Turkey Strengthens its Presence in Space
TAI Spacecraft Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) Center, the first of Turkey, and one of the enumerated space test sites of Europe and the world was opened by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. Ankara, Kazan premises.
The Minister Of National Defence, Mr. İsmet Yılmaz, Transport, Shipping and Communications Minister Mr. Feridun Bilgin, The Minister of the Interior, Mr. Sabahattin Öztürk; The Minister Of Health, Mr. Mehmet Müezzinoğlu; Land Forces Commander, General Hulusi Akar; Commander Of The Air Force, General Akın Öztürk; Gendarmerie General Commander General Abdullah Atay; Undersecretary Of Defense Industries, Prof. İsmail Demir; TAI General Manager, Mr. Muharrem Dörtkaşlı; Türksat General Manager, Mr. Ensar Gül and many number of domestic and foreign authorities participated in the opening ceremony realized at Kazan, Ankara.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan speaking at the opening ceremony pointing out that the mentioned capability is present only in a few number of countries said; “We are evaluating the Space Systems Integration and ObservationCenter where we came together to realize its opening todayas a strategic infrastructure. Premises of this type are present in a few number of countries having a say in the field of space activities. We can now express that Turkey has been among the countries having a claim in the space activities field by having this site. This center will be operated by TAI. The related tests of the satellites during the launch and while they are subjected to all effects in space shall be performed. Our ‘Göktürk-1’satellite was also brought here from France. Immediately after activities related to ‘Göktürk-3’ satellite will be commenced. Services for theprojects of other countries will also be provided in here.”
President Erdoğan, mentioning that TAI, as becoming one of the greatest defence industry companies of the world, is the source of pride of Turkey, continued with his words as: “Our target must be to enter this list with at least twenty companies. TAI has performed its pioneering task by entering this list. Now it’s the other firms’ turn. The importance we have given to domestic production in the defence industry since the year 2003, the strong will we have showed in this subject has a lot of share in TAI to become to this position. TAI has also paid for our trust in itself. Our ‘Atak’helicopters were designed, produced overcoming all difficulties and started to perform its task in our skies with pride. “
Erdoğan reminding that the first Indigenous Jet Fighter Aircraft has been approved from the Defence Industry Execution Committee, used the expressions; “ We want to see TAI in much more further places in the future, in much more bigger projects in 2023.We wish to see this aircraft in our skies in 2023, in our air force inventories in the year 2030”. Erdoğansaid, “We are expecting our helicopters, national communication and observation satellites and new generation Anka’s that we shall use both with civil and military purposes with the indigenous design and production of the same manner enthusiastically.”
The Minister Of National Defence Mr. İsmet Yılmaz quoted the developments in the content of the “Göktürk-1” Project in his speech. Reminding that the “Göktürk-1” Project has two steps he announced that the first step is to send the “Göktürk-1” satellite to the space during the year 2016. Mr. Yılmaz stating that the second step of the Project, Spacecraft Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) Center which is also commencing its service, emphasized that the provision of test services to other countries as well as those of Turkey is also being planned.
Spacecraft Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) Center
AIT Center, where approximately €100 Million investment cost is provided by the Ministry of National Defence/ The Undersecretariat for Defense Industries along with the Ministry of Transport Shipping and Communications / TÜRKSAT A.Ş., was established under the scope of the “Göktürk-1” Project with the agreement signed at TAI premises between UD Iand Telespazio / Italy –Thales Alenia Space / France companies.With this site starting its activity, while Turkey gained an important premise present in only a few countries in the world, TAI also made an important step in the subject of becoming an international actor providing space systems integration and test services.
The launch of the site base was realized on the date October 29th, 2011, where the land and infrastructure was provided by TAIand the operation right was granted to TAI. In the Center having 9,800 m2 closed area and 3.800 m2 100.000 class clean rooms, mechanic, thermal, acoustic and electromagnetic interaction environments shall be created in which the satellites shall be subjected to during their launching and during their task in space, and qualification tests shall be realized. Thus it will be possible for the systems designed and produced to perform space conditions to be subjected to a comprehensive validation process before being launched to space.
Satellites completing their test process will be sent to the launching area from the airport under the mutual use of TAI and the 4th Main Jet Base Command. This connection of the Center to the airport, while eliminating the land transportation of the satellites is also targeting to provide a great advantage from the aspect of cost and risk management.
Turkey, is planning to produce “Göktürk-3” satellite SAR (synthetic aperture radar) radar with intelligence purposes with and TÜRKSAT 6A, the first communication satellite of Turkey in these premises.
