ITU Aerospace Research Center

What ITU Aerospace Research Center does

ITU Aerospace Research Center (ITU ARC) is a university research center established in 2015 within Istanbul Technical University in Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey. It conducts multi-disciplinary aerospace R&D across four research groups: Artificial Intelligence, Guidance, Navigation and Control (AI/GNC); Avionics; Nano Materials, Textiles and Advanced Composites; and Smart Air Transportation and AI. The center builds autonomous UAV systems (including a delivered GPS-denied Anti-UAV drone for ASELSAN, ballistically launched shape-shifting UAVs, and swarm robotic flight systems), operates dedicated flight simulation infrastructure (TAI Hurjet research simulator and B737-800 FNPT II with in-house ATC controller working position), runs an Orencik UAV outdoor test site in Catalca, and maintains nanomaterial synthesis, composite manufacturing, and advanced characterization laboratories.

Its technology portfolio spans AI-based visual navigation and visual-inertial odometry for GPS-denied environments, an open-source ARCHI-PILOT autopilot using FreeRTOS and DDS, the AI4HyDrop automated UAV flight approval system, an LLM-based digital assistant for airline operations, and synthesis/processing capabilities for carbon nanotubes, graphene, boron nitride nanotubes, and nanofibers with advanced composite manufacturing (autoclave up to 300°C/7 bars, hot press up to 500°C/30 tons).

ITU ARC operates as a grant-funded R&D organization rather than a commercial product company. Its revenue derives from competitive research grants (EU FP7/H2020/SESAR programs, TUBITAK national science agency) and industry-funded R&D contracts with Turkish defense primes (ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, TAI, Roketsan) and Boeing. It serves defense and aerospace industry customers, airline operators and ANSPs, materials science researchers, and EU research programs. Outputs are commercialized selectively through spin-off companies (AiPort for smart cabin cameras, Hyper Plastics & Composites for functional 3D printing filaments) and through collaborative R&D contracts that deliver prototypes, flight test campaigns, and technical reports.

Name

ITU Aerospace Research Center

Legal name

İTÜ Havacılık ve Uzay Teknolojileri Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi

Website

https://arc.itu.edu.tr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ITU Aerospace Research Center is a university-affiliated R&D center at Istanbul Technical University conducting aerospace research in UAV autonomy, avionics, nanomaterials/composites, and AI-driven air traffic management, serving Turkish defense primes (ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, TAI, Roketsan) and Boeing through grant and industry-funded projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Research and Development Services

NAICS

Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Space Research and Technology (927)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Aircraft (3721)

akta.pro primary industry

Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility) (IMABAFAO), Military Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) & Autonomous Aerial Platforms (IMABAMAC), Inertial Navigation Systems (INS/IMU) (IMABAFAB), UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid) (IMABAIAO)

Keywords

• Aerospace research services
• UAV development
• Advanced composite materials
• Flight simulation systems
• Autonomous systems research

Headquarters

HQ city

Maslak

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Project Funding: The center operates as a university research center funded primarily through competitive research grants from EU frameworks (H2020, SESAR), national science agencies (TUBITAK), and government R&D programs. Portfolio includes EU grants (FP7, H2020, SESAR), national industrial projects (+30), international industrial projects (8), and national science agency grants (13).
2. Industry-Funded R&D Contracts: Collaborative R&D projects funded by defense and aerospace industry partners including ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Roketsan, and Boeing. Projects span UAV development, advanced materials, avionics, and air traffic management.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ITU Aerospace Research Center (ITU ARC) is a university-affiliated R&D center at Istanbul Technical University that conducts multi-disciplinary aerospace research across four thematic areas: Guidance/Navigation/Control and Avionics, Nanomaterials/Smart Textiles/Advanced Composites, Smart Air Transportation/AI, and High Level Autonomy/Unmanned Vehicles. The center delivers funded research projects, prototype UAV systems, flight simulation capabilities, advanced materials development, and AI-driven air traffic management solutions for defense contractors, aerospace OEMs, airlines, and EU research programs.

