In the space sector, Turkey is seeking international integration collaborations. The co-hosts of a significant space-themed congress that is scheduled to take place in Antalya, Turkey’s Mediterranean resort, hope that it will lead to increased international integration, collaboration, and new alliances for Turkey and Turkish businesses in the space sector.
Head of, Muttalip Tütüncü, the secretary-general of SAHA Istanbul, evaluated the expectations, priorities for the congress and space-defense overlap. The International Astronautical Congress (IAC) to be held between October 5th – 9th.
“One of the most important outcomes we expect from IAC 2026 is greater international integration. We want Turkish companies, universities, researchers and technology developers to establish direct relationships with global space agencies, major contractors, technology companies, investors and research institutions,” Tütüncü said in a response to a query.
The topic of the 77th International Astronautically Congress is “The World Needs More Space.” For the first time, the esteemed event is being held in Turkey.
In addition to discussing the event’s importance in terms of publicity and attendance, Tütüncü emphasized that exposure to the space economy and industry is crucial for supply chains.
“The exposure is important because entering the space economy is not only about developing a complete satellite or launch vehicle. The global space industry relies on extensive supply chains involving electronics, software, advanced materials, precision manufacturing, communications, sensors, testing technologies and many other specialized capabilities,” he said.
Many of these industries already have businesses in Turkey, he continued, along with “strong engineering, manufacturing, electronics, software and aerospace capabilities.”
The SAHA Istanbul defense and aerospace cluster was founded with the goal of fostering collaboration, technical advancement, and the acquisition of vital technologies in order to strengthen the sectoral and technological skills of its members and build a robust ecosystem.
Tütüncü also mentioned Türkiye’s growing engagement in international space cooperation as another important dimension. He recalled that Türkiye joined the Artemis Accords on August 31st, 2026, and said that the 5th Annual High-Level Meeting of the Artemis Accords will be held during IAC 2026.
Defense-Space Ecosystem
The SAHA Istanbul executive said that defense and space “are increasingly becoming part of the same technological and strategic ecosystem.”
“Today, many of the technologies required for advanced defense platforms are also fundamental to space systems. Secure communications, electro-optical and radar technologies, high-performance electronics, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, precision manufacturing and systems engineering are among the areas where the overlap is particularly strong,” Tütüncü said.
He also has the capacity to develop the ability to go into orbit. An ecosystem capable of creating, manufacturing, integrating, testing, and maintaining extremely complex technological systems has been established by Turkey’s defense sector. “The development of space systems has a solid foundation thanks to this accumulated engineering capability,” he said.
“A satellite, for example, brings together communications, electronics, software, power systems, sensors, structures and many other subsystems that must operate together successfully throughout the mission. Türkiye has been strengthening the capability to manage this type of complexity for many years through its defense and aerospace programmes,” he added.
“Secure and high-bandwidth communication technologies can contribute to satellite communications and data transmission, while artificial intelligence and autonomous systems can increasingly support navigation, mission management, data processing and spacecraft operations,” he also said.
Turkey’s National Space Programme plans for a Lunar Spacecraft Launch
“We are already seeing how technologies and experience accumulated through Türkiye’s national space projects are beginning to reinforce one another. Under the Lunar Research Programme, which is part of Türkiye’s National Space Program, TÜBITAK UZAY is developing a spacecraft with a domestic content rate of more than 80%, with launch targeted for the first half of 2027,” he added, referring to the space unit of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBITAK).
The country’s minister of industry and technology announced last month that Turkey intends to launch its lunar spacecraft, which will include a hybrid propulsion system produced domestically, in the first months of 2027.
The national technologies created by Turkey’s successfully finished satellite missions, namely IMECE and Türksat 6A, “are also contributing directly to the Lunar Research Programme,” Tütüncü noted at the same time.
Additionally, he stated that the development of an ecosystem rather than a single platform was the key to the success of Turkey’s military industry and stated that he thought the same idea “applies to space.”
No sustainable technology ecosystem can rely just on a few flagship initiatives. However, large national programmes are crucial because they generate technological targets, demand, and accumulated expertise.
He underlined the importance of these initiatives for SMEs, technological startups, academic institutions, researchers, specialty manufacturers, primary contractors, and foreign partners.
He also mentioned SAHA Istanbul’s goal of assisting in the development of an organized and linked industrial ecosystem where Turkish businesses can become competitive suppliers in global space markets and SMEs can participate in significant initiatives.
“IAC 2026 can be an important accelerator in that process because it brings the international space ecosystem directly together with Türkiye’s own industrial and technological capabilities,” he concluded.
Source: Daily Sabah
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