ASELSAN, the leading company in the Turkish defense industry, has taken its capabilities in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) technologies one step further. According to the information in the company’s 2024 activity report, the domestic UAVs developed ASTELA UAV relay, completed its first successful flight on the Bayraktar TB2 platform. This development will make a significant contribution to the communication capability of Turkish UAVs.
ASTELA UAV Relay: Uninterrupted Communication Beyond Line of Sight
Relay systems are systems that receive, strengthen and retransmit signals when direct communication is not possible using radio waves. In this way, communication distance and coverage are significantly increased. Relay systems integrated into UAVs allow uninterrupted communication between the command center and field personnel, especially in areas with geographical obstacles such as mountains, forests or where radio communication is weak.
Developed by ASELSAN, the ASTELA UAV relay significantly increases the operational effectiveness of UAVs by providing beyond line of sight (BLOS) communication in addition to ground communication solutions. Thanks to this system, UAVs will be able to carry out their tasks more effectively by maintaining continuous and reliable communication with the command center.
Wide Coverage and Flexibility with High Altitude Advantage
The developed UAV relay systems provide a wide coverage area by using the advantage of high altitude, especially in cases where the fixed communication infrastructure is insufficient or damaged. These systems, which provide great flexibility to operations in the field thanks to their mobile structure, ensure safe, fast and uninterrupted communication, thus ensuring continuous communication between the units in the field and the command centers and significantly supporting the general communication capability.
A Critical Role Not Only in Military But Also in Civilian Applications
The area of use of ASTELA UAV relay systems is not limited to military operations. They can also be used to support critical communication infrastructure in situations where the communication infrastructure collapses or is interrupted, such as during natural disasters. These systems, which allow communication to continue even in areas outside the coverage area, can play a vital role in crisis management and relief operations.
In addition, thanks to the unique second generation digital encrypted waveform added to ASELSAN’s ASTELA radio communication solution family used in the field of public safety, secure communication capability has also been increased in different cycles. This feature aims to maximize the operational security of security forces.
ASELSAN Continues Localization Work for UAVs
In addition to the ASTELA UAV relay, ASELSAN continues its efforts to nationalize various subsystems for UAV platforms. In this context, the activity report also shared the information that the first export of the Bayraktar TB2 platform and the IdentIFF Mode5S TP device to a NATO member country was carried out. This success shows that ASELSAN has increased its competitive power in the international market.
The report also announced that the FULMAR 200-A SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) Pod System, which has an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) antenna architecture and low power consumption, successfully completed test flights with the Bayraktar TB2. SAR pods significantly increase the reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities of UAVs by providing day and night imaging capabilities in all weather conditions. The domestic development of the FULMAR 200-A is considered a critical step towards reducing external dependency in this area.
ASELSAN’s comprehensive studies on UAV technologies are advancing the capabilities of the Turkish defense industry in the field of unmanned systems day by day. The successful flight of the ASTELA UAV relay and other localization projects are increasing the operational effectiveness of Turkish UAVs while also reinforcing their competitiveness in the international arena.
