Turkey's Aselsan announces Astralink network of 198 low-orbit satellites
In short
Aselsan CEO Ahmet Akyol said at the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya that Turkey is building Astralink, a low-orbit satellite constellation of 198 spacecraft, with the first launch planned within two years. Akyol said work began at the end of 2025 and that the system's waveform, chips and subsystems will be developed inside Turkey. Turkey is separately negotiating with SpaceX over commercial Starlink access, with no agreement reported so far.
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Turkey is building a low-orbit satellite constellation called Astralink, to consist of 198 spacecraft, Aselsan CEO Ahmet Akyol said at the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya. According to TASS, Kommersant, Vedomosti and the tech outlet iXBT, the first satellite is planned to be launched within two years. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Akyol said practical work on the project began at the end of 2025, Vedomosti and iXBT reported. He said the system will have its own waveform, chips and subsystems developed by Turkey's domestic ecosystem, and Kommersant cited him as saying: “This is a project in which we, so to speak, proclaim our independence in space.” Kommersant reported that the project is called Gokgabi (“God of sky”) in Turkish. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The network is intended to provide high-speed, resilient internet to Turkey and to friendly states, with military and government users given priority, Kommersant reported. iXBT noted that low Earth orbit can offer lower signal latency than traditional geostationary satellites, and Kommersant said such satellites require less energy-intensive launch and can serve remote areas. [ 2 , 3 ]
Akyol said Turkey currently has more than 1 million end-user terminals, according to Vedomosti. iXBT reported that Turkish authorities are talking to SpaceX about commercial access to Starlink, that the talks have not led to an agreement, and that it is not yet clear whether Starlink will be granted permission to operate in the country at all. [ 2 , 4 ]
On the industrial side, Kommersant reported that as of April 2026 Aselsan was already among companies producing space systems, and that localisation in parts of Turkey's defence production has reached up to 80%, which it said creates conditions for developing complex satellite infrastructure domestically. The documents did not give a budget, financing or a firm launch date. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The project would give Turkey a national satellite internet system that Aselsan says would serve the country and its allies, with military and government users given priority, according to Kommersant. It also sits alongside unresolved talks with SpaceX over Starlink access, leaving open whether a foreign low-orbit operator will be allowed to compete in the Turkish market. The documents frame the plan as part of a push for technological independence rather than as a commercial service launch.
Key facts
- Aselsan CEO Ahmet Akyol announced the Astralink low-orbit satellite project at the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The constellation is planned to consist of 198 low-orbit satellites. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The first satellite is planned to be launched within two years. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Akyol said practical work on the project began at the end of 2025. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Akyol said the system will use a waveform, chips, software and subsystems developed inside Turkey. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Kommersant reported the project is called Gokgabi in Turkish and that military and government users will have priority. [ 3 ]
- Akyol said Turkey currently has more than 1 million end-user terminals. [ 4 ]
- iXBT reported Turkey is in talks with SpaceX on commercial Starlink access and that no agreement has been reached. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Aselsan CEO Ahmet Akyol announced a Turkish low-orbit satellite constellation of 198 satellites called Astralink. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The announcement was made at the international astronautical congress in Antalya. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The first satellite is planned to be launched within the next two years. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Work on the project began at the end of 2025. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Key components, including chips and software, are to be developed inside Turkey, according to Akyol. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Starlink will receive permission to operate in Turkey iXBT states this is not yet clear, and no other document addresses Starlink's licensing status.
- The outcome of Turkey's talks with SpaceX on commercial Starlink access Reported only by iXBT, which says the talks have not led to an agreement; no other outlet covers them.
- Cost, funding, schedule detail and the total number of satellites beyond the first stage The documents give 198 satellites as the first-stage figure but no budget, financing or dated launch schedule.
- The exact name of the congress TASS, iXBT and Kommersant refer to the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, while Vedomosti refers to the 77th International Space Congress.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reports that Turkey intends to create a Starlink analogue with 198 low-orbit satellites, citing Aselsan CEO Ahmet Akyol. [ 1 ]
- iXBT reports the Astralink project, saying implementation began at the end of 2025 and the first satellite is planned within two years. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant reports Aselsan announced the official launch of the project at the International Astronautical Congress. [ 3 ]
- Vedomosti reports Akyol's remarks at the congress, including that Turkey has more than 1 million end-user terminals. [ 4 ]