Satellite
✓ ConceptDesign · NowBuildTestCertificationIn service
Second domestically built Turkish communications satellite after Türksat 6A, strengthening the national satellite manufacturing supply chain.
Türksat 7A is the planned successor to Türksat 3A, which serves from 42° East and is now running past its design life. Türksat AŞ (a commercial company wholly owned by the Turkish state) operates six communications satellites in geostationary orbit, covering an area from East Asia to Western Europe. Its fleet is more than 70% used, and 7A is meant to add capacity for government and institutional users, internet and live broadcasting.
Origins: Türksat 6A, Türkiye's first domestically developed communications satellite, entered service on 21 Apr 2025. It was developed by TÜBİTAK UZAY, ASELSAN, TUSAŞ and its subsidiary CTech, with more than 80% local content. In May 2025 the ministry said tender preparations for 7A were complete. A columnist reported Airbus and Thales, as well as TUSAŞ and TÜBİTAK UZAY, in contact as possible builders, possibly in consortia. On 19 Jun 2025 Türksat and the ministry's Transport, Maritime and Communications Research Centre signed a financing protocol for construction. In September 2025 Türksat expected bids by end-2025, a project start in the first quarter of 2026 and launch in 2029.
Design: no technical figures are published. Stated features are software-defined payloads (capacity that can be re-configured from the ground), higher data capacity, stronger coverage and flexible resource management. A May 2025 column mentions five or six payloads. Türksat has also mentioned AI-supported data processing at ground stations.
Setbacks and changes: the start slipped from the first quarter of 2026 to "before year-end 2026". Service entry moved from 2029 (Sep 2025, Apr 2026) to 2030 (Jul 2026). The build approach has also changed: in February 2026 Türksat was weighing foreign offers while preferring a domestic maker, but by July 2026 the minister said 7A would be built "with fully domestic resources".
Status 2026: in April 2026 Türksat said paperwork was complete and the final specification would go to stakeholders. In September 2026 the deputy general manager said production contracts would be signed soon. In October 2026 the minister confirmed specifications are done and named TUSAŞ, TÜBİTAK and an unnamed private company in talks. No contract signature had been reported by 9 Nov 2026. In July 2026 the minister had set the aim of signing before the end of the year.
Next: contract and production start, a build of three to four years, then launch. Türksat hopes to use Türkiye's national launch system, which is still being developed, and is a stakeholder in a planned spaceport in Somalia. No launch provider has been named.
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21 April 2025
Türksat 6A, Türkiye's first domestically developed communications satellite (4,250 kg, more than 80% local content), entered service at 42° East.
Why it matters: The domestic base on which Türksat 7A is to be built.
May 2025 (month only)
The ministry said tender preparations were complete; a trade columnist reported Turkish and European firms in contact as possible builders.
Why it matters: Opened the competition for the satellite.
19 June 2025
Türksat and the ministry's Transport, Maritime and Communications Research Centre signed a protocol to support financing of the construction.
Why it matters: Secured public funding before a builder was chosen.
22 September 2025
Türksat expected bids by the end of 2025, a project start in the first quarter of 2026 and launch in 2029.
Why it matters: The first full timetable; both dates have since slipped.
14 February 2026
Türksat said it was weighing foreign offers while preferring a domestic manufacturer.
Why it matters: The build approach was still open in early 2026.
29 April 2026
Türksat's general manager said planning had reached its final stage and production would start in 2026, using a model similar to Türksat 6A.
Why it matters: Pointed towards the Türksat 6A team as the likely base.
4 July 2026
The minister said Türksat 7A would be built with fully domestic resources and enter service in 2030; on 22 July he set the aim of signing the contract before the end of 2026.
Why it matters: Narrows the field to Turkish builders and moves service back a year.
4–5 October 2026
The minister said the specifications are complete and talks had been held with TUSAŞ, TÜBİTAK and one unnamed private company; he said the contract would "probably" be finalised in November.
Why it matters: The builder choice is the next big decision for Turkish space suppliers.
November 2026 (expected; not signed by 9 Nov 2026)
The production contract is expected to be signed in November 2026; no signature had been reported by 9 November.
What to watch: Watch for the named builder, platform and orbital slot.
Before end of 2026
The ministry aims to start production before the end of 2026, followed by a build of three to four years.
What to watch: Watch whether production starts this year or slips into 2027.
2030 (latest official target)
Türksat 7A is to enter service in 2030 as successor to Türksat 3A; no launch provider has been named, and Türksat hopes to use Türkiye's national launch system, still in development.
What to watch: Watch the launch choice, which has not been made.
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Builder, platform, orbital slot and launcher had not been announced by 9 Nov 2026; candidate names are from ministry statements (Oct 2026) and a May 2025 trade column.
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| Compared item | Service 2030 (target) | Launched July 2024; service 21 Apr 2025 | Launched 8 Jan 2021 | Launched 9 Jun 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Builder / platform | Not selected | TÜBİTAK UZAY with ASELSAN, TUSAŞ, CTech | Airbus / Eurostar E3000EOR (all-electric) | Thales Alenia Space / Spacebus 4000-B2 |
| Mass | Not published | 4,250 kg | 3,500 kg | ~4 t |
| Payload | Software-defined; 5–6 payloads (columnist) | 20 transponders, Ku/Ku-BSS/Ka/Q-V | 42 Ku transponders, ~12 kW | Ku broadcast + Ka multibeam broadband |
| Orbit slot | Not published (replaces 3A at 42° E) | 42° E | 31° E | 7° W |
| Launcher | Not selected | Falcon 9 | Falcon 9 | Falcon 9 |
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