering, saying, “We overcame the embargoes with ASELFLIR-500, we did the best. Now we are in the process of outperforming our competitors with ASELFLIR-600.” This “giant eye,” which successfully passed the most critical stages of flight tests and whose performance was verified, is currently in a low-density series production line and will take its place in the inventory at full capacity next year.
KAAN: "It is our mission to make the plane the Wise KAAN."“
ASELSAN, the largest technology partner in the National Combat Aircraft KAAN project, is building the "seeing, hearing, and thinking" brain beneath the aircraft's "invisible" fuselage. Ahmet Akyol explains their mission in the KAAN project. “"To make KAAN into a wise KAAN"” While summarizing it as such, he also shared a striking detail about the most critical component of the project.
Not the Engine, but the Real Game Changer: AESA Radar
While the engine is generally considered the heart of the aviation world, the balance has shifted for KAAN. In the interview, it was noted that experts within the project identified the ASELSAN-designed AESA Radar, rather than the engine, as KAAN's most critical subsystem. Akyol emphasized this observation. MURAT AESA Radar‘He elaborated on why it was a "game changer" with the following words:
“In a 5th generation aircraft, situational awareness is as critical as, or even more critical than, low visibility (stealth). The AESA radar we have developed is not just a target detection device; it is a supercomputer that works integrated with electronic warfare capabilities, is resistant to jamming, and can 'see' from very long ranges. This radar is the real force multiplier that will put KAAN ahead of its competitors.‘
GaN Technology and Integrated Architecture
This "game-changing" capability, highlighted by Akyol, is something ASELSAN has designed at the chip level. Gallium Nitrate (GaN) It is based on technology.
- Integrated Structure: Unlike its competitors worldwide, KAAN will use radar and electronic warfare systems integrated into a single processor architecture, rather than in separate boxes.
- Intelligent Sensor Fusion: Even in radar silence, this system, which combines electro-optical sensors distributed throughout the aircraft's fuselage, IRST (Infrared Search and Tracking), and the pilot's helmet (HMD), will provide the pilot with a 360-degree uninterrupted "wise" view.
Akyol outlined ASELSAN's vision, saying, "When KAAN takes to the skies, with all these systems on board, it will not only be a flying platform, but also an intelligent headquarters managing the battlefield.".
From Embargo to Technological Leadership
Ahmet Akyol's statements clearly summarize the point that the Turkish defense industry has reached: "We have done better, now we are at the stage where we will make a difference."“
The sharp images from the ASELFLIR-600 test site and the ’Bilge“ touches in KAAN’s electronic hardware prove that Türkiye is not only a platform manufacturer but also a global technology giant that adds ”intelligence“ to these platforms.
Keywords: ASELSAN, Ahmet Akyol, ASELFLIR-600, KAAN, National Combat Aircraft, Flying Telescope, AESA Radar, UAV Camera, Defense Industry News.
