Total system solutions Aselsan

TOTAL SYSTEM SOLUTIONS

Turkish defence electronics giant Aselsan, based in Ankara, can lay claim to being the market leader in defence electronics in the domestic market. In recent years it has been taking its hi-tech knowledge and electronics expertise to a similar level on the global market, as Industry Europe discovers.

Aselsan is one of the leading enterprises in the Turkish electronics industry. This is a company that has a rich history of offering innovative solutions as a componentlevel manufacturer, but now also provides its customers with total system solutions.

And in a bid to fully exploit its position to offer its markets innovative comprehensive systems solutions, it is currently in the process of undertaking a number of modernisation and integration projects that require system engineering.

Firm foundations in the military

Aselsan was founded in 1975 by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation to produce tactical military radios and self defence electronic systems for the Turkish army.

Today, it is the leading multi-product electronics company in Turkey that has expanded its field of expertise to now include designing, developing and manufacturing modern electrical systems for professional customers alongside its traditional applications in the military.

Today, the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation continues to be the main shareholder in this exciting hi-tech company as it holds 84 per cent of the shares, with IMKB maintaining a 15 per cent stake in the business, and the remaining one per cent being owned by the insurance company AXA-Oyak.

The company employs over 3000 people, with its team of highly skilled engineers making up a third of the workforce. In fact, such is the company’s focus on investing in knowledge and information – which it believes are two of the most vital components of achieving sustainable growth – that no less than 700 of its 1333 engineers are dedicated to working in research and development.

Production structure

Aselsan operates two main production facilities in Ankara. Its main site is still located at the birthplace of the company in Macunkoy, which hosts the company’s headquarters alongside its Communications, Microwave and System Technologies Divisions.

The main facility has been the subject of expansion since the early days, with Aselsan now operating on a site of some 186,000m2 with 86,000m2 of the site covered.

Its third division, the Microelectronics, Guidance and Electro-optics division is located at

the Electro-optics Technology Centre in Akyurt, which began production in 1992. In the same year the company also added radar systems to its portfolio of products and services.

Advanced electronic systems

Aselsan competes on a global sales platform with a range of advanced electronics systems. Its portfolio includes military communication systems – defence and weapon systems, radar systems, navigation and guidance products and command control systems – together with mobile radios for its professional communications customers. It has also designed and developed a range of traffic systems, which includes its highway manual toll collection and professional electronic systems, together with TV transmitters, siren and public announcement equipment and central alarm systems, which is sells to its many customers in this division.

However, its main product areas continue to be its C4ISR systems, airborne electronic warfare self-protection systems, air defence systems and electro-optical systems.

Aselsan expects these same products to offer the most potential for growth in the ensuing years.

Objective to increase global presence

Within the scope of the projects already undertaken by the company, Aselsan is not only active in its domestic market, but is currently making great efforts to compete in the international arena. In fact, nowadays it is exporting its products to customers located in more than 25 countries including the likes of Germany, USA, the Netherlands, Pakistan and Malaysia.

And indeed, one of the main objectives of the company is to increase the amount of global sales. Therefore, one of its strategies for the coming years is to continue to exploit additional opportunities in its global markets, aside from those that exist in Europe. Aselsan has identified 30 countries that have certain needs and requirements that it believes it can meet with its years of electronics expertise and product portfolio, and the company is now directing its efforts to penetrate the markets in these countries.

Customer-specific engineering

As a systems integrator and total system provider, Aselsan works with its customers on various specific engineering projects. That is to say it designs, develops and manufactures specific systems as per a customer’s exact requirements. The customer and its individual needs define the specifications of a final product or system depending on their requirements, so as a result, many of Aselsan’s systems and products are unique to the marketplace it serves. n