Turkish army to launch Satellite in 2007 to spy on Kurdish fighters

Milliyet website, Istanbul
13 Apr 06

Text of report by Barkin Sik, headlined “Gokturk satellite will
monitor PKK”, by Turkish newspaper Milliyet website on 13 April

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has named its spy satellite Gokturk
after the first state in history to use the name Turk. The satellite
is planned for launch in 2007. The spy satellite project is being run
for the TSK, which calculated any armed force not active in space
would be unable to provide effective security. The summoning paper
containing the TSK’s expectations for the satellite has been sent to
candidate producers. Meetings arranged with leading satellite
producers such as the United States, Israel, France, the United
Kingdom and South Korea are still in progress.

Will report on movements

The satellite is aimed to cost around 200m dollars and be able to
report on the movements of objects 60cm in size. With this capability
the terrorists’ every move will be able to be followed.

Institutions such as TUBITAK [Scientific and Technological Research
Council of Turkey] and ASELSAN [Military Electronics Industry] will
play an active role in the project. The satellite will orbit at an
altitude of 600-650 kilometres and monitor an area extending from
Europe to the Caucasus and the Middle East. The satellite will have a
life span of four to six years. Turkey is monitoring movement in the
region using Israeli and US satellites and the Ikonos satellite, a
low-orbit satellite belonging to the Cukurova Group’s Space Turk
Company.