ASELSAN’s GÖKBAĞI aims to provide low-latency, high-capacity and uninterrupted communications by bringing the LEO Satellite Communications System and the Military 5G Communications System under a single architecture. The system will also meet the communications requirements of ÇELİKKUBBE, which will operate within a layered air and missile defence structure.
Satellite communications provide redundancy for terrestrial networks by meeting communications needs in areas where terrestrial links are unavailable or insufficient. They also complement existing communications infrastructure. Satellites in LEO, MEO and GEO orbits are expected to support operations in areas such as reconnaissance, surveillance, positioning, timing, navigation and communications. In the future, these satellites are expected to become an indispensable element of operations.
LEO is emerging as a strategic domain in military satellite communications by providing broadband and complementary communications capabilities. Due to its closer proximity to Earth, it offers low latency, high capacity, higher communications speeds and greater resistance to jamming.
Communications satellites in GEO are expected to retain their importance in the future due to their ability to provide uninterrupted communications over specific regions. However, their distance of approximately 36,000 kilometres from Earth creates areas that require further improvement, particularly in data rate, capacity and latency.
GÖKBAĞI is being developed to meet the communications infrastructure requirements of future operational environments. The system is also intended to address the needs of Türkiye as well as those of regional friendly and allied countries. The satellite communications payload in GÖKBAĞI’s space segment will use an active phased-array antenna, enabling simultaneous service to a large number of users and supporting high data rates. All units and components, including the BFIC (Beam Former IC), one of the core elements of the payload, are being developed domestically by ASELSAN.
ÇELİKKUBBE’s Communications Requirements
GÖKBAĞI will leverage the capabilities provided by LEO satellite communications to meet the communications requirements of ÇELİKKUBBE, which will operate within a layered air and missile defence structure. Timely delivery of accurate information to decision-makers is also critical for the effective and timely prevention of threats in regional airspace. The LEO communications network is expected to provide critical capabilities for air and missile defence by enabling continuous, low-latency and high-capacity data sharing.
Beyond-Line-of-Sight Connectivity with 5G and LEO
GÖKBAĞI brings the Satellite Communications System and the Military 5G Communications System together within a single architecture to meet the modern battlefield’s need for uninterrupted, secure, low-latency and high-capacity communications. One of the key components of the project will be enabling military 5G cells to gain Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) communications capability via LEO satellites. When line-of-sight cannot be established due to physical obstacles or distance, connections between military 5G access points will be securely established through satellite links. This will allow military units in remote locations to exchange high-speed IP-based data with headquarters or other units regardless of geographical constraints.
GÖKBAĞI will operate in three different configurations depending on the type of operation, including fixed and portable access points that can be carried by two personnel. Portable access points can be rapidly deployed in different terrain conditions with generator or UPS support. Vehicle-integrated mobile access points will also provide BLOS communications while on the move via a 5G base station and a mobile satellite terminal.
Military 5G base stations and user terminals will operate in the 1.3–2.6 GHz frequency band with frequency-hopping capability to provide resistance against electronic warfare. This architecture will allow the signal to continuously shift across a wide spectrum, making it more difficult for enemy units to detect and jam the signal. Thanks to their Software Defined Radio (SDR) architecture, the terminals will allow different waveforms to be updated through software and enable adaptation to new threats without requiring hardware changes.
GÖKBAĞI will leverage the capabilities of LEO satellite communications to meet the communications requirements of ÇELİKKUBBE systems operating within a layered air and missile defence architecture.
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Source: C4Defence
