The long-awaited domestic smartphone initiative in Turkey’s technology ecosystem is taking concrete steps towards realization. The leading force in the defense industry ASELSAN and the communications giant Türk Telekom have joined forces for the domestic smartphone project. The domestic device, whose production base has been determined as Malatya and whose R&D process is carried out under the umbrella of TTT Innovation, is planned to be on shelves in the first half of 2027 .

Malatya Will Be the Production Base for the ASELSAN-Signed Phone

There is a clear division of labor between the two giant institutions in the project. While ASELSAN undertakes the hardware design, engineering architecture, and direct production processes; Türk Telekom carries out software optimization, value-added content, distribution network, marketing, and global branding efforts.

While Malatya was chosen for the mass production line of the device, it is stated that engineers have focused particularly on battery optimization and camera sensor performance. High power efficiency and competitive photography capabilities are targeted in daily use scenarios.

Segment Diversity and Gradual Localization Strategy

According to the plan, the domestic phone will not be limited to a single model; it will be launched with versions catering to different user needs at the mid-segment, upper-segment, and flagship (Premium) levels. A phased transition plan is being implemented on the software and chip side:

• 1st Stage (Initial Launch): In order to benefit from the wide application ecosystem, the device is launched with an optimized Android operating system in the first stage.
• 2nd Stage (1 Year Later): Following the Android experience, the integration of the domestic operating system comes into play.
• 3rd Stage Phase (Complete Independence): In line with the planned schedule, the device’s processor architecture will also be strengthened with domestic chip solutions; investments in the transition between these phases are already being made.

The President Will Choose the Name: ASELSAN Returns to the Spirit of 1919

Brand identity studies are meticulously progressing for the phone, which aims to make a name for itself in the global market. Five different name suggestions will be submitted to the approval of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the final brand name will be finalized after this process.

This project also revives a valuable legacy in Türkiye’s telecommunications history. With the

ASELSAN 1919 model it developed in the 1990s, ASELSAN made Turkey one of the 9 countries in the world that could produce mobile phones and export them abroad. Now, this new step taken in partnership with Türk Telekom is preparing to test the competitiveness of domestic technology in the modern smartphone world once again.