Product overview

ITU Aerospace Research Center (ITU ARC) is a university-affiliated R&D center at Istanbul Technical University operating as a portfolio of research products and technologies rather than a unified commercial product platform. Its core offerings span autonomous UAV systems (Anti-UAV drones, Bal-UAV shape-shifting UAVs, Swarm Robotic Flight Systems), aviation simulation platforms (B737-800 FNPT II and Hurjet research simulators), aviation technology products (AiPort smart cabin cameras, ARCHI-PILOT open-source autopilot), and AI-driven air traffic management solutions (AI4HyDrop, LLM-based digital assistants). These products serve defense, aviation, and aerospace industry partners including ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, TAI, SunExpress Airlines, and Boeing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Türkiye Sustainable Aviation Alliance: A platform established in cooperation with Boeing Türkiye, Istanbul Technical University, and Turkish Airlines for sustainability in aviation.
• AiPort
• Hyper Plastics & Composites

Products and services

• AiPort Smart Cabin Camera System Smart camera modules for real-time detection of airline cabin events including boarding, deboarding, and cleaning, with automated reporting to airline control centers. Developed in collaboration with SunExpress Airlines with two prototypes manufactured and tested at ITU ARC labs.
• ARCHI-PILOT Open-Source Autopilot Software Open-source autopilot software developed using FreeRTOS environment with DDS middleware, supporting up to 1kHz closed-loop rate with PID-based flight controller, Extended Kalman navigation filter, and waypoint/B-spline guidance. Compatible with microcontrollers, FPGA (MicroBlaze), SoC (Zynq), and Raspberry Pi Zero.

Quantifiable outcome

• Vibration damping capability increased by 31% using elastomeric nanoparticle additives in polyurethane foams
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature14 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• BoeingflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoeing is a major strategic partner providing research funding through multiple projects including thermally conductive 3D filaments, advanced filtration technology for aircraft cabins, and the Boeing-ITU Student Scholarship Program. Boeing also collaborates with ITU ARC and Turkish Airlines on the Türkiye Sustainable Aviation Alliance. The partnership has produced more than 10M USD in combined research funding since 2015.
• Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTAI and ITU ARC collaborate on advanced autonomy systems research for the TAI Hurjet, a next-generation jet fighter. Research areas include Auto-Ground Collision Avoidance, Terrain Following Flight, GNSS-Denied Navigation, and Upset Prevention systems, validated using the TAI Hurjet Simulator.
• ASELSANcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASELSAN funds multiple UAV projects including a GPS-denied Anti-UAV drone with visual navigation and AI-based visual target tracking capabilities, successfully delivered with flight tests at Orencik UAV Test Site. Also supports gas sensor development and shape-shifting UAV projects.
• HAVELSANcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAVELSAN supports the Swarm Robotic Flight Systems project developing high-speed, maneuverable UAVs with swarming and diving capabilities, including ground control station software and communication networks. Also involved in SRUS (High Maneuverable UAV and Hybrid VTOL UAV) project.
• SESAR Joint Undertaking (SESAR JU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITU ARC participates as a partner in SESAR2020 exploratory research projects (FACT, START) investigating CNS technology enhancements for low-altitude operations, coexistence of drones and GA aircraft, and trajectory-based operations with AI algorithms.
• Turkish Airlines (THY)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurkish Airlines co-founded the Türkiye Sustainable Aviation Alliance with Boeing Türkiye and ITU, with ITU ARC serving as project manager. The alliance aims to create a cooperation network for sustainability, investigate sustainable aviation fuel potential, and develop a national aviation sustainability roadmap.
• RoketsancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoketsan funds development of thermoplastic composites with electromagnetic wave shielding efficiency for advanced aerospace applications and multifunctional foams for sandwich structures used in missile systems.
• Royal Academy of Engineering (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder with TUBITAK of the project 'Remote Respiration Monitoring Through Wearable Textile-Based Sensors' (Katip Çelebi-Newton Fund). ITU ARC leads the project in collaboration with Royal College of Art, developing carbon-based nanomaterial sensors for remote health monitoring.
• Royal College of Art (RCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCA collaboration on wearable textile-based sensors for respiration monitoring. Prof. Elif Özden-Yenigün from RCA co-directs the Nanomaterials, Textiles, and Advanced Composites Research Group. Joint work also presented at E-Textiles 2024 Conference in Berlin.
• SafrancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafran funded the project 'Tailoring the Interphase of Ceramic Fibers for Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs)', focusing on designing ceramic fiber interphases using ceramic nanomaterials for advanced aerospace applications.
• DLR (German Aerospace Center)supportingTechnology or IntegrationPartner in the START (SESAR H2020) project alongside Madrid Carlos III University, Catalunya Technical University, ENAC, and FlightKeys. ITU ARC, led by Assoc. Prof. Emre Koyuncu, develops AI algorithms for flight performance modeling and air traffic network stability.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Hulya Cebeci conducted Ph.D. studies at MIT under Prof. Brian L. Wardle and maintains affiliation. ITU ARC maintains collaborative research ethos with MIT in nanomaterials and composites research.
• ASDA (Association for the Scientific Development of ATM in Europe)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerITU ARC is a member of ASDA, an independent European organization active in scientific R&D in Air Traffic Management. ASDA's scope includes identifying long-term R&D goals, promoting science in ATM, and organizing R&D consultation processes with ATM stakeholders.
• SunExpress AirlinessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSunExpress Airlines collaborates on the AiPort smart cabin camera project for real-time detection of boarding, deboarding, and cleaning events. Two prototypes manufactured and preliminary testing underway at ITU ARC labs with proof-of-concept planned.
• General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMİ)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDHMİ representative Dr. Cengiz Pasaoglu serves as an industrial member of ITU ARC, contributing expertise in state airport management and air traffic control operations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• HAVELSAN: Turkish defense software and systems integrator that funded ITU ARC's Swarm Robotic Flight Systems project. Comparable in working on UAV swarm command-and-control software and autonomous systems for Turkish defense market.
• Roketsan: Turkish missile and rocket manufacturer funding ITU ARC composite materials R&D. Comparable in working on advanced composite materials and missile-related aerospace technologies within Turkish defense ecosystem.
• Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI): Turkey's primary aerospace prime manufacturer (Hurjet, KAAN, ANKA UAVs). Directly comparable as a Turkish aerospace organization collaborating with ITU ARC on Hurjet autonomy research; much larger scale but overlapping domain in UAS and military aircraft.
• ASELSAN: Turkey's largest defense electronics company and a direct funder/partner of ITU ARC on GPS-denied anti-UAV drones and shape-shifting UAVs. Comparable as a Turkey-based defense technology organization working on UAV autonomy and avionics.

