A significant step has been taken to strengthen Turkey’s presence in space. Türksat General Manager Ahmet Hamdi Atalay announced at the finals of the Türksat Model Satellite Competition that they have begun work on the Türksat 7A satellite. The new satellite will replace Türksat 3A, which is nearing the end of its lifespan.

Türksat 7A will officially debut

Speaking at the final rounds of the competition, organized jointly by Türksat and the Turkish Technology Team Foundation, Ahmet Hamdi Atalay stated that satellites have a limited lifespan and that those that have reached this lifespan must be replaced.

In this context, he stated that Türksat 3A, operating in a 42-degree East orbit, is nearing the end of its lifespan. To protect its space property rights, Turkey will position Türksat 7A in its place. The satellite is expected to be launched within the next 3-4 years.

Atalay emphasized that Türksat 7A will have higher capacity and more advanced technology than Türksat 6A, which recently entered service. He said, “With the 7A satellite, we will significantly meet the needs of our government and customers.”

Developed with over 80% domestic production, Türksat 6A was launched on July 9, 2024, and entered service on April 21, 2025. 84 pieces of equipment, including critical components, were domestically and nationally produced. It was stated that Türksat 6A experience will be utilized in the Türksat 7A development process. No information has yet been released regarding Türksat 7A’s technical specifications.

So, what are your thoughts on this? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.