Havelsan
Turkish defence software company and unmanned systems developer.
Havelsan is a Turkish company specializing in software and systems for the defense and information technology sectors. Its headquarters are in Ankara, Turkey, and it operates through subsidiaries and offices both domestically and internationally. The company focuses on areas such as C4ISR, naval combat systems, e-government applications, reconnaissance and surveillance, management information systems, simulation and training, logistics support, homeland security, and energy management.
The company was founded in 1982 by the Turkish Air Force Foundation under the name Havelsan-Aydin, initially to maintain high-tech radars for the Turkish Air Force. In 1985, it became a fully national company after separating from foreign shareholders, with 98% of its shares held by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation. By 1997, Havelsan had expanded into command control systems (C4ISR), training and simulation, and management information systems, positioning itself as Turkey’s “Informatics and System House.” While primarily involved in military software, it also took on e-government projects and executed them successfully. As a subcontractor for the Peace Eagle Project, Havelsan delivered the ground support segment, including crew training, mission planning, and software maintenance. It pursued a similar role for Boeing’s Italian and Korean AEW&C projects, but Boeing ended that subcontract in early 2009. In 2025, Havelsan invested 143 million dollars to increase production capacity in Ankara and Istanbul.
In 2007, the Turkish Quality Association (Kal-Der) included Havelsan in its Turkish Quality Map for 2008–2009, making it the first defense industry company on that map. That same year, the Computer Supported Central Elections Registry System (SEÇSİS), developed by Havelsan, won first place in the “Services from State to Public” category at the 5th e-Turkey awards. Havelsan also led the “sectoral software” field in Turkey’s First IT Companies rankings and ranked fourth in income among ten IT companies in Ankara. The Istanbul Commercial Chamber (ISO) listed Havelsan at number 225 in its “First 500 Company” research. Deloitte included Havelsan in its “Fast 50” list for Turkey for five consecutive years, and in 2006, it appeared in the same research for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East (EMEA).
- Established
- 1982
- Headquarters
- Ankara, Turkey
- Ownership
- 98% owned by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation (as of 1985)
- Investment 2025
- 143 million dollars in Ankara and Istanbul
- Export value 2006
- about 30 million dollars
- Iso ranking
- 225th in First 500 Company research by İstanbul Commercial Chamber
- Deloitte fast 50
- included in Fast Developing Companies in Turkey (Fast 50) for five years up to 2007
Lore & Background
Havelsan was established by the Turkish Air Force (TUAF) Foundation in 1982 as Havelsan-Aydin to maintain high technology radars. In 1985, it was separated from foreign shareholders and incorporated as a national company with 98% owned by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation. In 1997, it added C4ISR, training and simulation systems, and management information systems to its functions, becoming known as the 'Informatics and System House of Turkey'.
The company has been involved in military software projects and e-government projects, including the Peace Eagle Project as a subcontractor responsible for the ground support segment (crew training, mission planning, software maintenance). Havelsan worked to become a main subcontractor of Boeing for Italian and Korean AEW&C projects, but Boeing withdrew from this sub-contractorship in early 2009. In 2025, Havelsan decided to increase production capacity by investing 143 million dollars in Ankara and Istanbul.
Havelsan has expanded its unmanned systems portfolio across air, land, and maritime domains as part of its Unmanned and Autonomous Systems ecosystem. Air systems include BAHA, BULUT, Bozbey, and Poyraz. Land systems include Barkan, Barkan II, Barkan III, and Kapgan. Maritime systems include Çaka and Sancar. The company also developed MAIN, an offline AI-based secure virtual assistant, and in May 2026 introduced ADVENT-AI, an AI-supported decision support layer for the ADVENT Combat Management System family.
Reader's Guide
Havelsan's significance lies in its dual role as a defence software provider and a developer of e-government systems in Turkey. It was the first defence industry company on the Turkish Quality Map (2008-2009) published by Kal-Der. Its SEÇSİS system won first place in its category at the 5th e-Turkey rewards in 2007. The company's Land Registry and Cadaster Information System (TAKBİS) was selected as the most successful e-government project in Turkey in 2006, and its National Justice Information System (UYAP) won the same recognition in 2004 and 2005. Havelsan received the TESİD 2006 prize for 'Commercial Success in New Products' and a 'FAI Honorary Diploma' from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. It was listed at number 225 in the ISO First 500 Company research and included in Deloitte's Fast 50 for Turkey and the EMEA region. The company's expansion into unmanned systems across air, land, and maritime domains, along with the introduction of ADVENT-AI in 2026, represents a strategic move toward network-centric warfare and multi-domain interoperability.
Did You Know?
- Havelsan was established in 1982 by the Turkish Air Force Foundation to maintain high technology radars.
- The company developed SEÇSİS, the Computer Supported Central Elections Registry System, which won an e-Turkey award in 2007.
- Havelsan invested 143 million dollars in 2025 to increase production capacity in Ankara and Istanbul.
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