Direct peers

• MIT Lincoln Laboratory: MIT-affiliated federally funded R&D center working on autonomous systems, air traffic management, and advanced aerospace technologies. Comparable as a university-affiliated research center with strong autonomy and ATC portfolio, and connected via Prof. Cebeci's MIT affiliation.
• DLR (German Aerospace Center): Germany's national aerospace research center and active SESAR H2020 consortium partner alongside ITU ARC (START project). Directly comparable as a government-funded aerospace R&D organization with research in air traffic management, autonomous flight, and advanced materials.
• ONERA (French Aerospace Lab): France's national aerospace research center covering aeronautics, autonomous systems, and advanced materials. Comparable as a government-funded aerospace research organization with similar structure and European research consortium participation.
• Delft University of Technology Aerospace Engineering (TU Delft AE): TU Delft's aerospace faculty is a leading European university aerospace research center participating in SESAR projects and UAS/U-space research. Comparable as a university-based aerospace research center with overlapping UAS autonomy and ATM research themes.
• KAIST Aerospace Systems and Control Lab: University-affiliated aerospace R&D lab at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) covering UAV autonomy, GNC, and aerospace systems. Comparable as a university research center with similar scope in autonomy, GNC, and UAV R&D.
• TÜBİTAK UZAY (TUBITAK Space Technologies Research Institute): Turkey's national space research institute under TÜBİTAK, focused on satellite systems, space electronics, and aerospace research. Most direct peer as a Turkish publicly-funded aerospace R&D organization with similar structure and funding model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ituarc
• Facebookfacebook.com/ituarclab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ituarc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ITU Aerospace Research Center